City and county staff described two design options for a long‑discussed North Avenue sidewalk that officials and parents said is needed to make walking to Hernando High safer.

Richard Weeks, Brooksville public works director, told the interlocal meeting the city is considering a full‑length option from Howell Avenue to U.S. 98 (about 3,300 linear feet) and a shorter phase from Howell Avenue to White Way Drive (about 2,210 linear feet) that would serve two primary neighborhoods. Weeks said the city allocated $50,000 this year for design and planned to apply for state and federal grants to fund engineering and construction.

Todd Crosby, the county engineer, and MPO director Bob Esposito discussed grant pipelines. Esposito said the MPO maintains an unfunded Transportation Alternatives (TA) list and that safe‑routes‑to‑school funding typically requires local letters of support from the superintendent and the school principal. Crosby cautioned that the eastern side of North Avenue has a stormwater conveyance system and pointed to drainage and right‑of‑way acquisition as important engineering constraints that can raise costs.

Commissioners and city council members discussed staging the work in phases so the city can deliver a meaningful first segment more affordably and then extend the sidewalk to U.S. 98 when funding allows. Several officials urged staff to complete design so the project can move up MPO priority lists and be eligible for FDOT funding.

Why it matters: North Avenue is a frequently cited unsafe pedestrian corridor for students and residents. Officials described an actionable plan — design funding, grant pursuit and phased construction — but emphasized that right‑of‑way, drainage and tree preservation will affect final alignment and cost.

Next steps: City and county staff agreed to coordinate on design, pursue MPO and FDOT funding opportunities and present a phased plan and cost estimate to their respective boards.