This extension was "a disastrous idea when it was proposed in 2019 under the M-CORES banner, and it remains so today," the release stated. With varied responses from local governments, residents have taken it upon themselves to express their frustrations through letters, public meetings, online communication and mass organization. "The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has completed the Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Study for the Northern Turnpike Extension without recommending a specific corridor," the . NW 215th . Joslyn Seefeldt lives on about 28 acres of land in Morriston, a rural exurb in Levy County. to US 192. FDOT conducted an Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) to evaluate the extension of Floridas Turnpike (State Road [SR] 91) from its northerly terminus in Wildwood to a logical and appropriate terminus as determined by the Department. Check out the map! FDOT, which is required to provide an updated report to the Legislature by years end, reached a similar finding following public hearings and local governments weighing in. 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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting November 15, 2021; Posted November 17, 2021 Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright by Extensive-Enterprises 2023. The third route, also known as the South Extension Turnpike, connects the East-West Connector to I-35 near Purcell. As population, traffic and employment in the affected counties are estimated to increase, the extension aims to support the regions growth. Interchange Improvements at Hainlin Mill Rd. M-CORES may have been repealed, but Senate Bill 100 left the door open for future turnpike extensions. Bryant said the commission has been "inundated with emails" about thematter, and noted that while commissioners serve countywide, they also represent districts and her district, which is No. February 2, 2022 Agriculture, Rural equity, Transportation. As previously reported by theGrio, a proposed $450 million bridge development would cut through a different historic Black community near Fort Lauderdale. In the end, Tuesday nightwas just the first of many meetings planned to get input from residents. Related: Norman Residents Strongly Oppose Turnpike Expansion Plan In Tense Town Hall Meeting. June 8, 2022. DeSantis demands answers on Pine Hills shooting suspects criminal history, Exploring Tampa City Councilmember Lynn Hurtaks ties to Democratic Socialists, No. By Heather Bushman. People opposed to the possible extension said it would ruin rural areas in this part of Florida, would cause environmental problems, and would infringe on wildlife habitat. We will continue to track this project for further developments and encourage citizens to participate in FDOTs project study, she wrote. Potential Florida Turnpike extension threatens rural land. "It will only be a few miles from our house," said Karen Leland, who added they just retired in Pennsylvania and purchased their forever home. All available parking spaces were filled and some vehicles were turned away because parking had reached capacity. Residents gathered this week at New Life Center Ministries. FDOT has a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7 at CF in Lecanto. Senate Bill (SB) 100 (2021), codified in section 339.66(6), Florida Statutes directs FDOT to commence the PD&E Study for the Northern Turnpike Extension. Source: Beverly Steele. Map of the Suncoast Parkway, including exits, toll locations and available plazas and rest areas. TALLAHASSEE - The state Department of Transportation has paused plans to extend Florida's Turnpike northwest from Wildwood after four potential routes . The central road system the proposed Northern Turnpike Connector extends some 40 miles southeast from the Suncoast Connector to the northern terminus of the Florida Turnpike and traverses Citrus, Levy, Marion and Sumter Counties. Limited access highways, like the Florida Turnpike, invite opportunities for mass development and urban sprawl. Contracts executed for the following firms to begin engineering design on the second priority East-West Connector projects: Contracts executed for the following firms to begin engineering design: A series of four public meetings were hosted by OTA to discuss the new alignments in the ACCESS program. If the northernmost proposal to extend the interstate is selected, it would endanger Seefeldts equestrian sanctuary. Please refer to our. Linda stood directly in the middle of the lobby, holdingtwo signs. Theres going to have to be an east-west connector in the central part of the state, he said. The report notes that most of the people there were advocating for a no-build option which would be against all four potential routes of the development. You can opt-out at any time. Mike Wright is a former reporter with the Citrus County Chronicle, where he had covered county government and politics since 1987. Southern Connector Extension. Instead,people wandered throughout the immaculate campus, sharing how one route or another would destroy their land and/orneighborhood. It then heads north and curves west across SR40 and U.S. 41 and then heads southwest to U.S. 19 just north of Yankeetown. PUBLISHED 4:10 PM ET Apr. In that release, DOTSecretary Jared W. Perdue is quoted as saying: The goal of every project is to ensure all needs are met, environmental concerns are addressed, and community characteristics are protected. Earlier this year, state lawmakers eliminated a toll road proposed for southern Florida. It appears state officials have heeded the anti-extension message for now. Residents have been pushing for an extension of the Florida Turnpikewhich is needed to lessen traffic on Interstate 75, that would not come through Royal citing, "the adverse impact on the historic African-American community.". A full report is expected to be on the governor's desk by the end of 2022. You will then receive an email that helps you regain access. "The project is early in the planning phase, and is following the Florida Department of Transportation alternative corridor evaluation process.". Residents spoke out against the proposed Northern Turnpike Extension project for about an hour and a half, and that included Dunnellon Mayor Bill White. Widen Turnpike from Campbell Dr. to Tallahassee Rd. The program was repealed in June of last year, but the state legislature still saw potential in the project. She noted that the agency has identified four alternative potential corridors. Presently, three of the four proposed routes would pass through Marion County. Florida Turnpike: Three of four proposed routes pass through SW Marion County, SR 200: SR 200 corridor to get another traffic light, this time at Southwest 80th Street, The roads most traveled: The Marion County roads with the highest traffic counts. In southwestern Marion, where 25,000-plus homes and several thousand multi-family units are poised to be built, the turnpike extension could ease congestion. One of the discussions from Monday night's Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting was whether to allow a wedding venue to continue offering glamping (glamorous camping) on an 8-acre farm in southwest Marion County near Marion Oaks. The idea for the extension began with the Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance program (M-CORES), which proposed three new toll roads and aimed to strengthen rural infrastructure. A programmed project to widen the Turnpike Extension from three to . Three task forces met for several months, and from that FDOT decided to drop a pair of toll road ideas: Extending the Suncoast Parkway from Citrus County to Interstate 10, and the Southwest Central Florida Connector between Polk and Collier counties. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Though the route may be opposed by many, the need is great for easing traffic backups on I-75. OTA placed all work on the ACCESS program on pause. She suggested that improving I-75 would solve the state's transportation concerns better than extending the turnpike would. However, it did recommend expanding traffic capacity on existing roadways, such as I-75 and U.S. 27, to achieve the same goal without building additional roadways. WUSF 89.7 depends on donors for the funding it takes to provide you the most trusted source of news and information here in town, across our state, and around the world. M-CORES. "Basedon feedback received from across the four-county study area," the DOT says in its news release, "significant concerns were identified with portions of all four initially proposed corridors. Kevin Sheilley, president and CEO of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership,said this development did not surprise him. Bldg. Royala neighborhood just west of Wildwood in Sumter County could be cut in half if the proposed Northern Turnpike Extension plan moves forward. Access from your area has been temporarily limited for security reasons. Theyre making a billion dollars, and they dont give us chump change, another Royal resident, Larry Lawson said. Green Ops Group, based in Columbus, Ohio, is already renovating two other spaces in Ocala, according to city permit records. The study area for connecting the Florida Turnpike to the Suncoast Parkway involves Citrus, Levy, Marion and Sumter counties. Several alternative routes were presented during a public meeting Tuesday night in Chiefland, in Levy County. https://t.co/wz5Ejjcbwf. Wednesday February 2, 2022. . Work on the proposed extension started, maps were passed around and possible routes drawn. Floridas Turnpike Resurfacing Project from MP 112 to MP 118, Turnpike AET, Lantana Toll Plaza to Three Lakes Toll Plaza, Central & West Central Florida DMS & CCTV Camera Installation. https://t.co/hox3jID8Vc. "A lot of our neighbors say it will got through their property and they would have to move.". Career Opportunities. Projects in the PD&E Phase are being evaluated for potential physical, economical, or environmental impacts. WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7 | Thebill states that Florida Department of Transportation will conduct a study to determine the best route from "its northerly terminus in Wildwoodto a logical and appropriate terminus," which has been identified as U.S. 19. FLORIDA'S LARGEST HIGHWAY EXPANSION IN OVER 60 YEARS. Commissioner Craig Curry echoed that sentiment, noting that he needed at least a week to study the issue. Florida Department of Transportation, ALERT : Mainline Converts to Electronic Toll Collection, DECEMBER 2021 PUBLIC KICKOFF MEETING EXHIBIT ROOM, Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Report and Project Development Status Report Submitted to the Governor and Legislature, Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Report and Project Development Status Report, Virtual December 2021 Public Kickoff Meeting. The bill creates three toll road corridors, including extending the Suncoast Parkway from Citrus County to Georgia and connecting the Florida Turnpike to the parkway. But what this "Northern Turnpike Extension Public Kickoff Meeting," as it was billedby Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, revealed is thatthe issue is stilldivisive. The goal of every project is to ensure all needs are met, environmental concerns are addressed, and community characteristics are protected. 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