The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Visit FDOT’s website, District Seven, in cooperation with Dade City and the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization, identified proposed improvements to US 98 at US 301 and Clinton Avenue in Pasco County. The project evaluated potential alternatives for the realignment of US 98 to Clinton Avenue to eliminate the closely spaced intersections of US 301 at US 98 and US 301/US 98 at Clinton Avenue. The study determined the best corridor to accomplish the realignment that would improve safety along the corridor, facilitate east/west traffic movement, maximize current Clinton Avenue investments, and address safety issues.
The study area, shown in the project location map below, is bounded by US 301/US 98 on the west, Clinton Avenue on the north, Old Lakeland Highway (CR 35A) on the east and US 98 on the south. US 301 is currently a four-lane divided facility throughout the project limits. A Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study has been completed for the widening of US 301 from four-lanes to six-lanes in the segment from south of US 98 to Clinton Avenue. US 98 is a two-lane undivided facility, and Clinton Avenue is a four-lane divided roadway. The US 301/US 98 corridor connects local commuters to regionally significant corridors, including I-75 to the west and I-4 to the east. The project study area includes portions of unincorporated Pasco County and Dade City.
The study, which began in April 2019, included technical work and data analysis, along with various opportunities for the public to be involved in defining which corridors will move forward beyond the ACE process for further evaluation during a subsequent Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study.
Study Purpose and Need
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to:
- Determine the best corridor to accomplish the realignment of US 98 to Clinton Avenue and identify existing challenges and opportunities related to existing and projected development, traffic operations, environmental impacts, access, safety, accessibility to transit, and pedestrian and bicycle connectivity.
- Identify suitable improvement alternatives that:
- Eliminate the closely spaced intersections of US 301 at US 98 and US 301 at Clinton Avenue;
- Facilitate east/west travel;
- Maximize the benefits from the current investment for the Clinton Avenue extension west of US 301 that is currently underway; and
- Enhance safety along the corridor.
- Identify any fatal flaws with the developed alternatives.
Need:
This project was needed to address the safety concerns in this area.
Safety
The closely spaced intersections of US 301 at US 98 and US 301 at Clinton Avenue have crash rates that exceed the statewide average. Between 2013 and 2017, the intersection of US 301 at US 98 experienced a total of 68 crashes. The predominant crash types were angle crashes (57%) followed by rear end crashes (32%). This intersection exhibited a crash rate (crash ratio = 2.457) that was consistently higher than the statewide average for a similar type of intersection.
Between 2013 and 2017, the intersection of US 301 and Clinton Avenue experienced a total of 71 crashes. The predominant crash types were rear end crashes (51%) followed by angle crashes (28%). This intersection exhibited a crash rate (crash ratio = 2.181) that was consistently higher than the statewide average for a similar type of intersection. A realignment of US 98 to Clinton Avenue to eliminate high traffic volumes at one of the two closely spaced intersections has the potential to reduce crashes and enhance safety.
Prepare for SR 52 Realignment. Additionally, design is underway for the realignment of SR 52 from east of McKendree Road to east of US 301; this improvement is funded for construction in 2020. The realignment of SR 52 will serve as an additional east-west route in the regional transportation network, and once constructed, this improvement will increase traffic at the US 301/US 98/Clinton Avenue intersection as well as on the US 98 roadway segment.
Improve Safety. Additionally, a realignment of the US 301/US 98 intersection to reduce the existing intersection skew has the potential to reduce crashes and enhance safety.