Assistant County Administrator Brian Malmberg discussed new sidewalk projects before the BOCC on 12/06/16. The Local Agency Program (LAP) agreement works in conjunction with the Department of Transportation(DOT) and the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
Under the Safe Routes to Schools Sidewalk Project, Malmberg said the process takes several years from the ranking of the project in order of importance (or safety), then funding the design, and then the project can begin. Malmberg explained that the steps involved: design, permit, and build, each in successive years.
The DOT reimbursement for the design of the Deltona Boulevard projects is $71,265.00. Any design costs over the limit of the agreements will be paid by Hernando County.
The Deltona Boulevard sidewalk would be five feet wide, running along both sides of Deltona from Spring Hill Drive all the way to Deltona Elementary (on the west side of the road) and to Amy Circle (on the east side).
Another sidewalk in the area will run along West Hernando Little League’s baseball area on Founder’s Road and Meadowlark Road, ending at Begonia Street.
A second project is further along, having completed the design and permitting stages. Construction of five-foot wide sidewalks around Spring Hill Elementary will run from Elgin Boulevard along Roble Avenue to Pillar Avenue, and from Colchester Avenue to Fuller Street. Another sidewalk will begin at Mariner Boulevard and travel down Killian Street as far as Colchester.
Malmberg said DOT will reimburse Hernando County for expenditures up to $472,785.00. Construction of the sidewalks must be completed before 04/04/19.
Commissioner Steve Champion said that “sidewalks to nowhere” were discussed. He stated he was glad that this “sidewalk to somewhere” was going to be paid for. Commissioner Wayne Dukes stated his appreciation for Malmberg’s attempts to expedite sidewalk construction around the county’s schools.
Malmberg said that requests for sidewalks can be sent to the Department of Public Works (DPW) and they will be forwarded to the MPO where they are given a ranking. Chairman Nick Nicholson joked that the MPO would have two new members, indicating that the newest commissioners should fill those positions.
Both projects were unanimously approved by the BOCC.