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Pasco Pasco Studying Long-Range Trail Plan

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: February 25, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - County officials are wishing happy trails to West Pasco pedestrians, bicyclists and exercisers.

A long-range plan would add paths, sidewalks or intersection improvements along area roads, consultants recently told the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Connections with the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail are among suggestions.

Just don't be in a hurry to hit the trails. The county will have to set aside $15 million by 2025 to build the amenities.

At this early stage, the options are being studied before looking for grants, said Luis A. Ferreira, a project engineer from a Tampa office of the Jacobs consulting firm, which is advising county leaders.

An extension of the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park trail to New Port Richey does appear on a county wish list for federal stimulus money.

In the meantime, the county's best chance to fast-track projects would be to build 12-foot, multiuse trails along roads using the existing utility corridors, Ferreira reported. Progress Energy Florida would have to go along with that concept, he added.

U.S. 19 presents unique challenges, Ferreira noted. A trail in place of sidewalks is one option. A bike lane along the shoulder of the highway could be another option.

"The driveways into (businesses) cause major problems," Ferreira observed. Drivers turning onto U.S. 19 might not anticipate bicyclists and pedestrians crossing into the path of vehicles.

At the U.S. 19 bridge over the Pithlachascotee River, an underpass is gaining traction as an option for foot traffic. A boardwalk along the bridge is under consideration.

Four intersections along U.S. 19 might be reconfigured to be more pedestrian friendly. The intersections at Ridge Road, Grand Boulevard, Main Street and Trouble Creek Road could get a makeover.

MPO members suggested warning signs and pavement markings to alert drivers to be on the lookout for bicyclists.

"Right now it's extraordinarily dangerous," said Councilman Rob Marlowe, a New Port Richey representative on the Metropolitan Planning Organization. Cars turning at busy corners on U.S. 19 could collide with people on bikes, "avid bicyclist" Marlowe explained.

"I cringe every time I see someone in the community on bicycle," Marlowe commented. "It's scary."

Other possible projects listed in the MPO trails feasibility study include:

Holiday

•Sweetbriar Drive extension, potential connection to Pinellas Trail Utility Corridor, Key Vista Nature Park and Gulf Trace Boulevard.

Coastal area

•Sea Forest corridor and Oelsner Road.

New Port Richey

•Rivers Edge, Historic Downtown, New Port Richey Aquatics and Recreation Center, connection to Starkey Preserve.

Port Richey

•Miller Bayou Park, Brasher Park, Werner Boyce Salt Springs State Park and Scenic Drive to future connection northward.

Trinity

•Potential connection between Pinellas Trail via Keystone Road and Starkey Trail.

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

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