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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is undertaking a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study to consider roadway improvements along US 301 in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. The project begins at Fowler Avenue and extends north to the State Road (SR) 56 intersection with US 301, a distance of 13.1 miles. The PD&E study involves developing roadway alternatives that widen US 301 from the existing two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway and includes pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. The project team will evaluate the engineering, social and environmental effects of widening the road and compare the effects for each alternative.

Study Purpose and Need

The purpose of this project is to provide additional roadway capacity and improve safety on this portion of US 301 in unincorporated Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. US 301 is a major north-south roadway used for travel through Hillsborough and Pasco counties and provides access to many of the area’s major roadways including I-75, I-4, SR 39, SR 56, SR 54 and SR 52. It is an important roadway in the overall Tampa Bay area as it is listed as an emergency evacuation route.

Existing Facility

The existing US 301 roadway has a two-lane undivided rural typical section from Fowler Avenue to SR 56. The roadway is functionally classified by FDOT as an Urban Other Principal Arterial from Fowler Avenue to just north of CR 579 (Mango Road) and from the County line to SR 56. The remaining portion of the project is classified as a Rural Other Principal Arterial. The posted speed limits within the study corridor are 55 miles per hour (mph) from Fowler Avenue to Flint Creek and 60 mph from Flint Creek to SR 56.

The existing typical section consists of one 12-foot travel lane and a 5-foot paved shoulder in each direction and a 2.2-mile, variable width, shared-use path (known as the Old Fort King Trail) running along the east side of US 301 beginning just north of Stacy Road. The shared-use path crosses US 301 at two locations. Drainage is collected in roadside ditches and is ultimately conveyed to the Hillsborough River. The existing right-of-way (ROW) width ranges from 100 feet to 200 feet.

Proposed Improvements

The proposed Build Alternative is composed of two typical sections. An urban typical section with a target/design speed of 45 mph is proposed from Fowler Avenue to Stacy Road. This typical section has two 11-foot travel lanes in each direction, a 30-foot raised median including 4-foot paved inside shoulders, and 7-foot bike lanes in each direction. There is a 6-foot sidewalk on the east side of the roadway and a 12-foot shared use path on the west side of the roadway.

A suburban typical section with a target/design speed of 55 mph is proposed from Stacy Road to SR 56. This typical section has two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, a 30-foot raised median including 4-foot paved inside shoulders, and 10-foot outside shoulders (5-foot paved). There is a 6-foot sidewalk on the east side of the roadway and a 12-foot shared use path on the west side of the roadway. Where possible, pavement savings will be achieved by converting the existing two-lane roadway to southbound only operation.