Public Hearing for the proposed Good Neighbor Trail Gap Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study, in Hernando County, Florida, WPI Segment No.: 437264-2. The FDOT is conducting a public hearing regarding the proposed trail to complete a gap in Florida’s Coast to Coast Trail in the Brooksville area. The proposed gap trail will begin on SR 50 west of Cobb Road and continue easterly through Brooksville, ending at the present Good Neighbor Trail at the intersection of Main Street and Russell Street. The total distance is approximately 3.2 miles. The purpose of this public hearing is to present information and receive public input regarding the proposed gap trail. Information related to historic resources will be provided at the Public Hearing. This will provide information to residents, local public officials, and interested persons and organizations relative to the process and schedule for identifying and evaluating historic resources, determining significant historic properties, and evaluating potential impacts to significant historic properties. This public hearing will be held in at the following location and date: Public Hearing : Thursday, March 14, 2019 Jerome Brown Community Center 99 Jerome Brown Place Brooksville, Florida 34601 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Formal presentation: 6:30 p.m. Draft project documents will be available for public review from February 21, 2019 to March 25, 2019 at the following locations: · Florida Department of Transportation, District 7, Planning & Environmental Management Office: 11201 N. McKinley Drive MS 7-500, Tampa, Florida 33612, Tel: (813) 975-6445, Monday-Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; Saturday & Sunday: Closed. · Hernando County Public Library: 238 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, Florida 34601, Tel: (813) 754-4043, Monday-Friday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday: Closed Draft documents will also be on display at the public hearing. Persons wishing to submit written statements or other exhibits, in place of or in additional to oral statements, may do so at the hearing or by sending them to Kirk Bogen, P.E., Environmental Management Engineer, 11201 N. McKinley Drive MS 7-500, Tampa, FL 33612. All exhibits or statements postmarked on or before March 25, 2019 will become part of the public hearing record. Information related to Historic Resources will be presented at the Public Hearing. This will provide information to residents, local public officials, and interested persons and organizations relative to the process and schedule for identifying and evaluating historic resources, determining significant historic properties, and evaluating potential impacts to significant historic properties. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) requires federal agencies to consider the effects of projects they carry out, approve, or fund on historic properties. There are four historic properties identified within the project’s area of potential effect (APE) that are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). These historic properties include: the Brooksville Overpass over the CSX Railroad (8HE00389), the Downtown Brooksville Historic District (8HE00854) and its eight contributing resources, the residence at 140 Main Street (8HE00170), and the Brooksville Lumber (8HE00175). The last two are also contributing resources to the historic district. The proposed project is anticipated to result in No Adverse Effect to these historic properties. The proposed shared use path (“trail”) is expected to range in width from 10 to 12 feet in most areas, but may be as narrow as eight feet along Fridy Place. The trail will be constructed mostly within existing roadway rights-of-way (ROW), a combination of state and local roads. Additional ROW will be required in several areas. Trail bridges are proposed at two locations: across Cortez Boulevard south of W Jefferson Street (SR 50A), and over the CSX Transportation Railroad at Broad Street just west of uptown Brooksville. A culvert extension is proposed over Wombles Creek. The trail surface is proposed to be asphalt for most areas and required improvements to drainage conveyances will be determined during the design phase. In addition to this ongoing PD&E study, the trail is also in the final design phase, with design scheduled to be completed in February 2020. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) pursuant to 23 U.S. C. §327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 14, 2016 and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and FDOT. FDOT welcomes and appreciates everyone’s participation. If you have questions about the project or the scheduled hearing, please contact Kirk Bogen, P.E., Environmental Management Office, Project Manager at (813) 975-6398 or (800) 226-7220 or visit our project website at www.active.fdotd7studies.com/good-neighbor-trail/. Comuníquese con nosotros Nos importa mucho la opinión del público sobre el proyecto. Si tiene preguntas o comentarios, o simplemente desea más información, por favor comuníquese con nosotros. Nuestra representante en español es: Lilliam E. Escalera, EMO Project Manager Departamento de Transporte de la Florida – Distrito 7 lilliam.escalera@dot.state.fl.us, (813) 975-6445 Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status.