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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) conducted a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate alternative improvements for US 41 (SR 45) from Kracker Avenue (milepoint 15.784) to south of SR 676 (Causeway Boulevard – milepoint 22.791) in Hillsborough County, a distance of approximately 7.0 miles. Study objectives included: determining proposed typical sections and developing preliminary conceptual design plans for proposed improvements, while minimizing impacts to the environment; considering agency and public comments; and ensuring project compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. Improvement alternatives were identified which will improve safety and satisfy future transportation demand.

Study Purpose

The objective of this Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study was to assist the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in reaching a decision on the type, location, and conceptual design of the proposed improvements for widening US 41 (SR 45) from Kracker Avenue to south of Causeway Boulevard (SR 676). The PD&E study satisfied all applicable requirements in order for this project to qualify for funding of subsequent development phases (design, right of way [ROW] acquisition, and construction).

US 41 is a major north-south arterial of regional significance that parallels Interstate 75 (I-75) and US 301 in Hillsborough County. This project was screened through FDOT’s Efficient Transportation Decision Making (ETDM) process as Project #5180. A Final Programming Screen Summary Report was published on April 10, 2013. A State Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) was originally prepared as part of this study and approved on January 12, 2017. Since then, federal funds have been programmed for this project, so the FDOT is now updating the PD&E study to convert the SEIR to a federal Type 2 Categorical Exclusion.