During the Brooksville Vision Foundation’s presentation, Commissioner Diane Rowden asked about getting rid of the one-way roads downtown. BVF President Cliff Manuel stated that would depend on the Department of Transportation. The State of Florida is considering moving US 41 and US 98 out of the downtown area, but the issue is that the roads are used to move freight, and speed/efficiency is valued.
Once the analysis is complete and a determination is made, Manuel believes US 98 would be the first to be moved, and likely via the truck bypass to Cobb Road, freeing up the current path through town to be used as a local road. The change to US 41 would take more time and would require rerouting around the town.
Neither project is funded yet, as both are still under review by the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the process is very slow. Manuel suggested continuing resolutions and contacting Florida Representative Blaise Ingoglia and Florida Senator Wilton Simpson to help keep the two road changes at the top of FDOT’s list.