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Panel okays transportation plan
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff Writer NEW PORT RICHEY -- While gift lists this holiday season usually don't include sidewalks, buses and asphalt, that's just what the county ordered Thursday in wrapping up its long-term goals for transportation. The Metropolitan Planning Organization on Thursday approved the Pasco County 2025 Transportation Plan during a meeting Thursday at the West Pasco Government Center. The plan calls for an expanded mass transit system -- unveiled in drafts and at meetings earlier this year. But the final version included some additional plums -- a sidewalk along Lock Street in Dade City to cost $250,000. The MPO voted to put that on its five-year priority list. Also, calls for widening Interstate 75 between State Road 52 and the Hernando County Line to six lanes was moved up from a target date of 2025 to 2015. The long-range projects total almost $989-million while income from county, state and federal sources is expected to be about $995-million. Bob Wallace, vice president of the MPO's consultant Tindale-Oliver & Associates of Tampa, cautioned that the plan was flexible depending on expenses and available funds. "This could change, costs could go up," Wallace said. For Tom Finn, MPO board member and New Port Richey city councilman, the goals didn't match up with the green. "I think we should consider a higher gas tax," he suggested. "I don't think (the plan) keeps us up to speed." The board moved on with very little discussion of his idea. The plan now moves on to state and federal transportation agencies for review. The Federal Highway Administration must certify the plan for the county to continue receiving federal dollars, Wallace said after the meeting. The plan will be updated by the MPO every three years. A large part of the plan calls for expanded mass transit, including extending bus service to Saturdays and evenings, running new circulator routes in Land O'Lakes and Wesley Chapel, connecting existing routes in east and west Pasco via state roads 52 and 54 and creating park-and-ride lots and an express service along the Suncoast Parkway from Hernando County to areas near Tampa International Airport. -- Saundra Amrhein covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is
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From today's Pasco Times Jan Glidewell |
