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Railroad Square rolls on

The New Port Richey streetscape project will be done in four phases.

By JODIE TILLMAN
Published July 12, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - City Council members on Tuesday night took the first step toward making Railroad Square a reality, adopting a plan that calls for building the $4.5-million, railroad-themed streetscaping project in four phases.

"I hope we can find the funds to go forward with it," council member Tom Lackey said.

Council members, meeting Tuesday as directors of the Community Redevelopment Agency, originally hoped to do the project for $1-million.

But they recently learned that the first phase will cost $1.6-million. The total for all four phases is about $4.5-million.

Railroad Square calls for adding benches, streetlights, more trees and wider sidewalks along Nebraska Avenue. The plan would include railroad crossing arms along Nebraska, one at Grand Boulevard and one at Adams Street, so city staffers could close the area to traffic for special events.

"We're really creating a pedestrian-friendly downtown," consultant Ron Sill of Tampa told council members.

"Our intention is to make these watercolors a reality," he said of design plans.

City officials said the project would showcase New Port Richey's heritage as a booming railroad town in the early 1920s. A train station was once at Nebraska Avenue and Grand Boulevard.

Deputy Mayor Matthew McCaffery said construction costs have forced most big projects to be done in phases.

[Last modified July 12, 2006, 00:00:21]