The most newsworthy aspect of the meeting centered around the proposed extension of Air’s Road, which faced significant opposition from the public. Residents voiced strong objections, highlighting the potential disruption to the rural environment and the impact on local agriculture and wetlands. Melanie Lambertson was particularly vocal in her opposition, arguing that the extension would destroy the natural landscape and increase traffic and accidents. She emphasized the area’s ecological significance and called for consideration of existing routes like Colreath Road as alternatives. Chris Lennox and Nancy Hazelwood echoed these sentiments, with Hazelwood questioning the rationale of building a highway primarily serving Hernando County, which would negatively affect Pasco residents. Hazelwood urged for a public ballot to give the community a voice in such transformative decisions.

Christy Zimmer raised concerns about a potential merger of the MPOs, cautioning against losing funding and influence to larger counties. She provided historical context about past involvement in the Citizen Advisory Committee and emphasized the importance of maintaining autonomy. Cindy Buckle highlighted traffic safety issues, citing nearly 6,000 accidents in Pasco County over the past year, while Shelby Gells expressed her personal stake as a resident directly affected by the proposed routes, fearing increased traffic and accidents.

The MPO meeting also addressed several updates and amendments to existing projects. A notable discussion involved safety concerns on US Highway 19, with a recommendation for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to evaluate potential safety improvements or speed reductions in a high-crash segment. The MPO board reviewed amendments to the Unified Planning Work Program and fiscal year 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program, which included funding allocations and modifications to existing projects.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TISMO), aimed at enhancing transportation efficiency without increasing capacity. The MPO board expressed support for a letter backing the regional collaboration initiative, emphasizing the role of TISMO in accommodating emerging technologies like connected autonomous vehicles.

Additionally, the meeting covered the introduction of the Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP), designed to address vulnerabilities in roadways due to natural and man-made events. The plan, developed in collaboration with Vulker, Inc., aims to analyze nearly 2,000 miles of roadways in Pasco County, with a focus on flooding, fires, and cybersecurity threats. Public involvement and stakeholder engagement were emphasized, with workshops planned for February to gather community input.

Discussions also revolved around the Fort King Road transportation alternatives project, which had been in the pipeline for several years. The project is part of the Local Agency Program, involving federal funds for local projects. There was some confusion regarding the project’s sudden emergence on the priority list, but it was clarified that it had been awaiting its turn based on previous prioritization.

The meeting concluded with updates on various road projects and funding allocations. The upcoming transit corridor program for State Road 54 aims to enhance regional connectivity, and the State Road 52 project is divided into segments due to rising costs. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements were addressed, with ongoing initiatives to fill sidewalk gaps on the state highway system.