Hey Citrus! This parkway is for you

A little road extension opened up the other day. You may have heard about it.
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Just Wright Citrus’ posting Monday evening of the Suncoast Parkway opening between S.R. 44 and C.R. 486 garnered quite a bit of attention — over 214,000 views and 300-plus comments.

That’s a significant amount of chatter for something I didn’t think was that far on folks’ radar. 

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I’m going to write a lot more about the parkway because we just don’t talk about it enough. That’s a huge social, economic, and growth driver slicing through our midsection. And we’re only halfway through.

This particular section is a gift from the Florida Department of Transportation to Citrus County. The 486 interchange was never part of the original road. It was added only when Citrus County commissioners asked for the interchange because they were so far behind in widening C.R. 491.

I mean…I’d like to tell you there’s a strategic plan behind the 486 interchange. Nope. Actually, just the opposite. Lousy planning on the county’s part, combined with great political connections at the time, and we see the result.

Here are some reader comments to Monday's post, and my 2 cents:

— “I work in Tampa and this will save me 20 minutes of driving when I have to get on at the 44 exit.”

I saw a few similar comments. The Suncoast Parkway is creating a bedroom community in Citrus County. We always knew that would happen, but the 486 interchange makes it even more convenient for the Central Ridge.

— “Pine Ridge will be a busy place.”

We need to give our Pine Ridge friends some breathing space. Sand pit — oh my! Golf course homes — oh my! Parkway exit near its doorstep — oh my! And more development plans on the way.

The 486 interchange originally came out directly opposite Pine Ridge Boulevard. The state moved it east, but Pine Ridge folks are rightly nervous about what the parkway does to their quiet community.

— “It will mean less traffic in our communities.”

That’s opposite the Pine Ridge concern, and it’s actually one of the original plugs for the parkway. The idea that, somehow, this will draw traffic off our local roads.

Other people noted that whatever traffic the parkway saves off local roads is offset by residential growth the parkway brings. I’ll be interested to hear a year from now whether this prediction rings true.

— “I hate that we still have to pay so much in tolls, but it is so much easier than going down 19.”

And that’s the basic Suncoast Parkway pitch right there. It’s convenient. And “toll by plate” means I don’t even think about it until SunPass charges my account.

— “Wow, what a change in our neighborhoods.”

Totally agree. It’s a shock to the system seeing all this growth, especially in the 486 commercial corridor.

— “The Nature Coast is disappearing at a staggering pace.”

And that, folks, is the crux of our debate. The county’s strategic theme is “where nature and community thrive.” Many would say the nature part of that statement is disappearing under the weight of a County Commission that favors developers and their dreams over established citizens who struggle with all this change.

Folks, we have GOT to talk about this. Not scream at it, not bark at it, not point fingers. Our very way of life is at stake. That’s worthy of some discussion, no?

— We’re giving the JWC staff a four-day Labor Day weekend as we start preparations for World Headquarters III. No blog Friday, but we’ll be back on Tuesday.

Have a super Thursday, friends.

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