The Brooksville City Council discussed how to pay for the next step of a North Avenue sidewalk at its most recent meeting. On Monday, Nov. 2, council members reviewed a feasibility survey for a sidewalk between Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Howell Avenue. The route leads to the entrance of Hernando High School.
The survey was coordinated by ProCivil 360 and conducted by Integrity Land Solutions, Inc. It recommends building the sidewalk on the south side of North Avenue for most of the route, then shifting to the north side. A pedestrian crossing would come before Howell Avenue. Issues still to be addressed include ADA accessibility, stormwater drainage, pedestrian safety and right-of-way.
Councilman J.W. McKethan said he has lived in the neighborhood along North Avenue his entire life. He said residents have long wanted and needed a sidewalk. The street has a 25-mile-per-hour speed limit. McKethan said he drives it every night after council meetings. He said pedestrians and bicyclists can be hard to see in darker stretches without streetlights, especially near the crest of the hill. He also called the road a major route across the city, used by students and many other drivers. He said he was pleased that the plan puts most of the sidewalk on the south side before switching to the north side.
The project has been on the city’s agenda for years. In November 2023, the council considered lowering the North Avenue speed limit from 25 to 15 mph but dropped the idea after residents objected. In March 2025, the council agreed to add the sidewalk project to the 2026 budget. In May 2026, the city reported that surveying for a sidewalk between U.S. 98 and Howell Avenue would conclude in July, after which the city would pursue funding. The city asked the school superintendent and the principal of Hernando High School for letters of support.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
