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Hardee County approves application for State Road 62 feasibility study seeking NHFP funds
Summary
The Hardee County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2025-49 authorizing submission of a feasibility-study application to the U.S. Department of TransportationNational Highway Freight Program to study extending State Road 62 across U.S. 17; estimated study cost $1.5 million and requires no local match.
The Hardee County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously May 15 to approve Resolution 2025-49 authorizing submission of a funding request to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway AdministrationNational Highway Freight Program (NHFP) for a feasibility study of a potential State Road 62 extension across U.S. 17.
The feasibility study, estimated at $1.5 million, would assess a new corridor to improve freight movement, network resilience and local safety. Assistant County Manager Christopher Symphron told the board the study would "assess a potential new corridor by extending State Road 62 across US 17 to the east," and would include public involvement, purpose-and-need development and environmental screening that could lead to a full PD&E (planning, development and environmental) study if warranted.
The study requires no local match, Symphron said, and NHFP funding can provide up to $20 million per year for eligible freight projects. Symphron and county staff said FDOT District 1 is supportive and representatives from FDOTincluding Amanda Tyner, District Freight and Seaport Coordinator, and Paul Simmons, District modal administratorwere present to show support for the application.
Why it matters: county and FDOT staff said the corridor could provide an alternate freight route that would reduce truck traffic through downtown Wauchula, improve safety for pedestrians and local drivers, and strengthen network resiliency during storm events. Symphron told the board FDOT indicated that if the corridor is shown to be warranted the department could take the lead on subsequent PD&E and construction phases.
Board discussion was brief and supportive. Commissioner Flores made the motion to approve the resolution; Commissioner Chancy seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: staff will submit the NHFP application and, if funded, proceed with the feasibility study scope described to the board that includes alternatives analysis, environmental screening and a cost-benefit review. FDOT participation was described as important to later phases; no final alignment or construction plan was presented or approved at the May 15 meeting.
