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A Collision Of Missions Along State's Major Roads

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2008

An ongoing conflict in Zephyrhills, Pasco County's second-largest city, provides yet another example of why local governments need to control growth and work closely with transportation officials.

Some Zephyrhills merchants and residents understandably object to the state Department of Transportation's plan to turn the city's major north-south highway through the downtown area into a one-way road. Nearly two miles of U.S. 301 would become one-way for northbound motorists, while those heading south would have to take a side road already limited to traffic in one direction.

Without question, improvements to U.S. 301, known as Gall Boulevard in the city, are needed. The heart of Zephyrhills is often congested, especially when seasonal residents are in town, and on weekends. Both sides of U.S. 301 are packed with businesses, and there appears to be little right of way for easy expansion. Better planning could have avoided this dilemma.

But whether bifurcating roads such as U.S. 301 in towns is the best cure is questionable. One-way traffic can harm businesses and change the character of downtowns.

Commercial districts in many towns and cities are fighting to compete with outlying big-box stores and shopping centers. Their economies are threatened.

Granted, DOT's mission is to move traffic, but care must be taken so commerce isn't forced to take a back seat. DOT, rather than thinking only of traffic flow, should work with local businesses leaders. This is especially important in Zephyrhills, where officials are doing their best to develop a pedestrian friendly downtown. Diverting traffic is likely to disrupt commerce, especially since one-way roads can make it more difficult to get to a store.

As one Zephyrhills merchant pointed out in written opposition filed at a public meeting: "This project will destroy small businesses on Gall Boulevard from the day work begins. We own a chain of 350 stores across the country and have seen this scenario many times ..."

Elsewhere in West-Central Florida, splitting major highways has yielded mixed results. In the Hernando County city of Brooksville, for example, some folks still debate the merits of a similar change made to part of U.S. 41, also known as Broad Street there, several years ago. Still, it's clear that navigating downtown Brooksville was made more difficult.

But in the Hardee County city of Wauchula, where U.S. 17 underwent a similar split a few years ago, the news is more encouraging. Hardee economic development official Bill Lambert notes the change was somewhat painful at first, especially considering businesses lost about half the normal traffic. But, he stresses, congestion was relieved, the city has the capability of doubling the amount of commercial property, and businesses have adjusted, in part through simple measures such as signs. Local traffic wasn't impacted, he says.

Lambert also points out that another possibility could be much worse than what's planned in Zephyrhills: "I think businesses would rather have a bifurcated road than a bypass around the city."

Still, DOT officials must remember that there already are a couple of decent routes around the most congested part of Zephyrhills. While addressing traffic issues is, indeed, important, DOT shouldn't erect a road block to a city's commerce and people's livelihoods.

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