southwest-central florida corridor task force meeting #5 · southwest-central florida corridor task...
TRANSCRIPT
Meeting Packet Table of Contents
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor Task Force Meeting #5 March 4, 2020
Bert Harris Agricultural Center Auditorium 4509 George Boulevard, Sebring, FL 33870
The following items are included in today’s Task Force Member meeting packets
• Agenda
• Meeting Locations and Schedule
• Task Force Membership List
• Task Force Revised Work Plan • Task Force Engagement Plan
• Today’s Panel
• Wekiva Parkway
• Suncoast Parkway 2 (SR 589) Phase 1
• Truck Parking
• Examples of Collocated Roadway
• Transportation Investments and Job Creation
• Consolidated Land Use Map Synthesis
• Overview of Economic Development Policies and Plans in the Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
• Heartland 2060: Building a Resilient Region
• Roadway Network Improvements
Meeting Packet Table of Contents
• 2050 Roadway Model Network • 2018 – 2050 Peak Season Daily Traffic Volume Growth • 2050 Future Conditions - Level of Service (LOS) • 2050 Future Conditions – Traffic Congestion • Major Construction Projects
• Major Planning Projects and Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Studies
• Avoidance and Enhancement Areas • Overview of Avoidance Areas • Opportunity & Investment Areas
• Areas of Interest
• Public Meetings by County
• Public Input - Form Letters
• Thumb Drive of All Comments from August 2019 to Mid-February 2020
• Draft Guiding Principles Summary • Draft Guiding Principles Summary with Noted Updates • Glossary
• Local Restaurants
• Meeting Evaluation Form
1
Agenda
Meeting Agenda Subject: Southwest-Central Florida Corridor Task Force Meeting #5 Date: March 4, 2020 Location: Bert Harris Agricultural Center Auditorium 4509 George Boulevard, Sebring, Florida 33875
Objectives • Discuss corridor utility needs and opportunities • Discuss draft high-level needs summary • Review public engagement activities and public input received to date • Review additional data requested by Task Force and proposed Task Force avoidance comments • Discuss existing corridor enhancement opportunities • Refine draft AMME guiding principles • Receive public comment
Agenda Time Task Presenter
9:30 am Registration
10:00 am Welcome L.K. Nandam, Task Force Chair
10:05 am
Introductions, Update, and Agenda Review • Member introductions
• Safety briefing
• Brief review of meeting agenda, objectives, and materials
• Brief update on status of key work plan activities
• Karen Kiselewski, Facilitator
• Marlon Bizerra, FDOT Production Lead
10:15 am Government in the Sunshine Law – Video John Fricke, Office of the Attorney General
10:20 am
Corridor Utility Needs and Opportunities • Panel discussion of utility representatives:
water/sewer and broadband
• Mark Addison, Community Investment Program Manager, Polk County Utilities Division
• David Terry Brigman, Former CIO and Director of Information Technology, City of Lakeland
• Sterling Carroll, State Engineer, Florida Rural Water Association
• Eric Labbe, Economic Opportunity and Community Investment Director, City of Winter Haven
• Robert Ryall, Associate Vice President, Financial Services Practice Lead, Arcadis-US
• Bill Lambert, Director, Hardee County Economic Development Council
• Task Force Members
2
Agenda Time Task Presenter
11:10 am Discuss Draft High-Level Needs Summary
• Katherine Chinault, FDOT M-CORES Project Manager
• Karen Kiselewski, Facilitator
• Task Force Members
11:35 am
Public Engagement Activities • Recap of public input received since last meeting
• Plan for upcoming community open house
• Will Watts, FDOT Chief Engineer
• Marlon Bizerra, FDOT Production Lead
• Task Force Members
12:00 pm ***Lunch*** on your own
1:15 pm
Corridor Planning Process • Review additional priority data requested by Task
Force
• Discuss process for ensuring consistency with state, regional, and local plans
• Review existing and baseline forecasted traffic data
• Review existing capacity projects
• Proposed Task Force avoidance comments
• Discuss existing corridor enhancement opportunities
• Will Watts, FDOT Chief Engineer
• Marlon Bizerra, FDOT Production Lead
• Huiwei Shen, FDOT Chief Planner
• Barbara Davis, Toll Studies & Express Lanes Development Administrator, Florida Turnpike Enterprise
• Walter Breuggeman, FDOT M-CORES Project Engineer
• Task Force Members
2:45 pm Break
3:00 pm Revised Draft AMME Guiding Principles • Karen Kiselewski, Facilitator
• Task Force Members
3:45 pm Next Steps • L.K. Nandam, Task Force Chair
• Karen Kiselewski, Facilitator
4:00 pm Public Comment • L.K. Nandam, Task Force Chair
• Karen Kiselewski, Facilitator
TBD Adjourn L.K. Nandam, Task Force Chair Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. People who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Marlon Bizerra at [email protected] or (863) 519-2250 at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
1
Meeting Locations and Schedule
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Meeting Location
Task Force Meeting #1 Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Tampa Tampa Convention Center 333 S Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33602
Task Force Meeting #2 Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Polk County Polk State College – Lakeland Campus 3425 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL 33803
Community Open House Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Hardee County Wauchula Train Depot 135 E Main Street, Wauchula, FL 33873
Task Force Meeting #3
Monday, December 9, 2019 Hendry County LaBelle Civic Center 481 SR 80, LaBelle, FL 33935
Community Open House Thursday, December 12, 2019
Collier County North Collier Park – Exhibit Hall 15000 Livingston Road, Naples, FL 34109
Community Open House
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Polk County W.H. Stuart Conference Center 1710 US Highway 17 S, Bartow, FL 33830
Community Open House
Thursday, January 30, 2020
DeSoto County Turner Agri-Civic Center Exhibit Hall 2250 NE Roan Street, Arcadia, FL 34266
Task Force Meeting #4 Thursday, February 13, 2020
Glades County Doyle Conner Building 900 US Highway 27, Moore Haven, FL 34471
Task Force Meeting #5 Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Highlands County Bert Harris Agricultural Center Auditorium 4509 George Boulevard, Sebring, FL 33870
Community Open House Thursday, March 26, 2020
Highlands County Bert Harris Agricultural Center Auditorium 4509 George Boulevard, Sebring, FL 33870
2
Meeting Locations and Schedule
Meeting Location
Task Force Meeting #6 Tuesday, April 28, 2020
DeSoto County Turner Agri-Civic Center Arena 2250 NE Roan Street, Arcadia, FL 34266
Community Open House Thursday, May 7, 2020
DeSoto County Turner Agri-Civic Center Exhibit Hall 2250 NE Roan Street, Arcadia, FL 34266
Community Open House Thursday, May 14, 2020
Hendry County LaBelle Civic Center 481 SR 80, LaBelle, FL 33935
Community Open House Thursday, June 4, 2020
Glades County Doyle Conner Building 900 US Highway 27, Moore Haven, FL 34471
Task Force Meeting #7
Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Charlotte County Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center 75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Community Open House Thursday, June 25, 2020
Lee County Lee County Civic Center (Whaley Hall) 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers, FL 33917
Task Force Meeting #8 Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Hardee County Agricultural Civic Center 770 Recreation Complex, Wauchula, FL 33873
August 2020 Public comment period on draft report recommendation
Task Force Meeting #9 Thursday, September 3, 2020
Polk County Polk State College – Lakeland Campus 3425 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL 33803
Task Force Report By October 1, 2020
Submit Task Force reports to Governor and Legislature
*Dates and county locations are subject to change.
Rev. 1/29/2020
1
Task Force Membership List
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Organization Member Name/Title
Florida Department of Transportation L.K. Nandam, District One Secretary
Florida Department of Transportation Tracy A. Hood, District Seven Consultant Project Management Engineer
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Jennifer Carpenter, South District Assistant Director
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Pam Johnson, Deputy Director of Workforce Services
Florida Department of Education Robert Richards, Supervisor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Florida Department of Health Stephanie Vick, Administrator, Collier County
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Tom Graef, Southwest Regional Director
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Janet Taylor, Former Commissioner, Hendry County
Florida Public Service Commission Mark Futrell, Deputy Executive Director - Technical
Enterprise Florida Tim Vanderhoof, Senior Vice President of Business Development
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Tim McGrath, Field Office Manager – Central Florida
CareerSource Florida Donna Doubleday, President & CEO of CareerSource Heartland
Volunteer Florida Rechell Johnson, Financial Analyst
South Florida Water Management District Melissa M. Roberts, Regulatory Service Center Administrator
Southwest Florida Water Management District Brian Starford, Operations, Lands and Resource Monitoring Division Director
2
Task Force Membership List
Organization Member Name/Title
Collier Metropolitan Planning Organization The Hon. Reg Buxton, Chair Council Member, City of Naples
Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization
Donald Scott, Executive Director
Charlotte County-Punta Gorda Metropolitan Planning Organization
The Hon. Chris Constance, Chair Commissioner, Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners
Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization
The Hon. Colon Lambert, Board Member Commissioner, Hardee County Board of County Commissioners
Polk Transportation Planning Organization The Hon. Nat Birdsong, Chair Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Winter Haven
Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council The Hon. Bill McDaniel, Board Member Chair, Collier County Board of County Commissioners
Central Florida Regional Planning Council Pat Steed, Executive Director
Florida Chamber of Commerce Katie Worthington Decker, President / CEO, Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce
Florida Trucking Association Keith Walpole, CEO, Walpole, Inc.
Florida Rural Water Association Gerald Buhr, Attorney
Florida Internet & Television Association Bill Ferry, Senior Director of External Affairs – Florida Region, Comcast
Florida Economic Development Council Sherry Ambrose, Manager of Economic Development, Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Farm Bureau Federation Gary Ritter, Assistant Director of Government & Community Affairs
Florida SouthWestern State College Dr. Jeff Allbritten, President
South Florida State College Glenn Little, Vice President for Administrative Services
Polk State College Dr. Angela M. Garcia Falconetti, President
3
Task Force Membership List
Organization Member Name/Title
Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons, LLC Matt Caldwell, Associate
1000 Friends of Florida Andrew Dickman, Board of Directors
Audubon Florida Dr. Paul Gray, Okeechobee Science Coordinator
Defenders of Wildlife Elizabeth Fleming, Senior Florida Representative
Florida Wildlife Corridor Jason Lauritsen, Executive Director
The Everglades Foundation Shannon Estenoz, Chief Operating Officer
The Nature Conservancy Wendy Mathews, Conservation Projects Manager
Local governments in Collier County The Hon. Penny Taylor, Commissioner, Collier County Board of County Commissioners
Local governments in Lee County The Hon. Cecil Pendergrass, Commissioner, Lee County Board of County Commissioners
Local governments in Charlotte County The Hon. Ken Doherty, Chair, Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners
Local governments in Hendry County The Hon. Mitchell Wills, Chair, Hendry County Board of County Commissioners
Local governments in Glades County The Hon. Weston Pryor, Commissioner, Glades County Board of County Commissioners
Local governments in DeSoto County The Hon. Elton Langford, Commissioner, DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners
Local governments in Hardee County The Hon. Mike Thompson, Chair, Hardee County Board of County Commissioners
Local governments in Highlands County The Hon. Ron Handley, Commissioner, Highlands County Board of County Commissioners
Local governments in Polk County The Hon. Rick Wilson, Commissioner, Polk County Board of County Commissioners
1
Task Force Revised Work Plan
Meeting Objectives
COMPLETED
Task Force Meeting #1
August 27, 2019 Plenary session with breakouts for each Task Force
• Provide overview of legislation and M-CORES program • Review Task Force role and responsibilities • Provide briefing on Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law
and Public Records laws • Share background information on corridor planning and Task
Force products • Identify potential considerations for future discussion at Task
Force meetings • Develop Task Force consensus on work plan, meeting
schedule, and overall outcomes
Task Force Meeting #2 and Community Open House October 2019
• Introduce approach for identifying Avoidance, Minimization, Mitigation, and Enhancement (AMME) considerations
• Discuss avoidance and minimization considerations for developing corridor opportunities
• Discuss potential guiding principles for avoidance and minimization
• Receive public comment
Task Force Meeting #3 and Community Open House
December 2019
• Review M-CORES vision and Task Force goals • Highlight the data/fact sheets by various public agencies and
organizational partners • Review corridor planning and project development process • Discuss purpose of the corridor • Discuss regional and local needs • Discuss the AMME considerations for community and
economic resources • Receive public comment
Community Open Houses January 2020
• Community open houses in each study area to share information about the process and gather public input about AMME considerations
Task Force Meeting #4 February 2020
• Receive public comment summary to date • Review economic and workforce development opportunities • Review regional and local plans and visions to identify
considerations for corridor planning • Review corridor planning process • Discuss draft AMME guiding principles and identify
avoidance areas • Receive public comment
2
Task Force Revised Work Plan
Meeting Objectives
UPCOMING
Task Force Meeting #5 and Community Open House
March 2020
• Discuss corridor utility needs and opportunities • Discuss draft high-level needs summary • Review public engagement activities and public input received
to date • Review additional data requested by Task Force and proposed
Task Force avoidance comments • Discuss existing corridor enhancement opportunities • Refine draft AMME guiding principles • Receive public comment
Task Force Meeting #6 April 2020
• Discuss emergency evacuation needs and opportunities • Discuss emerging technology needs and opportunities • Review public engagement activities including upcoming
community open houses • Review potential corridor connectivity needs consistent with
AMME guiding principles • Review potential implementation approaches • Review draft report outline • Receive public comment
Community Open Houses May – June 2020
• Community open house(s) in each study area to gather input on high-level needs summary, AMME guiding principles, potential paths/courses, and implementation issues
Task Force Meeting #7 and Community Open House June 2020
• Further refine AMME guiding principles as needed • Provide guidance for further refining and prioritizing potential
paths/courses • Refine potential implementation approaches (e.g., co-location,
multi-use feasibility and opportunities, utility expansion feasibility and opportunities, innovative uses of right of way, innovative approaches to mitigation or enhancement, innovative design features)
• Develop and review draft Task Force report sections • Receive public comment
By June 30, 2020 • FDOT submits report on Construction Workforce Development Program to Governor and Legislature
Task Force Meeting #8 July 2020
• Provide additional guidance as needed on AMME guiding principles and potential paths/courses
• Discuss additional implementation issues • Review and further refine final draft Task Force report • Receive public comment
July 2020 • Florida Transportation Commission presentation
August 2020 • Public comment period on draft Task Force recommendations
3
Task Force Revised Work Plan
Meeting Objectives
Task Force Meeting #9 September 2020
• Receive public comment • Adopt final Task Force report
By October 1, 2020 • Submit Task Force report to Governor and Legislature
Rev. 2/20/2020
1
Task Force Engagement Plan
Roles and Responsibilities
Three Task Forces will be established to represent each of the three corridor study areas:
• Suncoast Connector (Citrus County to Jefferson County);
• Northern Turnpike Connector (northern terminus of the Florida Turnpike northwest to the Suncoast Parkway); and
• Southwest-Central Florida Connector (Collier County to Polk County).
For the purposes of Florida’s Government in the Sunshine law, the Task Forces are considered to be three separate bodies.
The Task Force Chair (Chair) will be appointed by the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (Secretary). The Chair will guide the overall process and lead Task Force meetings.
The Task Force Vice-Chair (Vice-Chair) will be appointed by the Secretary and work with the Chair to guide the overall process. The Vice-Chair will lead Task Force meetings if the Chair is absent.
Task Force Members (Members) are subject matter experts who will assist in the development of final report recommendations, proactively seek public and partner engagement, and make recommendations based on a consensus building process. Members are requested to attend and actively participate in all meetings, to the extent possible. Members who are unable to attend a specific meeting for good cause may request designation of a substitute to act on their behalf during the meeting, subject to approval by the Secretary.
Florida Department of Transportation Staff and Consultants will assist the Task Force with the facilitation of meetings; support technical and information needs, including data and information gathering and distribution; solicit and compile public and partner comment for Task Force use; and assist in drafting elements of the Task Force report, as directed by the Chair. The Department has not delegated any decision-making authority to the consultants and expressly requires them to be cognizant of and fully comply with Florida Sunshine Law. The consultants to the M-CORES Task Forces will only participate in objective fact-finding exercises/presentations without making any editorial comments, selections, or recommendations outside of the public meeting process.
The Facilitator(s) will assist in the design of the overall process and support the Chair in guiding the Task Force meetings as directed by the Chair. The facilitator(s) will work for/with the Task Force to support effective discussions, collaboration, and consensus-building.
Collaborative Consensus Building Process
The Task Force will seek consensus decisions on its recommendations. Consensus is a participatory process whereby, on matters of substance, the Task Force strives for agreements that members can accept, support, live with, or agree not to oppose. The Task Force will develop its recommendations using consensus building techniques with the assistance of facilitators, such as the use of acceptability ratings, iterative discussions, and prioritizing approaches.
This process builds trust and creates ownership and commitment with an end goal of creating an understanding of the issues and then sharing the perspectives of all involved. When implemented
2
Task Force Engagement Plan
effectively, this process is inclusive and engages all participants. Consensus leads to better quality outcomes that empower a group to move forward to create Florida’s future together.
The consensus building process will focus on the following:
• Establish Task Force Work Plan;
• Identify potential Avoidance, Minimization, Mitigation, and Enhancement (AMME) considerations for developing and evaluating potential corridor opportunities;
• Develop guiding principles related to the AMME considerations;
• Review potential corridor opportunities consistent with these guiding principles;
• Recommend potential implementation actions by FDOT, other state agencies, local governments, and other partners;
• Address other policy issues identified in statute or as agreed upon by the Task Force; and
• Agree on recommendations to be included in a final report to be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by October 1, 2020.
The collaborative consensus building process will rely on the following rules of engagement:
• Establish a common understanding of the overall process as well as the specific area of recommendation;
• Seek commitment to strive for consensus;
• Support a process that is open, trusting, and respectful toward all participants;
• Establish communication protocols both during and between Task Force meetings;
• Understand and work to address differences in perspective and approach among Task Force members, ensuring that all ideas are honored;
• Identify a clear process for reaching recommendations with emphasis on looking for areas of shared understanding;
• Encourage all members to participate consistently and actively to identify inclusive solutions; and
• Monitor progress and outline accomplishments.
Consensus stages that will be used during this process:
• Introduce and clarify the opportunity/issue;
• Explore the opportunity/issue, collect and discuss ideas for problem solving;
3
Task Force Engagement Plan
• Develop proposals related to corridor considerations that address public and stakeholder issues, as feasible;
• Make initial recommendations; and
• Discuss, clarify, and amend as needed.
The following acceptability scale will be used to evaluate emerging direction or recommendations:
• Wholehearted support – this is what I would do
• Support – this may not be what I would do, but it is good, and I can support it (or live with it)
• Minor reservations – I may be able to live with it or even support it, but I need clarification or refinement first
• Major reservations – I cannot support as currently drafted
Review and discussion of the recommendations will follow. Initial acceptability results will be used to identify possible refinements to the direction or recommendation that would make it more generally acceptable to the Task Force. Individual members or staff may be asked to address concerns and suggestions arising from Task Force discussion in redrafting and refining recommendations. Redrafted recommendations will ultimately be compiled into a document for the Task Force’s review and refinement.
Recommendations will be adopted at the final meeting. The Task Force will strive for consensus on the recommendations as a package to be included in the final report. Consensus will be defined and documented as members being able to support, accept, live with, or agree not to oppose the package of recommendations for the final report. The final report will be submitted following the conclusion of the last Task Force meeting.
Task Force Meeting Structure
To ensure all Task Force meetings are effective and build toward consensus recommendations, the following guidelines will be used:
• Each meeting will provide an overview of Florida’s Government in Sunshine Law using a standard video.
• The Chair will work with staff and facilitators to design efficient and effective meeting agenda including specific agenda items and desired outcomes.
• The use of facilitators will enable the Chair to participate directly in the substantive process of seeking consensus on recommendations.
• To ensure that the meetings are flexible, formal parliamentary procedures will not be used. The Chair and facilitator will work to ensure effective and balanced participation of all members and sufficient discussion of agenda items to support development of recommendations. The Chair will have the ability to maintain order, lead content discussions, and move the agenda forward. There is no requirement for quorum for the Task Force to conduct its business.
4
Task Force Engagement Plan
• Each meeting will end with identification of next steps including potential action items and responsibilities to give direction to the Chair, members, or staff and ensure effective preparations for the subsequent Task Force meeting.
• A “parking lot” may be developed to reflect issues that are not yet resolved and may need discussion at a subsequent meeting or recorded in the Task Force report for consideration in future planning and project development.
• A summary of the Task Force meeting will be prepared and reviewed at the beginning of the subsequent meeting.
• A public comment period will occur during each Task Force Meeting and there will be multiple opportunities to provide comments throughout the day, including comment stations with court reporters and laptops, and tables for hand-written comments.
• Discussion guidelines will be used:
o Share responsibility for the process and the outcome; o Encourage honest and free policy discussion; o Direct comments to the facilitator; o Be courteous; o Speak one at a time; o Keep comments concise; o Speak to be understood; o Ask to understand; o Listen actively; and o Use tent card to indicate desire to comment.
Rev. 12/6/2019
MARK ADDISON, PE Community Investment Program Manager, Polk County Utilities Division Mark has over 35 years of experience in water and wastewater utility design/management as well as environmental permitting, planning, and compliance. Prior to joining Polk County in 2011, Mark was an engineering consultant specializing in water and wastewater utility system design and construction. He assisted communities with obtaining SFR or entitlement funding for projects based on median income and/or population (i.e., rural communities). This included funding for utility rehab work and other infrastructure like sidewalks in low and middle income areas. During his tenure at the county, Polk County Utilities has received numerous grants from SWFWMD for reclaimed water and other alternative water supply efforts such as indirect recharge and source water augmentation. Mark holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Florida. DAVID TERRY BRIGMAN Former CIO and Director of Information Technology for the City of Lakeland (Retired) In Terry’s role at the City of Lakeland, he provided IT development and support for all city business functions including the Electric and Water Utilities, Police, Fire, Public Works, Finance, Human Resources, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Purchasing, Communications, The Lakeland International Airport, and The RP Funding Center. He was responsible for all City of Lakeland Information Technology functions, including: System Architecture and Business Planning, Application Development, Support and Maintenance for all city business functions, Program Management and Change Management, Database Administration, GIS maintenance and support, Telecommunications and Radio Communications, Network Administration & Support, Data Center Management, IT Support for Incident and Problem Management for all desktop, laptop and applications providing efficient customer service, Business Operations which provides personnel management, asset management, vendor management and financial management for all IT functions and security administration. Prior to his time at the City of Lakeland, Terry was Director of I/S Services for Publix Supermarkets for 28 years. Currently, Terry serves as Chair of the Operating Board for Polk County, as the Board Chair for the Publix Employees Federal Credit Union and on the Board of Directors of the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of Polk County and Chairs the Quality Enhancements Committee for ELC.
STERLING CARROLL, PE State Engineer, Florida Rural Water Association Sterling has over 35 years of experience with water, wastewater, and stormwater treatment engineering, design, permitting, and construction. His background includes many facets of design, managerial, and consultant work for governmental, industrial, and private clients including international, regional, and small engineering firms. Sterling enjoys working with the 2,000+ Florida Rural Water Association members to provide Floridians with an ample affordable supply of high quality water, while protecting natural systems and public health; and the challenge in assisting and troubleshooting member’s water and wastewater systems around Florida. His mission has been to provide cost effective and practical solutions while meeting environmental challenges and satisfying ever-increasing regulatory requirements. Sterling’s Master’s Work Capstone included surveying city managers throughout Florida about contract operations of water/wastewater utilities. He explored why some cities choose to outsource operations or not; if they would recommend outsourcing or not; and if they were likely to outsource. Sterling holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah and and Master’s of Public Administration from Barry University.
@FloridaMCORES @mcores.southwest.central
TODAY’S PANEL SOUTHWEST-CENTRAL FLORIDA CORRIDORTask Force Meeting #5 • March 4, 2020
ERIC LABBE, AICP Economic Opportunity & Community Investment Director, City of Winter Haven Eric has 20 years of professional experience in urban planning and development, and has been a professionally-certified urban planner since 2003. Eric started his career with the City of Winter Haven in 2016. Currently, his department includes the Planning Division, Building Division, Engineering Services, Winter Haven Regional Airport, and CRA & Neighborhood Programs Division. His professional memberships include the American Planning Association (APA), the Heart of Florida Chapter of APA and Polk Vision, serving on the organization’s Infrastructure and Smart Communities teams. Eric is also a Class 37 graduate of Leadership Winter Haven and Class 11 graduate of Leadership Polk. Prior to his service at the City, he spent five years as a Project Manager for the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, nine years as the Director of Strategic Planning for Jack M. Berry, Inc., and two years as a Land Use Planner for the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. During his employment at the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Eric directed staff on the development of the Polk County Broadband Plan. Eric holds a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning degree from Ball State University. ROBERT RYALL, PE Associate Vice President, Financial Services Practice Lead, Arcadis-US Robert is a nationally-recognized consultant with expertise in financial and strategic planning for water and wastewater utilities around the country. He has assisted with over $1 billion in water and wastewater financing and has extensive experience in utility rate-making, impact fees, bond feasibility studies, acquisition/valuation analysis, and the development and use of interactive financial models. In addition to his financial experience, Robert is a professional engineer in the State of Florida and has been involved in many strategic planning studies for water and wastewater utilities, including master plans, capacity analysis, consolidation studies and asset management-related engagements. Robert holds a Bachelor’s of Engineering from the University of Central Florida and a MBA from Wake Forest University.
BILL LAMBERT Director, Hardee County Economic Development Council Bill has been integrally involved with rural Florida Economic Development for over 20 years with involvement in all aspects of rural infrastructure including broadband, water, wastewater, roads, Industrial Park Development, FDEP, DBPR, Water management District construction and operating permits, and airport management. For the past 13 years, he has held the position of Hardee County’s Economic Development Director, which included multi-year appointments on Florida’s Economic Development Council, the Hardee County School Board, the Heartland Workforce/Career Source Board, Florida’s Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative, the Wauchula Airport Authority, Florida’s Heartland Region of Economic Opportunity and served as the Chairman and member of the Hardee County Economic Development Authority. Bill holds a B.S. from the University of Florida, in Real Estate and Urban Land Planning.
@FloridaMCORES @mcores.southwest.central
TODAY’S PANEL SOUTHWEST-CENTRAL FLORIDA CORRIDORTask Force Meeting #5 • March 5, 2020
Wekiva Parkway (SR 429)
Project Description• The Wekiva Parkway (SR 429) will connect to SR 417
and Interstate 4, completing Central Florida’s beltway while also helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River.
• The planned 25-mile toll road is providing travel alternatives and relieving US 441, SR 46 and other area roads of traffic congestion in Orange, Lake and Seminole Counties. The parkway also will help improve safety, particularly along SR 46.
• In 2018, 13 miles of the parkway were opened to traffic. The entire Wekiva Parkway is scheduled to be open to traffic in 2022.
• The Wekiva Parkway is a cooperative effort between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) and the Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise.
• The primary goal of the project is to meet regional mobility needs while minimizing impacts to the Wekiva River, a National Wild and Scenic River, and surrounding habitat.
Project Features• Improving SR 46 in Lake and Seminole Counties
• Rebuilding the US 441/SR 46 interchange in Mount Dora
• Moving part of County Road 46A (CR 46A) out of the state forest to improve wildlife habitat connectivity
• All Electronic Tolling (AET)
• Non-tolled service road along the parkway in parts of Lake and Seminole Counties
• Multi-use recreational trail
• More than 3,400 acres of land acquired for conservation
• 1.5 miles of wildlife bridges between state-owned lands
• Elevated the parkway to reduce vehicle-wildlife collision
• Wildlife jump-outs, special fencing and bat houses
LON
GW
OO
D M
ARKH
AM
RD
LAKE
MA
RKH
AM R
D
RIN
EHA
RT R
D
H.E THOMAS JR PKWY
LAKE
EM
MA
RD
LON
GW
OO
D L
AKE
MA
RY R
D
4567427
456746A
4567437
45674220
4567431B
4567437A
45674237
45674243
456744B
45674242
45674248
45674239
456741434567437
4567437
4567435
4567424
456715
45674143
456715
456746A
4567427
4567435
4567424
PONKAN RD
KELLY PARK RD
JONES RD
HAAS RD
VOTAW RD
ORANGE BLVD
WOLF BRANCH RD
WEKIVA SPRINGS RD
ONDICH RD
INTE
RN
ATIO
NAL
PKW
Y
SADLER AVE
VA
MO
NTG
OM
ER
Y R
D
WEK
IVA
RIV
ER R
D
DO
UG
LAS
AVE
MAR
KHAM
WO
OD
S R
D
WELCH RD
E E WILLIAMSON RD
E. LIMIT AVE
PEARL LAKE CSWY
HIGHLAND AVE
OLD DIXIE HWY
ORANGE AVE
£¤17£¤92
£¤441
£¤92
£¤17
£¤441
§̈¦4
Orange County
Lake County
Sem
inole
Coun
ty
Semino
le Cou
nty
Lake
Cou
nty
Orang
e Co
unty
Mount Dora
Sorrento
Mount Plymouth
Apopka
Wekiva ParkwayLegend 0.6 0 0.6 1.20.3
Miles ±
BRIT
T R
D
HIG
HLA
ND
ST
RO
UN
D L
AKE
RD
VIC
KI R
DBR
ADSH
AW R
D
CEN
TRAL
AVE
N P
ARK
AVE
THO
MPS
ON
RD
WEK
IVA
SPR
ING
S R
D
LIN
E D
R
PIED
MO
NT
WEK
IVA
RD
BEAR
LAK
E R
D
PLYM
OU
TH-S
OR
REN
TO R
D
N R
OC
K SP
RIN
GS
RD
JUN
CTI
ON
RD GO
LDEN
GEM
RD
SADLER AVE
YOTHERS RD
KELLY PARK RD LAKE MARY BLVD
Authorized by the 2004 Wekiva Parkway and Protection Act (Chapter 369, Part III, Florida Statutes), this expressway has been heralded as a shining example for transportation planning through an environmentally sensitive area.
*Includes environmental mitigation costs
Project Cost by Phase
Environmental Mitigation Costs
$1.74Bapproximate total
project cost includes
$500Mnon-toll road
improvements
Project Phase Cost*
Project Development and Environment (PD&E) $20,376,929
Preliminary Engineering $99,866,737
Right-of-Way $517,912,274
Construction $965,203,322
Utilities $51,232,686
Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) $77,580,384
Environmental Permitting $8,638,568
TOTAL $1,740,810,900
Item Cost
Wetland Mitigation $9.5M
Wildlife Mitigation $16.5M
Design and Construction of Wildlife Crossings/Bridges $60.0M
State Lands Mitigation $2.2M
TOTAL $88.2M
GUARDRAIL
Typical Section
R/W LINE R/W LINEwww.wekivaparkway.com
Suncoast Parkway 2 (SR 589) Phase 1
¬«700
¬«44
¬«55
£¤98
£¤19 £¤98
£¤98
£¤19
Project Location
£¤19£¤98
£¤41
£¤301
£¤98
£¤41
£¤41
")486
")480
")491
PROJECTLOCATION
CITRUS
COUNTY
HERNANDO
COUNTY
SUMTER
COUNTY
Proposed Right-of-WayLegend
Suncoast Parkway 1USGS Quad Map: Tarpon Springs 0 1 2 3 4
Miles ±
Project Description• Suncoast Parkway 2 (SR
589) Phase 1 is a new four-lane limited access toll facility.
• The project will extend the existing Suncoast Parkway northward for 13 miles from US 98 to SR 44 in Lecanto.
• The project includes a multi-use recreational trail along the west side of the alignment which is an extension of the existing multi-use trail along Suncoast Parkway.
• This new facility will serve the future traffic needs of Citrus County as well as the public traveling to or from the Tampa Bay area through Citrus County.
• The project will assist with the evacuation and recovery in the event of a hurricane.
• The project is currently under construction.
Project Features• 13 miles four-lane toll facility from US 98 to SR 44• One wildlife corridor bridge and four wildlife culverts• 15 new bridges• Full interchanges at US 98 and W. Cardinal Street and a partial
interchange at SR 44• Two All Electronic Tolling (AET) gantries and equipment buildings• Suncoast Trail extension to SR 44• Pedestrian overpass constructed over US 98• Drainage, lighting, highway signing, traffic signalization, guardrail
and sidewalk
Construction Schedule
Began February 2018
Expected toComplete in 2022
www������������������
Project Cost by PhaseProject Phase Cost
Project Development and Environment (PD&E) $3,191,064
Preliminary Engineering $49,204,234
Right-of-Way $52,371,565
Construction $134,751,265
Utilities $13,424,007
Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) $15,786,222
Environmental Permitting $787,687
TOTAL $269,516,044
$269Mapproximate
total project cost
includes
$18.5MEnvironmental
Mitigation
*Includes environmental mitigation costs
Environmental Mitigation CostsItem Cost
Listed Wildlife and Plant Mitigation $0.5M
Wildlife Habitat Mitigation $6.0M
Design and Construction of Wildlife Crossings/Bridges $5.5M
State Lands Mitigation $6.5M
TOTAL $18.5M
Truck Parking
Over-Utilized and Unauthorized Truck Parking Locations
LEGENDPublic Truck ParkingPrivate Truck ParkingHigh UtilizationLow Utilization
Truck Parking Facilities
Truck Parking Spaces
Source: FDOT Statewide Truck Parking Study (2019)
According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), truck parking is one of the most critical issues in the trucking industry. The drive time of truck drivers is regulated to avoid driving drowsy and allow time to rest. However, lack of truck parking spaces forces the drivers to spend time searching for parking when they are most fatigued. When truck parking facilities are full, the drivers often choose to park in unauthorized locations such as on exit ramps and highway shoulders. This results in unsafe conditions for truck drivers as well as the traveling public. Higher costs for consumer goods is one of the results from this wasted time and fuel spent searching for safe parking, as well as costs associated with truck crashes.
In order to provide safe working conditions for drivers, and all roadway users, it is imperative that truckers have access to adequate and convenient parking. The map highlights where there is a lack of truck parking spaces in Florida.
Private Public200 98
Private Public7,409 2,683
3,400additional spaces
needed today
4,900additional spaces needed by 2030
Source: Trucker Path (national statistics)
Freight & Multimodal Operations Office Truck Parking Solutions Add Capacity:
• Optimize space & design of rest areas and other state-owned facilities
• Develop new facilities
Leverage Technology:• Expand Truck Parking Availability System (TPAS)
• Create awareness about under-utilized facilities, including weigh stations
Build Partnerships:• Collaborate with local government and private
sector partners to encourage development of new facilities
Update Policies:• Establish a Truck Parking Improvement Program
(TPIP)
• Develop public-private partnership models for rural and urban areas
• Identify both capital and operations/ maintenance funding
• Prepare for Automated, Connected, Electric and Shared (ACES) technologies
$5.1Bannual loss in revenue
due to lack of truck
parking (wasted fuel,
time lost, additional
maintenance, associated
crashes, etc.)
40%of truck drivers spend
over an hour searching
for a place to park
Examples of Collocated Roadways
I-595 ExpressFlorida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has completed 10.5 miles of reconstruction and enhancement of I-595 from the I-75/Sawgrass Expressway interchange to the I-595/I-95 interchange, in Broward County. The project included reconstruction, addition of auxiliary lanes, resurfacing of the I-595 mainline, and addition of a new reversible express lanes system in the median. Additional project features include widening/reconstruction of the Florida’s Turnpike mainline from Griffin Road to Peters Road to accommodate express lanes direct connection, addition of auxiliary lanes on the eastbound and westbound I-595 and SR-84 roadways, SR-84 frontage roads, and construction of the New River Greenway.
Source: http://www.i595express.com/
First Coast Expressway Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) constructed six miles of the First Coast Expressway (SR 23) from north of Argyle Forest Boulevard to Blanding Boulevard in Clay County. The new expressway is a multi-lane, limited access toll road which includes interchanges at Argyle Forest Boulevard, OakLeaf Plantation Parkway and Blanding Boulevard; All Electronic Toll (AET) gantries; and frontage roads on both sides of the expressway to serve local traffic. This project is part of 40 miles of the First Coast Expressway which, once completed, will cross parts of Duval, Clay and St. Johns Counties.
Source: http://nflroads.com/ProjectDetails?p=5010
South Mountain Freeway Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has completed construction of 22 miles of South Mountain Freeway (Ed Pastor Freeway) which begins at the connection to Interstate 10 (I-10) and ends at the existing system-to-system interchange of I-10 and Santan Freeway. The freeway connects the east and west valley in Phoenix while providing congestion relief to existing freeway corridors and local streets. At the northern terminus, the new freeway is collocated with 59th Avenue where the arterial street was converted to frontage roads both sides of the freeway to maintain local access to adjacent properties. The freeway will also include six-mile of shared-use recreational path along Pecos Road to be constructed beginning 2020.
Source: https://azdot.gov/node/14651
TX SH 249 ExtensionTexas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is constructing 24 miles of new freeway from Farm to Market 1774 in Pinehurst, Montgomery County, to State Highway 105 near Navasota, Grimes County. The new roadway will serve the growing transportation needs of Montgomery and Grimes Counties by providing a safe, reliable, and aesthetically pleasing corridor for the public that links suburban communities. The first segment is approximately 14 miles of controlled-access tollway with intermittent frontage roads and the second segment is a ten mile, two-lane non-tolled rural highway.Source: https://txsh249.com/
US 281Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is reconstructing eight miles of US 281 north of Loop 1604 to Borgfeld Drive in Bexar County, Texas. The project will convert the existing six-lane arterial to an enhanced facility with one high occupancy vehicle and transit only lane and two general purpose lanes in each direction, three-lane frontage road on both sides of the freeway to serve local traffic, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Source: www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/san-antonio/us-281-1604-borgfeld.html
Monroe ExpresswayNorth Carolina Turnpike Authority constructed a 20-mile toll road (Monroe Expressway) from US 74 near I-485 in Mecklenburg County to US 74 in Union County. The project was opened to traffic in 2018. The new freeway runs parallel to US 74, creating a high-speed alternative along US 74. The new freeway includes improvements to the existing US 74. The new toll road includes four travel lanes, a depressed grass median, eight interchanges and a two-way frontage road. Source: www.ncdot.gov/projects/monroe-expressway/Pages/default.aspx
State Route 156 California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is upgrading State Route 156 West by converting the existing two-lane conventional highway to a four-lane freeway from Castroville to the 101/156 interchange on US 101. This project intends to convert the existing State Route 156 lanes to a frontage road that would serve the local community. The purpose of the project is to relieve congestion, improve safety, improve local access to State Route 156 and enhance inter-regional travel.Source: dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5/district-5-current-projects/d5-sr-156-w-corridor
Transportation Investments and Job Creation
Overview• Infrastructure spending revitalizes local and
regional economies by creating jobs and by increasing business sales, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and personal income.
• Although economic impacts of ����������������������, every $1 billion spent in highway construction could create approximately 13,000 jobs.1
• Employment impacts, both short-term and long-term, will vary depending on a number of factors such as economic context, proximity to production and consumption markets, presence and condition of other infrastructure, business climate, human capital and labor market conditions.
• The economic value associated with transportation infrastructure improvements is not limited to direct construction jobs as it also leads to indirect and induced jobs. Direct construction jobs are created by the actual expenditure and the wages from the construction dollars. Indirect jobs are related to the supply of material and related services used for the project. Induced jobs ���������������������their earnings in the economy.
Florida’s Economic Snapshot
4th Largest Economy in the US
17th Largest Economy in the World
3rd Most Populous State in the US
$1 Trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Zero % Personal State Income Tax
$57+ Billion in Annual Exports
Approximately 9 Million Existing Jobs
Additional 2 Million Jobs Needed by 2030
Source: Enterprise Florida, Florida Chamber Foundation1Council of Economic ���������������������
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Factoids• Nationally, employment of construction laborers and helpers is
projected to grow 11% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.2
• Approximately 64% of the jobs created by infrastructure investments represent direct and indirect effects while 36% of the jobs are the induced effects.3
• Construction jobs typically have higher median wages than other jobs for workers that lack four-year college degrees.4
• Nationally, infrastructure jobs have consistently paid up to 30% more to low-income workers over the past decade.4
• Job development in rural areas generally takes a longer time to mature than in urban areas.5
• Examples from around the country showed that transportation projects thrive when they are part of a coordinated economic development program/strategy.5
71%increase in construction
jobs in Florida since
June 2011
220Knew jobs were created
in Florida in 20192 Bureau of Labor Statistics3Council of Economic Advisers, �����������������
4 The Brookings Institution5 EconWorks - FHWA/AASHTO
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Consolidated Land Use Map Synthesis
1
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Overview of Economic Development Policies and Plans in the Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
This memo presents an overview of economic development plans and policies in the Southwest-Central Florida (SWC) Corridor study area. The purpose of this memo is to provide an understanding of economic development objectives and priorities identified by regional and local organizations within the study area. The identification of significant geographic areas and industries will inform the planning process including the identification of potential corridor needs and opportunities.
Overview
The Central and Southwest Florida Regional Planning Councils (RPC), among other responsibilities, each manage Economic Development Districts (EDD) as designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (Southwest-Central Florida Corridor counties and communities in bold):
• The Central Florida RPC (CFRPC) includes DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Polk Counties.
• The Southwest Florida RPC (SWFRPC) includes Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and Sarasota Counties.
Each EDD develops a five-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), which identifies regional goals and strategies for economic development. The CEDS are aligned with the Florida Strategic Plan for Economic Development. The most recent CEDS were adopted in 2017.
All local governments have the option of developing an Economic Development Element of Local Government Comprehensive Plans. Seven of the study area counties (all except Charlotte and DeSoto) have developed this optional element. Most county and municipal governments have an economic development office or staff responsible for economic development. Some county governments have formed economic development organizations, sometimes as public-private partnerships.
Two regional economic development organizations operate in the region:
• Florida’s Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity (FHERO) coordinates economic development activities for the counties and cities designated by the state as part of the Heartland Rural Area of Opportunity: DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties, as well as the Cities of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay in Palm Beach County and the Community of Immokalee in Collier County.
• The Southwest Florida Economic Development Alliance (the Alliance) functions as a marketing organization for five counties: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee.
Additionally, three regional workforce boards coordinate workforce development activities in the region:
• CareerSource Southwest Florida serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties.
• CareerSource Heartland serves DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties.
• CareerSource Polk serves Polk County.
2
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Targeted Industries
The CFRPC’s CEDS identified targeted industry clusters and sub-clusters based on the competitive advantages that CFRPC counties have in the sectors as well as the strategic significance that the sectors represent for the regional economy. The clusters and sub-clusters are shown in the figure below.
Central Florida Region Targeted Industry Clusters
Source: Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. 2017.
The SWFRPC’s CEDS identifies tourism, construction, and agriculture as historically significant industries within the region. While the SWFRPC plans to leverage these strengths for additional growth, the CEDS also establishes a goal of economic diversification in industries that serve markets outside of the region. The CEDS specifically references health care and logistics as industries in which the region is competitively positioned for future growth and establishes medical devices as a cluster to target for this diversification effort. However, the CEDS does not specifically identify a comprehensive list of target industry clusters as part of its strategy.
FHERO identifies the following target industries as critical opportunities based on existing workforce, education, and transportation infrastructure:
• agriculture & agribusiness;
• life sciences and medical services;
• global logistics and distribution; and
• manufacturing.
The Alliance supports the statewide targeted industries identified by Enterprise Florida: Cleantech, manufacturing, life sciences, emerging technologies, defense and homeland security, logistics and distribution, aviation and aerospace, information technology, corporate headquarters, and financial/professional services.
3
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Additional industries are highlighted by specific counties in their Local Government Comprehensive Plans. These Comprehensive Plans serve as strategic planning documents for community development. Major examples of these industries are indicated in the following table:
Example Targeted Industries in Local Government Comprehensive Plans
County Industry Policy
Collier Commercial fishing; Ecotourism
Protect commercial fishing and ecotourism industries by opposing offshore oil drilling leases in the region south of latitude 27 degrees north to the state waters north of the Florida Keys and west to longitude 86 degrees west
DeSoto Alternative energy Pursue actions to encourage the production of renewable energy sources, specifically electrical generation from renewable sources, through 2040
Hardee Mining Coordinate with mining interests to identify future land uses for areas zoned for mining as part of reclamation land use planning efforts
Lee
Commercial fishing; Ecotourism
Protect commercial fishing and ecotourism industries by opposing offshore oil drilling leases in the region south of latitude 27 degrees north to the state waters north of the Florida Keys and west to longitude 86 degrees west
Sports entertainment Promote the development of the sports market and sports facilities in future economic development
Polk Film production Develop a strategic marketing plan to market and recruit film productions
Targeted Development Areas
As part of the economic development strategies for specific industries, region and local organizations have identified priority areas and specific sites for economic development.
Each CEDS identifies a list of economic development opportunities in the region to identify regional priorities and to qualify projects for certain categories of federal funding. The map on page 4 shows areas identified in the CFRPC CEDS as “Opportunity and Investment Areas” and in the SWFRPC CEDS as “Vital Projects.” These opportunity areas and projects reflect places in the region where significant economic development is anticipated, which could result in increased demand for connectivity and mobility.
4
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Opportunity and Investment Areas
Source: Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. 2017; Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. 2017.
Each regional economic development organization (and many county organizations) highlight specific properties or sites for marketing to prospective companies and site selectors. These range from vacant land zoned for industrial or commercial use to shovel-ready sites with available infrastructure to existing properties that can be repurposed. The map on page 5 shows priority sites currently marketed by FHERO. These sites indicate areas where future job creation or capital investment may occur.
5
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Properties Marketed in the Florida’s Heartland Rural Area of Opportunity
Source: Florida’s Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity. https://flaheartland.com/site-selection/properties/. Accessed January 30, 2020.
Counties and municipalities typically identify areas for industrial or commercial land uses as part of their future land use plans or in their land development codes and zoning regulations. These future land use maps can be reviewed for consistency with the CEDS and other regional strategies.
Finally, local, state, and federal agencies each identify specific areas or zones for targeted industries or incentive programs, such as those related to rural economic development, economically distressed communities, and international trade. Relevant designations in this area include:
• DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee, as well as the Cities of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay in Palm Beach County and the Community of Immokalee in Collier County have been designated by the state as a Rural Area of Economic Opportunity and qualify for certain planning and incentive programs.
• Promise Zones are designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In a Promise Zone, federal liaisons work with local organizations to provide technical assistance and expedite federal grant processes for community revitalization efforts. Hendry County, Glades County, and the Community of Immokalee in Collier County have been designated as a Promise Zone (see map on page 6).
6
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Opportunity Zones and Promise Zones in the Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. U.S. Department of Treasury.
• Opportunity Zones are designated by the U.S. Department of Treasury as historically underinvested low-income census tracts. Projects within Opportunity Zones can receive funding from private sector capital gains investments in exchange for tax deferrals or exclusions on the capital gains income. Each county includes one or more Opportunity Zones (see map above).
• Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ) are designated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection as areas exempted from certain duty and excise taxes to improve the cost-competitiveness of U.S. ports of entry as they engage in international trade. All counties in the study area are designated in an FTZ, using an alternative site framework that includes specific airports, seaports, or industrial parks as well as broader regional areas:
7
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
o FTZ 79, Tampa, includes Polk County; o FTZ 213, Fort Myers, incudes Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties; and o FTZ 215, Sebring, includes DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and
Okeechobee Counties, as well as the Cities of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay.
Policies Impacting Economic Development and Transportation
Individual counties have developed policies for transportation and economic development planning as part of their comprehensive plans. These policies can guide the corridor planning process.
Several counties have identified land use planning and zoning designations for interchanges adjacent to planned or existing arterials to maximize economic development potential while managing traffic at these access points. Other counties have established policies for Right-of-Way (ROW) preservation in corridors that may serve as future high-capacity facilities. An example of transportation-oriented development planning comes from Hardee County, which designates an area in northwest Hardee County as the potential location of a new airport to serve as an intermodal hub for freight and passenger traffic. The Hardee County Comprehensive Plan indicates that further analysis will be completed to determine specific site suitability and appropriateness.
Additionally, several counties affirm that they will coordinate their transportation planning efforts for capacity enhancements with other counties and/or the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), to optimize traffic flow and minimize land impacts. The Central Polk Parkway is explicitly included in the Polk County Comprehensive Plan, while the Highlands and Glades Comprehensive Plans establish a commitment to study the potential need for a corridor or other high-capacity limited access facility.
Several counties have identified sustainable community overlays and established Compact Urban Development Area (CUDA) designations to minimize urban sprawl. Additional counties have established policies to minimize roadway encroachment and require context-sensitive design standards for new roadways in rural areas.
The table on page 8 includes a listing of policies from Economic Development Elements of Local Government Comprehensive Plans in the area.
Implications for Corridor Planning
Counties, RPCs, and economic development organizations within the study area have oriented economic development plans for specific industries, many of which rely on well-maintained, well-managed transportation systems to access markets at and beyond the regional level. The plans also demonstrate the strategic value of a transportation network that provides access to many different facilities serving local markets, as the economic development components show a distribution of sites within counties and across the region.
8
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Economic Development Policies in Local Government Comprehensive Plans1
Policy Number Policy Title Policy Content Page
Collier County
Policy 1.6
Resource Management and Energy Conservation
Collier County will support recycling programs in the County to protect natural resources, conserve energy, prolong the useful life of landfills, and maintain a positive public image.
Econ-2
Policy 1.7 Manage Oil Drilling
Collier County will support the protection of the environment that sustains the commercial fishing and tourist industries by opposing the leasing of off-shore tracts for the purpose of oil exploration and drilling. The County will oppose off-shore oil drilling in the region south of Latitude 27 degrees north to the state waters north of the Florida Keys and west to Longitude 86 degrees west.
Econ-2
Policy 2.3 Improve International Airport Status
Collier County will support appropriate entities toward positioning the County as a major aviation international port of entry.
Econ-3
Policies 2.2 & 2.5
Support Tourism and Ecotourism
Collier County will continue to support the local tourism industry and work with the community to position the County as a friendly and hospitable visitor destination. Collier County will support the development of ecotourism in the County.
Econ-3
Policy 3.4 Encourage New Businesses
Collier County will support a marketing program to actively pursue and encourage businesses to relocate to the County
Econ-4
Policy 3.7
Retain Foreign Trade Zone for Improved Economic Activity
Collier County will support the location of business and industry in the Foreign Trade Zone located at the Immokalee Airport.
Econ-4
Policy 3.13
Retain Homeowners (a stable population and employment pool)
Collier County has adopted and shall maintain an impact fee deferral program for owner-occupied, single-family homes constructed within the Immokalee Enterprise Zone. The purpose of this program is to encourage the retention of a permanent resident population of homeowners within the Immokalee Community.
Econ-4
Policy 5.3 Workforce Education and Training
Collier County will encourage institutions of higher learning to develop cooperative and integrated curriculums that enhance and increase the productivity of the local work force and attract industries and skilled workers.
Econ-5
Glades County
Objective X-1.2
Support Transportation Network/Infrastructure
Glades County has connectivity with the consumer markets that surround the County, through an excellent transportation network consisting of US 27, SR 80, SR 78, SR 29, CR 74, CR 731, and CR 721. The transportation network provides linkages to I-75, I-95, the Florida Turnpike and I-4. The County is X-1
1 Charlotte and DeSoto Counties have not developed Economic Development Elements of their comprehensive plans.
9
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Policy Number Policy Title Policy Content Page
served by two Class One Railroads (CSX and FEC), via the South Central Florida Express, that provides rail connectivity to the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, Port of Palm Beach, and Port Manatee.
Policy X-1.2C Utilities Improvements
The County will work with public and private infrastructure providers to service unincorporated areas to facilitate the expansion of water and sewer capacity to serve economic development and job creation projects. X-2
Policy X-1.4C
Focus on Existing Businesses for Economic Growth
Existing business and industry are vital to the County's economy and the expansion of existing business and industry is an integral component in the diversification of the economic base. The County through the County Manager, or his designee will encourage the expansion of existing business and industry. X-3
Objective X-1.5
Become an Internal Hub for Exporting and Importing Manufacturing and Distribution
Glades County’s central location in South Florida, within two and a half hours of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, and being nearly equidistant between Fort Myers and West Palm Beach, makes it a natural hub for international and domestic warehousing, distribution and manufacturing markets, via road, rail and air. X-3
Objective X-1.6
Become a Center for Tourism
With more than 30 miles of Lake Okeechobee shoreline, 60 miles of Caloosahatchee River frontage and 52 miles of paddling trails on pristine Fisheating Creek, Glades County offers outdoor tourism assets that are unparalleled in Florida, for birders, bicyclists, boaters, hunters, fishermen, canoeist, and kayakers. X-3
Policy X-1.7F
Workforce Education and Training
Programs fostered by local organizations and institutions to teach entrepreneurship skills to interested students and residents shall be encouraged as a part of the economic diversity strategy. X-4
Hardee County
Policy E1.4 & Policy E1.5
Preserve Agriculture Industry Hardee County shall work with the Cattlemen’s Association to maintain the Arena facilities. E-1
Objective E2
Workforce Education and Training Hardee County shall seek to improve the job training skills of county residents. E-1
Policy E3.2 Utilities Masterplan
Hardee County shall work with the municipalities to develop sewer/wastewater master plan. E-2
Policy E3.3
Specific Project for Economic Development
The area bounded by the northern County boundary with Polk County south to S.R. 62 and from the western County boundary with Manatee County east to C.R. 663 in northwest Hardee County shall be designated as the potential location for the development of a new airport to serve as an intermodal E-2
10
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Policy Number Policy Title Policy Content Page
hub for the transportation of goods and people throughout the region. Further study and analysis will be completed to determine specific site suitability and appropriateness. At such time when a specific site is identified, the County shall amend the Future Land Use Element and Future Land Use Map to designate the potential airport location.
Policy E3.6
Encourage Mining Industry with Environmental Protections
As part of the mining approval process, mining interests shall coordinate with Hardee County to identify specific potential future land uses prior to mining to provide an effective reclamation land use planning phase. E-3
Policy E4.2
Specific Project for Ecotourism
The Paynes Creek corridor from Hardee Lakes to the Peace River shall be designated as a primary ecotourism corridor for Hardee County. The County shall work closely with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to create ecotourism areas and opportunities within this corridor. This ecotourism corridor will encourage participation by phosphate mining companies to include reclaimed and preserved areas adjacent to Paynes Creek as elements of the corridor either through acquisition or donation. Nothing in this Element will preclude mining operations adjacent to the Paynes Creek corridor. Other ecotourism corridors shall be identified in the future as appropriate. E-3
Policy E5.2
Economic Activity in Reclaimed Mines
Hardee County shall work with the private sector to develop a site donated by IMC in Hardee County with a minimum of 30 jobs being created within the first three years of development. E-4
Hendry County
Policy 1.1.3 Resource Preservation
Hendry County will encourage the preservation of sensitive natural resources, including wetlands, estuaries, clean air and water, historic resources, scenic vistas, and other unique natural resources.
EDE-1
Policy 1.2.1 & Policy 1.2.3
Support Tourism and Ecotourism
Hendry County will continue to support the local tourism industry and work with the cities of LaBelle and Clewiston, the Economic Development Council, and the Chamber of Commerce, and the Tourist Development Council.
EDE-1
Policy 1.3.4
Engauge and Support Local Businesses
Hendry County will continue to implement the Enterprise Zone Program and survey interests of business owners to continue the program past December 31, 2005 every five years, will assesses the program’s effectiveness through the annual report to the Governor’s Office of Trade, Tourism and Economic Development (OTTED).
EDE-2
Policy 1.4.3
Workforce Education and Training
Hendry County will encourage institutions of higher learning to develop cooperative and integrated curriculums that enhance and increase the productivity of the local work force and attract industries and skilled workers.
EDE-2
Highlands County
11
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Policy Number Policy Title Policy Content Page
Policy 2.1 Diversify the Economy
It shall be the policy of Highlands County, through the EDO, to continue establishing and maintaining programs identified in this Objective that expand job opportunities and diversify the economy to mitigate the impact of any significant economic downturns. Industries shall be identified and targeted, which are sensitive to the County’s environment and natural resources, and create new jobs that offer wages at or above the County median average income. 2
Policy 2.4 Business Retention
The EDO shall organize and maintain a network for measuring community business needs and concerns through the completion of a business retention and expansion efforts designed to stimulate and support economic growth. 4
Policy 2.5
Develop Database with Business Inventory and Assistance Information
A. The EDO shall maintain a database which establishes an information network that will provide financial and technical assistance information, seminar and activity schedules, and an inventory of industrial and commercial sites that are available in the County. Said inventory shall, at a minimum, identify the availability and capacity of infrastructure to serve each site. B. In order to use this database as a marketing tool for recruiting businesses into Highlands County, the EDO shall: 1. Supplement the information with economic and demographic profiles about Highlands County; and, 2. Introduce a methodology for analyzing the impacts of commercial and industrial relocation both into and from Highlands County. C. The EDO shall provide data to the extent that relocating and expanding businesses across the nation are aware of the business climate and resources in Highlands County. The EDO will continue to collaborate with all necessary resources in providing information to companies that seek to expand, as well as businesses that wish to relocate to Highlands County. 4
Policy 2.6 Support International Trade
The EDO shall continue programs and develop new programs that encourage and assist existing businesses in the expansion of their market through potential international trade as well as reverse investment opportunities. 5
Policy 2.7 Encourage Tourism The EDO shall continue to assist the Tourist Development Council in the promotion of tourism in Highlands County. 5
12
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Policy Number Policy Title Policy Content Page
Policy 2.11
Facilitate Recruitment of Adequate Industrial Sites
A. The County shall strive to ensure there is sufficient Industrial land with proper FLU and zoning designations and adequate infrastructure for future development including industrial parks and business campuses. B. The EDO shall continue to seek state or federal grants and use other resources to assist in the establishment of necessary infrastructure to make the industrial functional. C. The EDO shall identify target development areas to increase the number of targeted industry jobs necessary to support a stronger job, tax and education base within the County. D. The EDO shall prepare a Strategic Economic Development locations map that indicates the areas within the County that have been identified as potential targeted development areas for new job creation. 5 & 6
Policy 2.12
Streamline Development Review Process
A. The County will continue to review its development approval process to identify and eliminate any unnecessary impediments to a fast, effective, and efficient development review process within the County for economic development projects. B. The County will use the State of Florida Expedited Permitting Process to create a Fast Track Option for Critical Economic Development projects. C. The County shall continue to use pre-application conferences and shall prepare and distribute guides, handouts, and other information concerning regulatory and permitting procedures affecting economic development, to streamline and expedite the application review and permitting process. D. The County shall work to reduce or eliminate permits, inspections, or functions that duplicate or overlap State and/or Federal permits, inspections or functions. This shall not preclude the adoption of County regulations more stringent than State or Federal regulations, if so desired by the Board of County Commissioners. E. The County, through the EDO will disseminate information to interested parties regarding existing and pending local legislation affecting economic development activities. F. The County will review its existing regulations and rectify or eliminate conflicts that may exist to improve service and expedite permit processing for new and/or expanded businesses to encourage the promotion of economic growth. 6
13
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Policy Number Policy Title Policy Content Page
Policies 3.2 & 3.3
Workforce Education and Training
A. The EDO shall work in coordination with public schools and other institutions to incorporate basic economic awareness in public school curricula. B. The County shall consider utilizing its various departments for internship opportunities, school visits, and presentations to educate students of the role of government in the local economy. C. The EDO shall coordinate with educational institutions and the business community to encourage the development of educational programs, which provide students with skills matching the needs of local employers. The EDO shall partner with CareerSource as needed in the survey of local business and prospective employers to identify their job skill and manpower needs. The County shall encourage educational and other institutions to develop and implement training programs. The EDO shall foster partnerships to meet these needs, as well as attract, expand, and retain targeted, high-value industry and sustain the economy. 7 & 8
Lee County
Policy 158.1.6
Sustain Commercial Fishing, Manage Oil Drilling
Lee County will protect the environment that sustains the commercial fishing and tourist industries by opposing the leasing of off-shore tracts for the purpose of oil exploration and drilling. The county will oppose off-shore oil drilling in the region south of latitude 27 degrees north to the state waters north of the Florida Keys and west to longitude 86 degrees west. (Amended by Ordinance No. 00-22) XI-1
Policy 158.1.7
Public Acquisition and Regulatory Protection of Natural Resources
Lee County will encourage the preservation of sensitive natural resources, including beaches, wetlands, estuaries, clean air and water, historic resources, scenic vistas and other unique natural resources through public acquisition and/or regulatory protection. (Amended by Ordinance No. 00-22) XI-1
Policies 158.2.1 & 158.2.5
Support Tourism and Ecotourism
Lee County, in coordination with the Tourist Development Council and other appropriate entities, will continue to support the area's domestic and international tourism development program to ensure continuation and expansion of the tourism industry. (Amended by Ordinance No. 00-22) Lee County, in coordination with the Tourist Development Council and other appropriate entities, will continue to lead the local tourism industry and work with the community to position Lee County as a friendly and hospitable visitor destination. (Amended by Ordinance No. 00-22) XI-2
Policy 158.2.6
Develop Entertainment Facilities (Sports)
Lee County, in coordination with the Tourist Development Council and other appropriate entities, will promote the development of the sports market and sports facilities for future economic development. (Added by Ordinance No. 07-09) XI-2
14
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Policy Number Policy Title Policy Content Page
Policies 158.3.7, 158.3.8 & 158.3.9 Engauge Global Market
Lee County will promote and coordinate the Lee County/Fort Myers Enterprise Zones. (Ordinance No. 00-22, 07-09) Lee County, in coordination with the Horizon Council and other appropriate entities, will encourage the expansion of international banking and finance to better accommodate the needs of international visitors to the area and that of local firms engaged in global markets. (Ordinance No. 00-22, 07-09) Lee County, in coordination with the Horizon Council and other appropriate entities, will promote the Foreign Trade Zones in Lee County. (Ordinance No. 00-22, 07-09) XI-3
Policy 158.3.11
Encourage New Industries and High Wage Jobs
Lee County, in coordination with the Horizon Council and other appropriate entities, will continue programs which encourage and assist in the location of new companies that diversify the economy and create higher wage jobs. (Ordinance No. 00-22, 07-09) XI-3
Policy 158.5.3
Workforce Education and Training
Lee County will encourage the Lee County School District, Edison State College, Florida Gulf Coast University, and any future institutions of higher learning, to develop cooperative and integrated curriculums that enhance and increase the productivity of the local work force and attract industries and skilled workers. (Amended by Ordinance No. 00-22, 07-09, 10-14) XI-5
Policy 158.6.3
Expedite Projects to Strengthen Economy
Lee County will expedite the processing of rezoning and development permitting for projects identified by the Economic Development Office as “economic projects.” (Added by Ordinance No. 10-14) XI-5
Polk County
Policy 2.402-A4
Support Commercial Agriculture Industry
The Polk County Planning Division and the Central Florida Development Council shall work with organizations representing the commercial agricultural industry in Polk County, including but not limited to Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida Cattlemen's Association (Polk County), and Florida Farm Bureau Federation (Polk County), in order to coordinate the future economic and land-use needs of that industry. E-3
Policy 2.402-A6
Encourage Film Production
The Economic Development Council shall continue to market and recruit film production in the County through a strategic marketing plan. E-3
Policy 2.402-A11
Encourage Tourism and Develop Performance Measures
The Tourist Development Council shall promote the upgrading and expansion of Polk County's tourism industry as measured by the industry's investment in the County, the taxes generated by tourists for the County, and the number of persons employed within the County's hospitality industry. E-3
Policy 2.403-A2
New Employment Targets
The Central Florida Development Council shall continue to implement a strategic marketing plan to recruit targeted industries which will provide quality job opportunities for County residents, increase the County's per capita income, and reduce the County's unemployment rate. The county will report annually target industry starts including the number of new jobs created and available wage information. E-4
15
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Policy Number Policy Title Policy Content Page
Policy 2.404-A1
Clustering of Industrial and Commercial Activities
The County Planning Division shall encourage the location and clustering of major commercial and industrial activities according to the following guidelines: a. in close proximity to principal arterials; b. with access to appropriate utilities (water, sewer, electricity, gas, telephone) or to allow for provision of these utilities; c. with on-site rail facilities, if appropriate; d. with access to mass transit routes where feasible; and e. so as to minimize impacts to the natural environment and adjacent land uses. E-4
Policy 2.404-B3
Encourage Traffic Flow and Efficiency
The County shall implement land development regulations adopted in the Land Development Code to protect the capacity of and promote traffic flow efficiency on arterials and collectors by limiting road (driveway) cuts and encouraging use of frontage roads. E-5
Policy 2.404-B4
Support Railroads for Commercial and Industrial Use
The County shall seek a working relationship with all active railroad companies to maintain active rail lines that could service existing and future commercial/industrial use areas as outlined in the Future Land Use Element. E-5
Gulf ofMexico
AtlanticOcean
LakeOkeechobee
¬«35
POLK COUNTY
OSCEOLA COUNTY
PALM BEACH COUNTY
HENDRY COUNTYLEE COUNTY
GLADES COUNTY
HIGHLANDS COUNTY
COLLIER COUNTY
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
DESOTO COUNTY
HARDEE COUNTY
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
BREVARD COUNTY
HIL
LSB
OR
OU
GH
CO
UN
TY
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
MARTIN COUNTY
MANATEE CO
UNTY
BROWARD COUNTY
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
SARASOTA CO
UNTY
PASCO COUNTY
ORANGE COUNTYLAKE COUNTY
Heartland 2060 GIS Database
Legend - 2020Generalized Future Land Use
Agriculture
Low Density Residential
Medium-High Density Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Public-Quasi Institutional
Conservation
Mixed Use
Miscellaneous
µ0 2010
Miles
7-County Generalized Future Land Use
Heartland 2060 is a grassroots 7-county regional visioning initiative underway since 2007 to find common community based values in the inland counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee and Polk to focus on growth challenges and opportunities. Heartland 2060: Building a Resilient Region completed an extensive study and public engagement in 2011 that was centered around economic development, education and talent pipeline; agriculture, natural resources and water; land use and transportation; and community cultural heritage and health.
BUILDING A RESILIENT REGION
Stewardship of Natural Resources
Our Water Resources
Respect for Agriculture
Our Communities
Future for Our Children
Our Values
The update of Heartland 2060 is underway focusing on what has changed in the last decade and what new opportunities and challenges need to be addressed in 2020 to continue to build and sustain a resilient Heartland region.
The Future of our
PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
Daily vehicle miles traveled in the 7 Heartland counties increased 23% between 2010 and 2018,
compared to 13% statewideSource: Florida Department of Transportation
15,063 crashes were reported in the 7 counties in 2017, resulting in 192 fatalities and 10,269 serious injuries
Source: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
3.9% of workers in the Heartland lived in a household with no motor vehicle in 2017
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
The Future of our
INFRASTRUCTURE The Heartland’s Transportation System
» 8,870 centerline miles of roadway (88% locally-owned, 12% state-owned)
» 415 rail miles
» 4 Amtrak stations
» 9 Greyhound stations
» 1 intermodal logistics center
» 10 publically-owned general aviation airports
» 3 fixed-route transit systems
» Transportation disadvantaged services providing more than 652,000 trips in 2017
The Future of our PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
POPULATION GROWTH will be strongest in Polk County (percent change, 2018-2060)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
POLK
HENDRY
GLADES
HIGHLANDS
DESOTO
OKEECHOBEE
HARDEE
69.3%44.1%
36.3%34.8%
31.9%
27.9%16.6%
0
300
600
900
1,200
1,500
20
60
20
55
20
50
20
45
20
40
20
35
20
30
20
25
20
20
20
18
20
10
20
00
19
90
POPULATION (thousands)
The Heartland’s population will increase by more than
551,000 residents by 2060
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey)
The Heartland’s population will increase
by 551,000 residents more than by 2060.
The 7 Heartland counties must create more than 48,200 new jobs by 2030 to accommodate
anticipated population growthSource: Florida Chamber Foundation
The Future of our
ECONOMY
Merchandise exports from the Lakeland-Winter Haven MSA increased from $695 million in 2008 to $1.3 billion in 2018, the 6th highest total among Florida’s metropolitan areas (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
TRADE AND LOGISTICS FOCUS
Only full-scale intermodal logistics rail terminal in the state in Winter HavenMore than 2 dozen large companies with logistics and distribution operations based in the region
foreign trade zones
17major freight activity centers
2major freight
mobility corridors
5
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES HAVE DECREASED IN ALL 7 COUNTIES, BUT REMAIN ABOVE THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE
2009 (annual average)
POLK
OK
EEC
HO
BEE
HIG
HLA
ND
S
HEN
DR
Y
HAR
DEE
GLA
DES
DES
OTO
10.1
%3.
4%
9.3%
3.9%
10.5
%5.
6%
14.2
%7.
1%
10.8
%4.
3%
11.9
%3.
4%
11.3
%3.
5%
2009 Data Source: https://www.bls.gov/lau/#cntyaa
2019 Data Source: http://lmsresources.labormarketinfo.com/library/press/release.pdf)
2019 (preliminary)
JOBS WILL SHIFT TOWARD HEALTH CARE AND SERVICES(PERCENT OF TOTAL JOBS BY OCCUPATION)
22.4
11.2
11.4
8.7
9.3
8.0
25.5
11.1
9.1
8.7
7.2
6.9 2019Food preparation& serving
Health care
Transportation &material moving
Buiding maintenance,personal care & services
Management,business, financial
Sales, office,administrative support
2060
The Future of our
ECONOMYThe 7 Heartland counties must create more than 48,200 new jobs by 2030 to accommodate anticipated population growth (Source: Florida Chamber Foundation)
The 7 Heartland counties produced estimated gross regional product of $21 billion in 2015, up 8% from 2012 (Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Farms in the 7 Heartland counties sold more than $1.5 billion in products in 2017, more than 1 out of 5 statewide (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Agriculture accounts for more than 1 out of every 8 jobs in Hendry, Hardee, & Glades counties (Source; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Manufacturing accounts for fewer than 5% of all jobs in all Heartland counties except Hardee & Polk (Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Health care accounts for more than 1 out of every 5 jobs in Highlands County (Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
The Florida Chamber Foundation’s recession risk index projects a 35% chance of beginning a recession in the next 9 months. The current U.S. expansion has lasted more than 10 years, more than twice the average time between recessions since World War II
TARGET INDUSTRY CLUSTERS
TARGET INDUSTRY CLUSTERS
The Future of our
ENVIRONMENT
7 county area
4,776,367 acres
926,217 acres of protected land
19% of Heartland Region
Southwest-Central Florida
FloridaMCORES.com
Roadway Network Improvements
Sources: FDOT Work Program, FDOT SIS 10-Year Plan, FDOT SIS Long Range Cost Feasible Plan (FY 2029 – 2045), MPO Long Range Transportation Plans
Southwest-Central Florida
FloridaMCORES.com
2050 Roadway Model Network
Source: 2050 Statewide Model
Southwest-Central Florida
FloridaMCORES.com
2018 – 2050 Peak Season Daily Traffic Volume Growth
Sources: 2018 Florida Traffic Online, 2050 Statewide Model
Southwest-Central Florida
FloridaMCORES.com
2050 Future Conditions – Level of Service (LOS)
Sources: 2050 Statewide Model, FDOT 2013 Generalized Level of Service Tables
Southwest-Central Florida
FloridaMCORES.com
2050 Future Conditions – Traffic Congestion
Sources: 2050 Statewide Model, FDOT 2013 Generalized Level of Service Tables Note: Congested roads are defined as roads that projected to exceed level of service standards based on the statewide level of service criteria. Congestion levels are defined as the ratio of 2050 volume compared to the target level of service threshold. A ratio of 1.0 to 1.15 is Moderate; 1.15 to 1.5 is Severe; and greater than 1.5 is Extreme.
FloridaMCORES.com
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Major Construction Projects
15141312
1110
87
9
6
16
5
432
1
1 Widen Polk Parkway from MP 18 to MP 22 (2 to 4 lanes)
2 SR 542 from 1st Street to Buckeye Loop Road
3 SR 542 from Buckeye Loop Road to US 27
4 Central Polk Parkway from Polk Parkway to US 17*
5 Central Polk Parkway from US 17 to SR 60*
6 US 27 at SR 60
7 SR 80 from Dalton Lane to Indian Hills Drive
8 SR 80 from Indian Hills Drive to CR 833
9 I-75 at SR 884 (Colonial Blvd.) Interchange
10 SR 82 from CR 884 (Lee Blvd) to Shawnee Road
11 SR 82 from Shawnee Road to Alabama Road S
12 SR 82 from Alabama Road S to Homestead Road S
13 SR 82 from Homestead Road to Hendry County Line
14 SR 82 from Hendry County Line to Gator Slough Lane
15 SR 82 from Gator Slough Lane to SR 29
16 I-4 at SR 557*Subject to approval
FloridaMCORES.com
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Major Planning Projects and Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Studies
1
23
4
5 6
78
9
10 1112
13
14
15
16
17
2021
22
23
24
25
18 19
262827
3029
32
31
33
34
39
35
36
37
38
1 US 27 from I-4 to Lake County Line
2 I-4 from US 27 to Osceola County Line
3 US 17/92 from US 27 to County Road 54 (Ronald Reagan Parkway)
4 US 98 from north of W Socrum Loop Road to SR 471
5 US 92 from West Daughtery Road to north of West Socrum Loop Road
6 I-4 West of Polk Pkwy (west leg) to west of US 27 interchange
7 SR 33 from Old Combee Road to north of Tomkow Road
8 I-4 from Polk / Hillsborough County Line to Polk Parkway
9 US 92 from County Line Road to Wabash Avenue
10 US 27 from SR 60 to I-4
11 US 17/92 from 1st Street to 17th Street
12 SR 544 (Lucerne Park Road) from Martin Luther King Blvd. to SR 17
13 Central Polk Parkway from SR 60 to I-4
14 US 27 from Highlands County Line to SR 60
15 SR 60 from CR 630 to Kissimmee River Bridge
16 US 98 from US 27 to east of Airport Road
17 SR 31 Extension from SR 70 to US 17*
18 SR 70 from Jefferson Ave to CR 29
19 SR 70 from CR 29 to Lonesome Island Road
20 CR 769 (Kings Highway) from Peace River Street to Charlotte county line
21 US 41 from Enterprise Drive to Sumter Boulevard
22 Harborview Road from Melbourne Road to I-75
23 North Jones Loop Road from Burnt Store Road to Piper Road
24 Burnt Store Road from Van Buren Parkway to Charlotte County Line
25 SR 31 from North River Road to north of Cook Brown Road
26 SR 78 from I-75 to SR 31
27 SR 31 from SR 78 to CR 78
28 SR 31 from SR 80 to SR 78
29 I-75 at CR 876 / Daniels Parkway
30 I-75 from Collier / Lee County Line to SR 78
31 CR 887 from Collier County Line to Bonita Beach Road
32 I-75 from SR 951 to Collier / Lee County Line
33 I-75 at Pine Ridge Rd
34 I-75 at SR 951
35 SR 29 from CR 80A to CR 731
36 SR 80 from east of Birchwood Parkway to US 27
37 SR 29 from SR 82 to CR 80A
38 SR 29 from Oil Well Road to SR 82
39 SR 29 from I-75 to Oil Well Road
*Subject to approval
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Avoidance and Enhancement Areas
Southwest Central Florida Corridor
FloridaMCORES.com
Overview of Avoidance Areas
Will not impact
• Springheads • Lakes • High Risk Coastal Zones • Cemeteries • Tribal Lands • Military Installations
No new corridor through
• Mitigation Banks
• Resources listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
• Acquired Florida Forever Lands
• Acquired Florida Preservation 2000 Act Lands
• National Wildlife Refuges o Florida Panther o Lake Wales Ridge o Ten Thousand Islands o Everglades Headwaters
• National Parks o Everglades o Big Cypress National Preserve
• State Parks
• Coastal Area Storm Surge (CAT 2)
• Airports
Areas resulting from Task Force Member Guiding Principles
1
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Opportunity & Investment Areas
(numbers do not imply priority)
Date: 1/29/2020
Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. 2017; Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. 2017.
Tourism
Original / Distinct Emails 982 32 179 228 49 44 476 120 256 97 35 302 288 78 33 82 2 19 34
Forms Letters 4809 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Task Force Meeting Comment Forms
167 15 33 29 13 17 64 9 16 7 1 24 42 27 2 33 0 12 6
Community Open House Comment Forms
185 16 9 40 8 17 53 3 27 7 1 5 60 20 2 41 0 4 5
TOTALS 6143 63 221 297 70 78 593 132 299 111 37 331 390 125 37 156 2 35 45
* Numerous individuals submitted more than one comment**Some commenters did not touch on the above topics: For example, individuals submitted comments requesting meeting information, meeting materials, etc.
Number of Individuals Submitting
Comments*
Comment Categories
Multi-modal / Mass Transit /
Alternate Transportation
Hurricane Evacuation
Wildlife / Habitat Impacts
WetlandsWater-Sewer
Utilities BroadbandCost
Jobs / Economic /
Business Impacts
Eminent Domain
Impacts to Property /
Rural / Quality of
Life
Traffic Topics Environmental Mentions General Mentions
Tolls
Projected Alignment or Route Locations
Water Resources /
Aquifer
Pollution: Water / Air /
Ground
Native Plants Conservation
Expand / Maintain Existing Roads
FloridaMCORES.com
AREAS OF INTEREST
Comment DataAugust 1, 2019 - February 15, 2020
1
Public Meetings by County
County Event Name Date Number of Comments / Letters
Citrus Northern Turnpike Corridor Task Force Meeting #2 10/22/19 17
Citrus Suncoast Corridor Task Force Meeting #2 10/23/19 15
Citrus Northern Turnpike Corridor Community Open House 10/24/19 10
Citrus *Suncoast / Northern Turnpike Corridors Community Open House
1/30/20 26
Collier Southwest-Central Florida Corridor Community Open House 12/12/19 3
DeSoto Southwest-Central Florida Corridor Community Open House 1/30/20 14
Dixie Suncoast Corridor Community Open House 10/24/19 36
Gilchrist Northern Turnpike Corridor Task Force Meeting #4 2/12/20 7
Glades Southwest-Central Florida Corridor Task Force Meeting #4 2/13/20 10
Hardee Southwest Central Florida Corridor Community Open House 11/12/19 9
Hendry Southwest-Central Florida Corridor Task Force Meeting #3 12/9/19 7
Hillsborough *Suncoast, Northern Turnpike & Southwest-Central Florida Corridors Task Force Meeting #1
8/27/19 72
Lafayette Suncoast Corridor Community Open House 12/19/19 9
Levy *Suncoast / Northern Turnpike Corridors Community Open House
1/28/20 59
Madison Suncoast Corridor Task Force Meeting #4 2/11/20 19
Marion Northern Turnpike Corridor Task Force Meeting #3 12/18/19 6
2
Public Meetings by County
County Event Name Date Number of Comments / Letters
Polk Southwest-Central Florida Corridor Task Force Meeting #2 10/30/19 8
Polk Southwest-Central Florida Corridor Community Open House 1/9/20 10
Sumter Northern Turnpike Corridor Community Open House 12/19/19 2
Taylor Suncoast Corridor Task Force Meeting #3 12/17/19 7
Taylor Suncoast Corridor Community Open House 1/27/20 16
TOTAL: ... 362
*Joint Meetings that involved more than one corridor
1
Public Input – Form Letters
Form Letter One
Dear Task Force Member:
As a resident of Florida and a conservation voter, I am writing to let you know I strongly oppose the three proposed toll-road highways.
The proposed routes were not included in FDOT’s 5-year plans. In fact, in 2016 the FDOT Interstate 75 Relief Task Force recommended against building new roads, and instead urged expanding the vehicle capacity of I-75 along with connecting highways as a preferred solution. Florida’s existing infrastructure is crumbling and is ranked 40th nationwide in overall cost-effectiveness and condition. Demand for road repairs and true multi-modal transportation is highest in existing urban cores, yet the proposed “roads to ruin” would run through some of the state’s least populated counties.
New roads will increase air and water pollution and destroy precious wetlands, springs and aquifer recharge areas. Animals like the endangered Florida panther rely on connected natural areas, including farms and ranches, to breed and hunt. The three toll roads will slice through some of the best remaining natural and agricultural areas, permanently severing connectivity within wildlife corridors.
Every day Florida faces threats from air and water pollution, an exploding population and a changing climate. With so many immediate and pressing priorities, our state legislature should be investing in ways to ensure a healthier environment and brighter future for all, rather than spending precious resources on these "roads to ruin."
I urge all members of the Florida M-CORES Task Forces to oppose this project in its entirety.
2
Public Input – Form Letters
Form Letter Two
Dear Secretary of Florida Dept. of Transportation,
M-CORES is a terrible idea. In 2016, the FDOT Interstate 75 Relief Task Force recommended that rather than new roads, a better approach was expanding the vehicle capacity of the interstate and connecting highways. Nothing has changed.
This debacle will create hundreds of miles of limited access highways ? while current roads and bridges need repairs and updates. The state has many pressing transportation issues ? like the congestion in such urban areas as Miami, Tampa Bay, Central Florida, and Jacksonville, but M-CORES will not reduce traffic.
There is no way to make this horrible proposal less disastrous. There is no ?acceptable? or ?best? route for these unneeded and destructive toll roads.
The task forces charged with developing these plans are stacked with representatives from industries who stand to gain financially from carving up what remains of unpaved Florida. Thankfully, FDOT is not obligated to accept the recommendations of the three task forces.
These ?roads to ruin? are a recipe for out of control urban sprawl that will further strain our state?s water resources, contribute to climate change, and wreak havoc on rural communities, wildlife and wild land. Stop M-CORES in its tracks.
3
Public Input – Form Letters
Form Letter Three
Dear Florida Department of Transportation,
I'm writing to ask you to reconsider the plan to build three new toll roads through wild Florida, and ultimately I urge you to formally recommend against their construction.
New roads will increase air and water pollution and destroy precious wetlands, springs and aquifer recharge areas. Animals like the endangered Florida panther and Florida black bear rely on connected natural areas, but the three toll roads will slice through their remaining habitat.
The proposed routes weren't included in your department's five-year plans until Gov. DeSantis signed the bill into law — _which goes to show that this plan is being driven by special interests like road builders, the trucking industry and big developers. What's more, these toll roads represent the worst type of policy-making. It's a massively expensive pet project pushed by one powerful legislative leader, Senate President Galvano, and special interests that have written big campaign checks.
The project's task-force membership doesn't reflect the voices of those who will be directly affected. It's the cities and towns in the path of these proposed roads who have a lot to lose in the fight. Big government shouldn't be meddling in the future of these rural communities.
Please — _listen to the people of Florida and recommend against construction of these destructive toll roads.
4
Public Input – Form Letters
Form Letter Four
Dear Secretary Thibault, I am writing to express my opposition to the proposal to route the Suncoast Connector toll road through Jefferson County. Jefferson County and the Florida Big Bend are already served by US 19, which is an excellent four-lane highway that is lightly traveled and operating at a fraction of its capacity. Building a new (and unnecessary) four-lane toll road through Jefferson County would directly affect the Aucilla River which is not only one of the most scenic rivers in the state but also a designated Outstanding Florida Water, and the site of many important archaeological discoveries. Construction of a new toll road would also affect the flow of fresh water to our rivers, wetlands, and coastal fisheries. With billions of tax dollars being invested in restoring freshwater flow to the Everglades, why would we risk the same outcome in our own backyard? Also, construction of the Suncoast Connector toll road would fragment wildlife habitat along a 150-mile corridor and threaten publicly conserved lands enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The Suncoast Connector would also be a limited access highway ― the road would bypass rural Main Street communities like Monticello. This would reduce traffic to local businesses along the US 19 corridor including through downtown Monticello. Jefferson County and other rural communities certainly have infrastructure and economic development needs. Let's work with the Legislature to strategically address these needs in a fiscally responsible manner that does not jeopardize the natural resources and historic downtown that make Jefferson County so special. I urge you to help us protect Jefferson County from the Suncoast Connector toll road. You can do this by: evaluating if this road is even needed; utilizing existing under-used routes like US 19; and only building additional capacity when absolutely necessary and locating it in areas that do not have sensitive water resources, un-fragmented wildlife habitat, extensive public and private conservation lands, and productive working rural lands. Thank you for your consideration.
1
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Draft Guiding Principles Summary
Natural Guiding Principles
1. Prioritize avoidance and enhancements to existing lands currently managed for conservation purposes; where avoidance is not feasible, minimize and mitigate impacts on these lands. Provide enhancements for mitigation lands if avoidance is not feasible.
2. Prioritize avoidance and enhancements to lands proposed for management for conservation purposes; where avoidance is not feasible, minimize and mitigate impacts to these lands.
3. Minimize and mitigate impacts to endangered, threatened, rare, or endemic species and their habitats, as well as to rare or endemic plant communities. Enhance these areas to extent practical.
4. Avoid, to the extent possible, and enhance, to extent practical, degradation of fresh water sources and aquifer recharge areas; where avoidance is not possible, minimize and mitigate impacts on these resources.
5. Maintain, and where possible, restore and enhance water quality and watershed integrity.
6. Minimize direct impacts to wetlands; where mitigation is needed, pursue regional or landscape-scale approaches.
7. Avoid or minimize fragmentation of, or other negative impacts to, regionally significant or large contiguous productive agricultural lands and other rural lands with environmental significance, working with landowners to understand their future plans.
8. Maintain and, where possible, restore and enhance the integrity and connectivity of regionally significant environmental lands (such as Florida Ecological Greenway Network Priorities 1 and 2), with emphasis on enhancing connectivity for wildlife, water, and other resources.
9. Enhance, to extent practical, existing roads to improve natural resource conditions.
Cultural Guiding Principles
10. Avoid lands owned by Native American tribal nations.
11. Avoid cemeteries and historic markers.
Social Guiding Principles
12. Avoid military sites and lands important to maintain the site’s military mission.
13. Maintain and enhance transportation connectivity to, from, and between working farms, forests, and mines; recreational areas, trails, and other eco-tourism attractions; rural employment centers; and other economically valuable rural lands.
14. Enhance transportation corridors to reflect the context of the communities and environment through which the corridors pass, to the fullest extent possible.
15. Maintain and enhance the context and quality of life consistent with local and regional visions and plans.
2
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
16. Enhance economic development, job creation and community development, with emphasis on rural areas, by maintaining consistency with local and regional comprehensive plans, economic development plans and initiatives to maximize opportunities that meet the needs of communities and the region.
17. Avoid schools and locally significant identified public serving institutions and mitigate negative impacts of a transportation corridor on these institutions.
Physical Guiding Principles
18. Prioritize minimization implementation of new transportation facilities by following existing transportation rights of way, utility corridors or easements, and other existing human-disturbed corridors through conservation, agricultural, and other natural lands.
19. Enhance transportation connectivity by emphasizing linkages to existing to communities and the existing regional roadway network.
20. Enhance the development and operation of transportation corridors by using state-of-the-art and energy-efficient infrastructure, vehicles, materials, technologies, and methodologies.
21. Enhance emergency evacuation and response.
22. Enhance areas where utilities and broadband can be combined with transportation through nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral access to FDOT rights of way for utility and service providers or joint deployment of infrastructure.
23. To extent feasible, minimize impacts of transportation lighting on nearby agricultural, environmental and conservation lands.
Potential Implementation Strategies
A. Consult with tribal nations to identify opportunities for enhanced connectivity that would provide mutual benefit.
B. Enhance infrastructure and transportation planning processes to support co-benefits of implementation.
C. Avoid or minimize impacts to funding for programmed FDOT projects.
D. Conservation lands include fee and less than fee conservation easements, rural land stewardship management areas, Water Management District monitoring sites, and areas needed for associated, appropriate land management (such as smoke sheds, optimal boundaries).
E. In transportation corridor planning and project development, localize public input/feedback.
F. In transportation corridor planning and project development, evaluate improvements and access to existing and planned trail networks.
1
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Draft Guiding Principles Summary with Noted Updates
Natural Guiding Principles
1. Prioritize avoidance and enhancements to Avoid, to the extent feasible, and enhance, to extent practical, existing lands currently managed for conservation purposes; where avoidance is not feasible, minimize and mitigate impacts on these lands. Provide enhancements for mitigation lands if avoidance is not feasible.
2. Prioritize avoidance and enhancements to Avoid, to the extent feasible, and enhance, to extent practical, lands proposed for management for conservation purposes; where avoidance is not feasible, minimize and mitigate impacts to these lands.
3. Minimize and mitigate impacts to endangered, threatened, rare, or endemic species and their habitats, as well as to rare or endemic plant communities. Enhance these areas to extent practical.
4. Avoid, to the extent possible, and enhance, to extent practical, degradation of fresh water sources and aquifer recharge areas; where avoidance is not possible, minimize and mitigate impacts on these resources.
5. Maintain, and where possible, restore and enhance water quality and watershed integrity.
6. Minimize direct impacts to wetlands; where mitigation is needed, pursue regional or landscape-scale approaches.
7. Avoid or minimize fragmentation of, or other negative impacts to, regionally significant or large contiguous productive agricultural lands and other rural lands with environmental significance, working with landowners to understand their future plans.
8. Maintain and, where possible, restore and enhance the integrity and connectivity of regionally significant environmental lands (such as Florida Ecological Greenways Network Priorities 1 and2), with emphasis on enhancing connectivity for wildlife, water, and other resources.
9. Enhance, to extent practical, existing roads to improve natural resource conditions.
Cultural Guiding Principles
10. Avoid lands owned by Native American tribal nations.; consult with tribal nations to identify opportunities for enhanced connectivity that would provide mutual benefit. [moved to Potential Implementation Strategies]
11. Avoid cemeteries and historic markers.
2
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Social Guiding Principles
12. Avoid military sites and lands important to maintain the site’s military mission.
13. Maintain and enhance transportation connectivity to, from, and between working farms, forests, and mines; recreational areas, trails, and other eco-tourism attractions; rural employment centers; and other economically valuable rural lands.
14. Enhance transportation corridors to reflect the context of the communities and environment through which the corridors pass, to the fullest extent possible.
15. Maintain and enhance the context and quality of life consistent with local and regional visions and plans.
16. 15. Enhance economic development, job creation and community development with emphasis on rural areas, by maintaining consistency with local and regional comprehensive plans, economic development plans and initiatives to maximize opportunities that meet the needs of communities and the region.
17. Avoid schools and locally significant identified public serving institutions and mitigate negative impacts of a transportation corridor on these institutions.
Physical Guiding Principles
18. 16. Prioritize minimization Minimize implementation of new transportation facilities by following, where feasible, existing transportation rights of way, utility corridors or easements, and other existing human-disturbed corridors through conservation, agricultural, and other natural lands.
19. 17 Enhance transportation connectivity by emphasizing linkages to existing to communities and the existing regional roadway network.
20. 18.Enhance the development and operation of transportation corridors by using state-of-the-art and energy-efficient infrastructure, vehicles, materials, technologies, and methodologies.
21. 19.Enhance emergency evacuation and response.
22. 20.Enhance areas where utilities and broadband can be combined with transportation through nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral access to FDOT rights of way for utility and service providers or joint deployment of infrastructure.
21. 21. Enhance infrastructure and transportation planning processes to support co-benefits of implementation. [moved to Potential Implementation Strategies]
23. 22. To extent feasible, minimize impacts of transportation lighting on nearby agricultural, environmental and conservation lands.
3
Southwest-Central Florida Corridor
Potential Implementation Strategies
A. Consult with tribal nations to identify opportunities for enhanced connectivity that would provide mutual benefit. [previously #14]
B. Enhance infrastructure and transportation planning processes to support co-benefits of implementation. [previously #21]
C. Avoid or minimize impacts to funding for programmed FDOT projects.
D. Conservation lands include fee and less than fee conservation easements, rural land stewardship management areas, Water Management District monitoring sites, and areas needed for associated, appropriate land management (such as smoke sheds, optimal boundaries).
E. In transportation corridor planning and project development, localize public input/feedback.
F. In transportation corridor planning and project development, evaluate improvements and access to existing and planned trail networks.
1
Glossary
The following list is not all inclusive.
Phrase/Term Definition Accessibility Ability to reach desired destinations, activities, goods, and services.
Active Transportation Any self-propelled, human-powered mode of transportation, such as walking or bicycling.
Alternative Corridor Evaluation Process (ACE)
A planning-level study to identify, evaluate, and eliminate alternatives on qualifying projects prior to the PD&E phase. During M-CORES, the ACE process will be enhanced with added steps to facilitate the incorporation of each Task Force’s guiding principles.
Avoid, Minimize, Mitigate, and Enhance (AMME)
Considerations for planning or developing a transportation corridor that form the basis for guiding principles:
• Avoid: Avoid significant impacts to the extent feasible, such as physically avoiding encroachment on a resource.
• Minimize: Reduce impacts, such as changing corridor location or design concepts to reduce impacts.
• Mitigate: Offset impacts, such as creating new resources to offset negative impacts.
• Enhance: Create net benefits, such as designing a corridor to enhance or restore resources.
Co-location The act of locating new linear infrastructure (roadway, bicycle path, transit facility utility transmission line, etc.) on the right-of-way of an existing linear infrastructure.
Commitment An obligation to an external stakeholder to provide a feature or perform an action related to a project that will be implemented in a future project phase.
Congestion The condition at which transportation system performance is no longer acceptable due to inability of the system to serve demand.
Ecological Corridor
A natural link between wildlife habitats, which generally joins two or more larger areas of similar wildlife habitat. *
*The FDOT ETDM Glossary contains other environmental terms and can be found here.: https://etdmpub.fla-etat.org/est/
Efficient Transportation Decision Making (ETDM)
An FDOT initiative to improve and streamline the environmental review and permitting process by involving resource protection agencies and concerned communities from the first step of planning.
2
Glossary
Guiding Principles A set of core values that guides decision making related to a transportation corridor or other type of project throughout the planning, development, and implementation process.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
A wide range of advanced technologies and ideas, which, in combination, can enhance safety, improve mobility and transportation productivity, maximize the use of existing transportation facilities, conserve energy resources and reduce adverse environmental effects.
Intermodal Logistics Center/ Inland Port
A facility, or group of facilities, that provides the ability to accommodate and support, within a logistics chain that may span multiple modes and handling steps, domestic or international trade moving through Florida.
Level of Service (LOS) A quantitative stratification of the quality of service to a typical traveler of a transportation service or facility into six letter grade levels, with “A” describing the highest quality and “F” describing the lowest quality.
Local Government Comprehensive Plan
A plan that provides the principles, guidelines, standards, and strategies for the orderly and balanced future economic, social, physical, environmental, and fiscal development of an area that reflects local government commitments to implement the plan and its elements.
Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
A Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO’s) long range (20-year or more) strategy and capital improvement program developed to guide the effective investment of public funds in transportation facilities.
Mobility The movement of people and goods.
Mode(s) Any means of moving people or goods including aviation, bicycle, highway, paratransit, pedestrian, pipeline, rail (commuter, intercity passenger and freight), transit, space, and water.
Multi-Modal Improvements to a corridor that could include more than one mode.
Multi-Use Corridor A corridor that has multiple types of infrastructures, modes, or services.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969
A national environmental policy requiring that the federal agency proposing to take an action on a project involving federal funding or approval must prepare an analysis of the potential environmental impacts and possible alternatives.
Need Evidence of specific challenges and opportunities a plan/ program/ project is expected to address, which sets the stage for alternatives development.
3
Glossary
Path/Course Broad geographic area for a transportation corridor connecting two or more locations, indicating a general direction of movement.
Project Development and Environment (PD&E)
An FDOT phase of project delivery that develops analysis, technical studies, and environmental documents to evaluate potential project impacts and to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.
Purpose A description explaining the fundamental reason(s) for a potential improvement(s) that addresses the transportation problem(s).
Strategic Intermodal System (SIS)
Florida’s high priority statewide transportation system composed of facilities and services of statewide and interregional significance, including appropriate components of all modes.
Transportation Corridor Any land area designated by the state, a county, or a municipality which is between two geographic points and is used or is suitable for the movement of people and goods by one or more modes of transportation.
Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSM&O)
A set of strategies that focus on operational improvements that can maintain and even restore the performance of the existing transportation system before additional or new capacity is needed.
Travel Time Reliability The percent of trips that meet a predetermined performance standard for time or speed.
Local Restaurants
COWPOKE’S WATERING HOLEType: Relaxed surf ‘n’ turf eatery Distance: 0.3milesAddress: 6813 US-27, Sebring, FL 33876
ORIGINAL VINCENT’S NEW YORK STYLE PIZZAType: Pizza, Italian Distance: 0.4 milesAddress: 5367 US Hwy 27 S, Sebring, FL 33870
BIG STAR DOGSType: Comfort food, outdoor seating, small platesDistance: 1.6 milesAddress: 4208 US Hwy 27 S
SEBRING DINERType: 1950s feel, American, shakes, hamburgers Distance: 1.8 milesAddress: 4040 US Hwy 27 S, Sebring, FL 33870
SANDY’S CAFE 98Type: Comfort food, small plates, quick biteDistance: 1.9 milesAddress: 12906 US-98, Sebring, FL 33876
CAPTAIN D’SType: Fast, casual seafood, sides & dessertsDistance: 2.3 milesAddress: 3400 US Hwy 27 S, Sebring, FL 33870
PIZZA HUTType: Pizza and salads Distance: 3.6 milesAddress: 2109 US Hwy 27 S, Sebring, FL 33870
JIMMY’S GREEK AMERICAN GRILLType: Greek Distance: 3.5 milesAddress: 1520 Lakeview Dr, Sebring, FL 33870
PALMANO’S PIZZERIAType: Italian, Pizza Distance: 3.6 milesAddress: 3229 Kenilworth Blvd, Sebring, FL 33870
MANGO’S CUBAN CAFÉType: Cuban Distance: 3.7 milesAddress: 1568 Lakeview Dr, Sebring, FL 33870
CHICANEType: American, racing-themed at Inn on the Lakes Distance: 4.2 milesAddress: Golfview Rd, Sebring, FL 33870
Location: 4509 George Boulevard Sebring, FL 33870
Meeting Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Venue: Bert Harris Agricultural Civic Center Auditorium, Sebring
Southwest-Central Florida CorridorTask Force Meeting #5
RESTAURANTS IN PROXIMITY TO MEETING VENUE:
1
Meeting Evaluation Form
Meeting Evaluation Form Subject: Southwest-Central Florida Corridor Task Force Meeting #5 Date: March 4, 2020 Location: Bert Harris Agricultural Center Auditorium 4509 George Boulevard, Sebring, Florida 33870 On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being completely agree, and 1 being completely disagree, please complete this form to help us evaluate our performance and improve. Thank you!
Were the Meeting Objectives Met? Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Discuss corridor utility needs and opportunities 1 2 3 4 5
Discuss draft high-level needs summary 1 2 3 4 5
Review public engagement activities and public input received to date 1 2 3 4 5
Review additional data requested by Task Force and proposed Task Force avoidance comments
1 2 3 4 5
Discuss existing corridor enhancement opportunities 1 2 3 4 5
Refine draft AMME guiding principles 1 2 3 4 5
Receive public comment 1 2 3 4 5
Was the Meeting Organization Effective?
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Background and agenda packet were helpful 1 2 3 4 5
Presentations were effective and informative 1 2 3 4 5
Discussion format was effective 1 2 3 4 5
Facilitator guided participant efforts effectively 1 2 3 4 5
Participation was balanced 1 2 3 4 5
**Additional questions on back**
2
Meeting Evaluation Form What did you like best about the meeting? What could be improved? Other comments