Linebaugh Avenue Gets Bigger Under County's Plan; But do we Really Need it?

Linebaugh Avenue would be widened to a four lane divided highway from Countryway Blvd. to Race Track Road under Hillsborough County's proposed .

The Board of Supervisors will vote on the during a public meeting tonight at 6pm.

But at least one Westchase official doesn't feel the project is essential. Instead he says the $1.7 million slated for the design phase of the widening should go to an extension of Citrus Park Drive.

The Citrus Park Drive extension would have been 2.82 miles east connecting Countryway Blvd. and Sheldon Road. The project was approved in 2007, but has since been put on hold indefinitely.

"There’s a lot of communities out there that have to loop around Lineabugh to reach the Veterans Expressway causing much heavier traffic," said Joaquin Arrillaga, president of the Westchase Community Association. "I beilve the funds are better used to connect Coutryway and Citrus Park."

Arrillaga also expressed concern that the road widening may allow larger trucks to use Westchase as a throughfare.

Another factor that could be affected by the widening: flooding.

Westchase CDD East chair Greg Chesney said his board sent a letter to the county expressing concern over the water issue that could arise from the Linebaugh widening.

Chesney said the board will remain involved with the project to ensure there are no flooding issues and it is in accordance with the look and feel of Westchase roadways.

But it could be a while yet before those issues need to be addresed. That's because the county is only funding the design phase of the Linebaugh project. While funding for construction is slated for 2014, the source of that funding is undetermined, said Jon-Paul Lavandeira, project controls for Hillsborough County Infracstructure and Development Services.

The $15 million construction project was going to be paid for with county sales tax funding. But revenues from that tax have decreased sharply over the years, leaving construction of Linebaugh Avenue hanging in the balance, Lavandeira said.

Other things to watch for at tonight's meeting:

• Westchase Recreation Center Expansion. This gymnasium will be expanded by 10,000 square feet. The completion date is unknown for this $2-million project.
• Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library Expansion. The will cost $2.9 million and begin on Oct. 2012 and be complete about a year later.

Want to attend tonight's meeting:

When: Thursday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.

Where: Frederick B. Karl County Center, second floor, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa.

A detailed listing of the projects included in the program is available for review at the Hillsborough County Business and Support Services Department, located on the 26^th Floor of Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in Tampa, Florida; or by clicking on the above link or by visiting http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/managementbudget/budgets/recommended/fy12/home.cfm