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Suncoast Pasco News

Misdirected Jolt

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THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: February 7, 2009

The fate of President Barack Obama's "economic stimulus" package was, as of yesterday, still up in the air as the arm twisting and horse trading continued in Congress. There seems little doubt, however, that some sort of bill creating a huge pot of money - and a big debt bill that will come due one day - will make it to the president's desk.

Pasco County officials hope Obama gets what he wants. They have cobbled together a long list of road projects they would pay for with whatever stimulus money comes their way. The county's complete list has a $998 million price tag. West Pasco examples on the road-building list include: the extension of Ridge Road east to the Suncoast Parkway, $71.3 million; four-laning the full length of Moon Lake Road, $56.7 million; and creating continuous right-turn lanes and reconfiguring medians along U.S. 19, $25.3 million.

These are, to be sure, worthy projects. We, for example, have been agitating to get the long-delayed Ridge Road extension built because it would be a much-needed third east-west disaster evacuation route out of West Pasco. It has been mired for years in a permitting dismal swamp and still faces legal challenges from environmental groups.

Here's what we don't get: How does this stimulate the Pasco economy, especially in the near term? For better or worse, the building and selling of houses is what fuels our economic engine. Adding two lanes to Moon Lake Road or restricting median access on U.S. 19 won't help much with that.

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