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Cities press Pasco County to fill pedestrian, sidewalk and transit gaps for students
Summary
City officials told county commissioners that school‑route changes and fewer bus stops are increasing student pedestrian risk; county staff said they have convened engineering, public works and school board partners and will prioritize sidewalk and crosswalk projects and review transit routes.
Local officials at the Sept. 10 East County Cities workshop urged Pasco County to address gaps in sidewalks, crosswalks and transit service that are exposing students to hazards.
"There's not a public transportation bus stop that crosses the railroad track on the East Side until you get to Kama Road in Lacoochee," a Dade City official said, noting that the planned widening of US 98 will increase crossing distances and risks for children who must walk to school.
Leslie Porter, Dade City manager, and other city officials described new apartment development near the high school and missing sidewalk connections that force students to walk along busy roads. County Administrator Mike Carballa said the county has convened a group of county engineering, public works and school board staff to inventory needs and prioritize projects and noted state appropriation dollars previously secured for a Lake Padgett area school project.
County staff agreed to review transit route efficiency and bus‑stop placement and to incorporate school‑area pedestrian improvements into planning. Officials also discussed cooperating on funding and design for crosswalk lights and roundabout or intersection changes where appropriate.
Why it matters: Officials said school routing changes and a shortage of bus drivers have increased walking distances for students, creating urgent pedestrian‑safety issues around older schools designed before current traffic patterns.
What’s next: County and city engineers will identify priority sidewalk and crosswalk locations and revisit transit stop placement as part of an ongoing route review; staff will report back on funding and timelines.
