DOT delivers final M-CORES task force reports to Gov. DeSantis

DOT delivers final M-CORES task force reports to Gov. DeSantis

By Renzo Downey
Florida Politics

Excerpt: In a statement following FDOT’s delivery to the Governor, the coalition issued a statement calling the reports “nothing to celebrate.” “The entire M-CORES process has been flawed and represents a callous preference for special interests and developers over what is best for the people of Florida,” according to the coalition. About 93% of the nearly 10,000 public comments during the public input period were negative, the group determined earlier this year. “Spending any more time or resources on M-CORES comes at the expense of completing a backlog of water quality and transportation infrastructure upgrades that address current needs,” they added. “Investing in outdated transportation and urban sprawl development models is an irresponsible approach for a state on the front lines of climate change.”

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Nikki Fried urges stop sign for toll road projects

Nikki Fried urges stop sign for toll road projects
By Jim Turner
News Service of Florida via Florida Politics, Tampa Bay TimesOrlando SentinelSarasota Herald-TribuneGainesville SunLakeland LedgerWFSU TallahasseeWUSF TampaWJCT JacksonvilleWWSB SarasotaCreative Loafing Tampa BayTampa Bay Business JournalHighland News-SunMyPanhandle.com, others


Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wants the state to put the brakes on a series of controversial toll road projects as lawmakers face budget shortfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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What’s next for Florida’s controversial toll road projects? Here are three ways they could be stopped.

 

What’s next for Florida’s controversial toll road projects? Here are three ways they could be stopped.
By Lawrence Mower
Tampa Bay Times, Miami HeraldBradenton Herald

TALLAHASSEE — The three groups authorized to make recommendations on a controversial proposal to build 330 new miles of toll roads in Florida finished their reports on Thursday.

All three reports had two main recommendations: The routes should build on top of existing roads, rather than constructing new ones, and the routes should avoid environmental areas.

They did not give any consensus on whether the roads should be built at all, though.

With their work completed, the reports now go to the governor’s office and Legislature — neither of which has to take any action on them.

The road projects, revived by former state Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, in 2019, have been highly controversial. Both environmentalists and many local elected officials who live along the proposed routes have given the project a lukewarm reception.

Read more: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2020/11/16/whats-next-for-floridas-controversial-toll-road-projects-here-are-three-ways-they-could-be-stopped/


Toll road recommendations draw mixed reactions

Toll road recommendations draw mixed reactions

By Jim Turner | News Service of Florida via WMBB Panama City, Fox 35 OrlandoLake City ReporterTampa Bay Business JournalDaily Business Review

Recommendations approved this week about controversial toll-road projects planned to run through rural areas of Florida drew mixed reactions from two environmental groups that participated in task forces that reviewed the projects.


Excerpt: The reports drew a quick rebuke from a coalition of nearly 100 conservation groups and businesses that contend the review process has been flawed, favoring special interests over the needs of Floridians. “Spending any more time or resources on M-CORES (Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance, as the projects are dubbed) comes at the expense of completing a backlog of water quality and transportation infrastructure upgrades that address current needs,” the No Roads to Ruin Coalition said in a news release. “Investing in outdated transportation and urban sprawl development models is an irresponsible approach for a state on the front lines of climate change. Florida’s rapidly growing population depends on the environmental and agricultural resources that will be destroyed if these roads are built.” Among the coalition members are Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, Speak Up Wekiva!, the League of Women Voters of Florida, Friends of the Everglades, the Florida Wildlife Federation, the Florida Springs Council and Florida Conservation Voters.

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Toll road task force meets for last time, finalizes report

Toll road task force meets for last time, finalizes report

By Karl Schneider | Naples Daily News

The task force assigned to the southernmost portion of a statewide toll road system met for the last time Monday to finalize its report to the state Legislature.

“Protecting the environment, to me, is the common denominator through all the decisions needed to be made going forward,” said Penny Taylor, task force member and Collier County commissioner.

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Nature of Things: Still no public mandate for toll road from Polk to Collier counties

Nature of Things: Still no public mandate for toll road from Polk to Collier counties

By Tom Palmer | Special to The Ledger

Now that the task force meetings involving a proposal to build a toll road between Polk County and the Naples area have concluded, it’s time to take stock.

After 14 months of discussion, there’s still no mandate emerging for major new road projects. Instead, there might be only some improvements of the local transportation networks in the study area.

Additionally, local government officials wanted to make sure state road projects they've been trying to get into the state’s work plan aren’t sacrificed to make any legislative-mandated projects happen.

There was also some feeling that if traffic congestion in urban areas is the problem, the state should address that without bringing the problem to rural areas by building new roads where they aren’t needed.

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Florida transportation head says not building controversial toll roads remains possibility

Florida transportation head says not building controversial toll roads remains possibility

By Jeffrey Schweers | Tallahassee Democrat, The LedgerWinter Haven News Chief

The next planning phase for three controversial toll road projects could begin next year, Florida Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault told a group of reporters during a brief news conference Tuesday.

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M-CORES: SWC Corridor Taskforce Rolls Back FDOT’s Vision of Consensus

M-CORES: SWC Corridor Taskforce Rolls Back FDOT’s Vision of Consensus
By Stew Lilker | Columbia County Observer

On Monday, from 9:00 am to 11:07 pm, the South West Central (SWC) M-CORES Task Force met in its final session to agree on a report to send to the Florida Legislature. DOT did not get the stamp of approval it wanted.

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Despite budget crisis, Florida is doubling down on costly and destructive plans

Despite budget crisis, Florida is doubling down on costly and destructive plans

By Nicole Johnson | Fort Myers News-Press

Like so many Floridians facing the current public health crisis, the state of Florida itself is wrestling with a budget shortfall. That shortfall is estimated at $2.7 billion dollars.

Yet, Florida is investing in two major projects that have the potential to jeopardize the very foundation of our economy, which is our environment. These undertakings are 1) unnecessary new toll roads (as part of the M-CORES program) and 2) the state’s assumption (essentially taking on the burden) of the Clean Water Act 404 permitting program for wetland destruction.

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Toll Roads Opposition Minimized, Group Says

Toll Roads Opposition Minimized, Group Says

By Steve Newborn and Jim Turner | News Service of Florida via WUSF Tampa

Excerpt: Jon Bleyer, of the group Progress Florida, said “FDOT is set to release final task force reports by November 15, 2020 and we expect the fact that 93 percent of all public comments were in opposition to M-CORES to be included in those reports. Task force members have a duty to take the public’s overwhelming opposition into consideration as they finalize their report and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor.”

“They might tell us they got X number of comments concerned about water quality or X number of comments concerned about wildlife,” said Bleyer. “But what they didn't share was the sentiment of those comments. They never shared how many anti-M-CORE or pro-M-CORE comments were received.”

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