County seeks state funds for 2.6-mile Shady Hills sidewalk project; commissioners question cost-per-foot

Pasco County transportation staff presented a request for state funding to build a 2.6-mile, five-foot sidewalk on Shady Hills Road between Mary Giel Elementary and Bosley Drive, with a ten-foot multiuse stretch to connect the Suncoast Trail. Assistant County Engineer Panos Conces said design is complete and the project is shovel-ready.

Why it matters: Officials said the corridor has multiple schools and increased industrial and through-traffic; commissioners and the local delegation raised concerns about the estimated construction costs and bidding practices and urged exploration of developer-built segments and procurement changes to reduce price.

Conces said the project is within the existing right-of-way, includes a pedestrian crossing at Greenlane Lane and will connect neighborhoods to schools and parks. Commissioners noted prior developer-built sidewalk segments and successful use of state sidewalk funding for school safety in recent years. One commissioner calculated the budget implied an estimated per-foot cost around $250 and said that appeared high; staff replied these were budgetary cost estimates and that market prices during bidding will determine final costs.

Commissioners discussed procurement, local preference rules and federal Davis-Bacon paperwork for federal-funded projects, with multiple speakers noting bidding and regulatory processes can raise cost and delay construction. Staff said local preference policies exist and that development agreements, impact-fee credits and other tools can accelerate developer-built infrastructure, but legal and fiscal rules limit some approaches.

Ending: County staff said they will provide more detailed procurement and cost information and explore matching sources, local bids and potential developer contributions before the board finalizes the legislative priority list.