Pasco County's planning board put a $77 million Odessa road extension and a $24.2 million Land O' Lakes road completion on its state-funding priority list Sept. 3.

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) added the Rangeland Boulevard extension and the Sunlake Boulevard completion to its 2026 Transportation Regional Incentive Program priority list, Tampa Bay Beacons first reported. The program, known as TRIP, is administered by the Florida Department of Transportation and can cover up to 50% of a regionally significant road project's cost. The local government pays the rest.

For the Rangeland project, Pasco County would seek $38.5 million from TRIP and put up $38.5 million locally. The Sunlake project would split its cost into equal $12.1 million shares between state and county funds. Both estimates cover design, right-of-way acquisition and construction.

Rangeland extension aims to ease State Road 54 traffic

The Rangeland extension would run 3.4 miles from Cattle Gap Trail to an existing roundabout at Bexley Village Drive, passing beneath the Suncoast Parkway through a new overpass. County officials told the Beacons the road would help relieve congestion on State Road 54.

Bexley residents, including those behind the Keep Bexley Beautiful effort, have urged the county to choose a design that avoids adding a traffic signal or on- and off-ramps at the Suncoast Parkway.

Pasco County announced a Rangeland Boulevard Route Study Public Workshop on Sept. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center. If design, approvals and funding stay on track, construction would begin in 2029.

Sunlake completion offers drivers alternative to U.S. 41

The Sunlake project would close the last gap in the road, connecting it from State Road 54 north to State Road 52. The missing stretch runs nearly 4.5 miles from Ridge Road to Center Village Drive in Angeline.

County officials told the Beacons the completed road would give commuters an alternative to U.S. 41, also known as Land O' Lakes Boulevard. If the project stays on schedule, construction would begin in 2028.

Residents can reach the Pasco County MPO at 727-847-2411 or visit pascocountyfl.net/services/mpo.