The Consultant for FDOT, District 5, Justin Bansen of Kittleson and Associates, Inc., gave an update to the Hernando/Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) on the study being conducted for roadway improvements on SR50 from US 301 to CR33. The Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) phase is underway in Hernando and Sumter counties and should be completed by Fall 2018. The Design Phase is programmed/ funded in FY 2018.
Dennis Dix, Executive Director, Hernando/Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization first explained that this is a joint project with the Orlando FDOT District Office and Tampa FDOT District Office “which makes it kind of monumental.” He said that the purpose of it is to look at capacity improvements for the 50 corridor which extends from Weeki Wachee, FL to the nearly the Atlantic Ocean.
Bansen stated that this part of the project extends from US 301 to County Rd 33 in Mascotte. It extends through Hernando, Sumter and Lake Counties with five miles of the corridor within Hernando County.
Bansen explained the options they are examining to increase capacity.
In the portion that runs from US 301 to SR 471 they are looking at creating intermittent eastbound and westbound passing lanes, and keeping the roadway at 2-lanes. This option has less environmental impact on the state forest and wetlands. The other option is a constructing a rural 4 lane, which some of the Hernando County Commissioners are in favor of.
For the SR 471 to CR 33 section they are looking at constructing a Rural 4 lane or urban 4 lane including enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
This is a state funded project and no federal dollars would be used, said Bansen.
Bansen explained that the main purpose is to enhance capacity of the corridor as there is also a “strong safety component.” There’s been 189 crashes over 5 years with 12 fatalities. Most of the crashes are related to runoff the road crashes as well as high speed rear end crashes. Thirteen percent of the critical crashes have occurred at US 301 and SR 50.
Currently most of the route is traveled by 7000 – 8000 vehicles per day with exception of Mascotte which is at 17,000. By the year 2045, Bansen says the traffic numbers are expected to about double.
Kittleson anticipates that widening the roadway between 471 and CR 33 will help to draw some of the traffic back to SR 50, although they don’t see that there would be a change between 301 and SR 471.
Bansen further explained the reasoning behind not going to 4 lanes between US 301 to SR 471. He said that the purpose of the passing lane option is to try to minimize environmental impacts since it’s running through a forest where there’s sensitivity to wetlands, wildlife, drainage and woodland habitat. He said that an advantage of the four lane option is that they would not need to acquire additional right of way through the forest. Additionally, four lane widening provides greater than 50% crash reductions, passing lanes only provide 10-20% crash reduction.
It was specified in the meeting that passing lanes would be located only where there are no access locations where vehicles slow or stop to turn off the roadway.
Bansen pointed out that one of the key things is the long platoons of vehicles that are created when a slow vehicle is backing up traffic. He said that drivers often get tired of waiting for persons in front and make risky passing maneuvers. The passing lanes would be 2 plus miles in length to alleviate this problem.
Commissioner Champion said, “I think this will be a mistake just to do a passing lane. I think it needs to be 4 lanes. There’s growth coming and you can see the traffic going across the state.”
Commissioner Mitten agreed with Commissioner Champion that four lanes would be best. He asked Bansen if they are at a point to prioritize the concern of cost relative to environmental mitigation.
Bansen stated that they are not at a point to hit on that today.
Bansen stated that from a capacity perspective, even with traffic volume doubling, the passing lane option does provide what they need to continue to provide adequate operations within that section, providing for growth with that option.
More information on the project will be presented at two public workshops in July.
Public Workshop #1
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Mascotte Civic Center
121 N Sunset Avenue, Mascotte, FL 34753
From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Public Workshop #2
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Ridge Manor Community Center
34240 Cortez Blvd., Dade City, FL 33523
From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.