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FDOT puts County Line Road design into work program; MPO seeks state rural funds for US‑41 shortfall
Summary
FDOT included design funding for a segment of County Line Road in the work program and plans to fund half of the design; the MPO urged board members to press state legislators for rural arterial money to help close an estimated $130 million shortfall on US‑41 and other local priorities.
MPO Director Bob Babb briefed the Hernando‑Citrus MPO board on regional projects and funding needs, reporting that the Florida Department of Transportation has placed design funding for a segment of County Line Road (Suncoast Parkway to Mariner) in its current work program and intends to cover half of the design cost. Babb said FDOTs target for construction is fiscal year 2033 unless other funding becomes available.
Babb also told the board there is a rural arterial funding proposal being discussed at the state level and asked MPO members to advocate with state legislators. "We still need about a hundred and 30,000,000 just to get that up to 200," Babb said, referring to the remaining funding needed for the US‑41 corridor in Citrus County.
Commissioners discussed the likelihood of state funds given recent budget actions and the need for local contingency planning. Commissioner Steve Champion cautioned that statewide budget cuts could reduce the chance of receiving significant new state money and said the MPO and counties should develop alternative funding plans, including local contributions. Commissioner Brian Hawkins and others pressed for a clearer, single‑page list of regional projects, shortfalls and funding requests for use in legislative outreach.
Board members said staff had opened coordination with Pasco County on County Line Road and were negotiating a letter of intent for intercounty collaboration and sequencing of work. The MPO also reported that County Line Road is now listed as a priority project with the Suncoast Transportation Planning Alliance (SCTPA), meaning it has regional visibility in coalition planning.
No formal board motion was required for the information items; MPO staff said they would circulate a one‑page project and funding summary to board members and follow up with FDOT and Pasco County on sequencing, utility relocation and the design schedule.
Board members also flagged other needs: the long‑range transportation plan identifies regional project priorities and staff said the MPO will pull relevant project shortfalls for use in legislative meetings.
