Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sidewalk Project topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Brooksville advances North Avenue sidewalk plans; seeks design funding and MPO grants
Summary
Brooksville staff presented two design options for a North Avenue sidewalk to improve pedestrian access to Hernando High School: a longer option of about 3,300 linear feet to U.S. 98 and a shorter 2,210-foot option to White Way Drive. The city has allocated $50,000 for design engineering and will pursue MPO and grant funding; the project will be d
The City of Brooksville presented two planning options for a North Avenue sidewalk aimed at improving pedestrian safety and access to Hernando High School and nearby neighborhoods.
Richard Weeks, Brooksville public works director, said the first option would install approximately 3,300 linear feet of sidewalk from Howell Avenue to U.S. 98 and provide a continuous connection serving Hernando High School. The second, shorter option would run from Howell Avenue to White Way Drive—a roughly 2,210‑linear‑foot segment identified as a lower‑cost phase that would serve two primary neighborhoods and provide a safer route to the school.
Weeks said the city has allocated $50,000 in this year’s capital improvement program to fund design and engineering and plans to apply for grants to cover additional design and construction costs. “If any of the partners or agencies have potential funding suggestions or collaboration opportunities, the city would be happy to coordinate and brainstorm ideas together,” Weeks said.
Presenters and elected officials discussed design challenges and next steps. Staff said the project would be one-sided (a sidewalk on one side of the road) and that the roadway’s existing stormwater system and large trees on the opposite side complicate alignment and design. Weeks noted the potential need for underground stormwater work on the segment to U.S. 98. Officials encouraged a phased approach: build the shorter White Way Drive segment first to serve neighborhoods immediately and pursue design and grant funding to extend the route to U.S. 98 later.
Commissioners and other officials recommended using the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) process to pursue funding—citing Safe Routes to School and Transportation Alternatives (TA) grants—and stressed that completed design work makes a project more competitive for MPO funding. One commissioner offered to coordinate with MPO board members to help raise project priority once the design is complete.
No cost-per-linear-foot estimate or construction schedule was presented. The city requested feedback and support for pursuing design funding and grant applications; staff indicated the project remains in preliminary stages pending design and funding decisions.
