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River Ridge Middle Student Becomes 'Spokes'-Man

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: December 6, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Corey Smith might be a big wheel someday. Right now, though, the River Ridge Middle School student and his friends want to be able to ride bicycles to school in greater safety.

County commissioners were impressed this week by the student "spokes"-man, who diligently researched how Pasco might add sidewalks and perhaps bicycle lanes along Moon Lake Road.

Moon Lake Road might get sidewalks when it is widened, but the widening project has been pushed back to 2022 in the latest timetable, Corey said.

On that schedule he would be 26 years old by the time the road project is completed, the youth noted.

"Walking and biking to schools also reduces the number of cars on the road and saves gas," Corey told commissioners. Traffic along the current two-lane road makes it impractical for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Corey enlisted the aid of an engineer in preparing aerial maps of the Moon Lake Road area marked with the route for sidewalks, possible crosswalks needed and additional street lights.

Through networking, Corey found officials with the Florida Safe Routes to Schools program, which supervises federal funds for the type of sidewalks he suggests.

The Safe Routes program recently supplied $298,000 to build 8-foot-wide sidewalks to Gulf Highlands Elementary in the Port Richey area, Commission Chairman Jack Mariano pointed out.

So commissioners might pursue funds for Moon Lake Road sidewalks.

And once the county is ready to widen Moon Lake Road, perhaps Corey might return as an engineer to help design it, Commissioner Pat Mulieri said with a chuckle.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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