The project consists of widening US 301 from south of US 98 to SR 50 (Cortez Boulevard) from two to four lanes and is being evaluated for multimodal facilities (pedestrian, bicycle and transit accommodations), various intersection improvements, median modification, and SMF and FPC sites. It is located in both Pasco and Hernando Counties and is approximately 4.0 miles long. A project location map is provided on this page. Within the project limits, US 301 is a two-lane, undivided rural facility and is functionally classified as an Urban Principal Arterial – Other for the segment of the project area south of SR 575/CR 575 and a Rural Principal Arterial – Other for the segment north of SR 575/CR 575.
Project Purpose and Need
The purpose of the project is to address existing safety issues on US 301, which is a crucial north-south roadway providing an important freight route through Florida as well as much of the East Coast.
US 301, within the project limits, exhibits crash rates that are higher than the statewide average for similar facilities. Improving freight capacity on US 301 is vital to the efficient movement of freight through Florida. This project is needed to address these safety issues and provide a safe parallel alternative freight route to I-75.