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Residents urge MPO to oppose Ayers Road extension, cite agricultural and watershed impacts
Summary
Several Hernando County residents told the MPO Nov. 6 they oppose a proposed Ayers Road extension, saying FDOT records show the project was initiated by Rep. Jeff Holcomb, that the expansion would damage agricultural lands and wildlife habitat, and that outreach materials and online surveys were flawed.
Multiple residents spoke at the Hernando–Citrus MPO meeting on Nov. 6 urging the board to halt work on an Ayers Road extension.
Bob Morgan, who identified himself as a resident of unincorporated Hernando County at 1066 Arlene Road, said FDOT emails obtained through a public‑records request indicate Representative Jeff Holcomb initiated the Ayers extension effort. Morgan said the project "has not been a priority" of the MPO and that tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars have already been spent on consultants. He warned the proposal would "have a severe impact on an area of the county that is heavily agricultural," would harm wildlife and sensitive watershed areas, and "families will be uprooted" if an 11‑mile expansion follows the earlier phase’s build‑out.
Morgan’s wife (identified in the record as Morgan) and Susie Garfinkel, another nearby resident, said the public engagement and online survey were flawed and biased toward selecting a route rather than an option to reject construction. Garfinkel said workshop attendees she observed favored "no project" in the area of impact and that the proposals primarily serve travelers from outside the impacted rural area.
Commissioners and other board members responded with competing views. Commissioner Steve Champion said he supports improving connections to I‑75 given local congestion on County Line Road and US‑41; other members noted there are existing routes and questioned whether the Ayers extension is necessary. FDOT said the project workshop and materials included options and encouraged residents to submit formal comments; no formal board motion on Ayers Road was made at the meeting.
The public comment period and FDOT project process will proceed separately from MPO business; residents and the MPO staff were urged to continue coordination if they wish to submit comments or objections.
