We need you to make calls, send emails, and share posts to social media to get your Senator to stop all three toll roads. Here are three EASY things you can do TODAY to stop the ‘Roads to Ruin’

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1. Call your Senator and ask them to fix SB 100 

Tips for Calling Your Florida Representative or Florida Senator

What to say when you call the SENATORS below:

Live person call:

“Hello!  My name is ______.  How are you?

I’m calling to ask Senator _____ to stop all three M-CORES toll roads by amending SB 100.

I live in_______ and I oppose the toll roads because_______________. 

Since its introduction, the M-CORES toll roads program has been met with widespread public opposition.

SB 100 doesn’t fully repeal M-CORES because it leaves one and maybe two toll roads in play! 

I urge Senator _____ to amend SB 100 to (1) remove the possibility of a northern extension for the turnpike and (2) ensure that any expansion to U.S. 19 should not include tolled portions nor negatively impact rural communities, communities of color, and our natural resources. Thank you!”

Voicemail message: 

“Hello!  My name is ______.  I’m calling to ask Senator _____ to stop all three M-CORES toll roads by amending SB 100.

I live in_______ and I oppose the toll roads because_______________. 

Since its introduction, the M-CORES toll roads program has been met with widespread public opposition.

SB 100 doesn’t fully repeal M-CORES because it leaves one and maybe two toll roads in play! 

I urge Senator _____ to amend SB 100 to (1) remove the possibility of a northern extension for the turnpike and (2) ensure that any expansion to U.S. 19 should not include tolled portions nor negatively impact rural communities, communities of color, and our natural resources. Thank you!”

2. Send an email to your Senator asking them to fix SB 100 

Copy and paste this email and send it to your Senator! Find them here.  

Subject line: Fully Repeal M-CORES, Stop all 3 Toll Roads, and Fix SB 100 

Dear Senator_____,

My name is _______, I live in_______ and I oppose the toll roads because_______________. 

93% of public comments submitted to FDOT were opposed, FDOT has failed to demonstrate any financial feasibility for these roads, and each of the three task force reports acknowledged that there is little demonstrated need. This highway boondoggle will waste billions of taxpayer dollars and won’t solve any of our state’s growth challenges.  

I respectfully ask you to do everything in your power to fix SB 100 so that it truly protects our taxpayer dollars, water, wildlife, and rural communities from each of the three proposed M-CORES toll roads. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your name & address]

3. Share a post to your preferred social media platform 

Note: Please use the #NoRoadstoRuin and #RepealTheRoads hashtags in social media posts. Tag us in your posts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @NoRoadsToRuin

Instagram/Facebook: Shareable images are here (including shareable Instagram stories!)

Twitter: Tag key lawmakers on Twitter like your own representatives and Senate President @WiltonSimpson, House Speaker @ChrisSprowls, Senate Appropriations Chair @kellistargel and Governor @GovRonDeSantis. Follow and share content from the No Roads To Ruin coalition on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sample Tweets: 

Sample Post #1

Thread 1/3: The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated state tax revenues causing losses of $1.9 billion in FY 2019-2020 and $5.4 billion in FY 2020-21. Economists have projected historic budget shortfalls amounting to $2.77 billion in FY 2021-22 and $2.058 billion in FY 2022-23

2/3: Without any determination of need or feasibility, $142.5 M in taxpayer dollars has already been spent on the #RoadsToRuin. Continuing to fund the planning of M-CORES could potentially drain $700 M in taxpayer dollars over the next 5 years 

3/3: If we #RepealTheRoads we can save taxpayers and the state more than $100 million this year alone, and up to $25 billion in the long-term. Do what is right for taxpayers and focus on critical state needs not #RoadsToRuin @WiltonSimpson @ChrisSprowls @kellistargel

Sample Post #2

The Roads to Ruin will slice through some of the most pristine natural areas of our state. 330+ miles of new toll roads will spur sprawl throughout the last remaining wild places in Florida putting our wildlife, rural quality of life, and water resources at risk. #NoRoadstoRuin #RepealTheRoads 

Sample Post #3

The Roads to Ruin were never in FDOT’s 5-year work plan because they are not needed. They were the brainchild of unscrupulous politicians, special interests, and developers who stand to benefit financially from carving up what remains of rural and wild Florida. #NoRoadstoRuin #RepealTheRoads

Sample Post #4

What’s better for Florida? Improving existing infrastructure or #RoadsToRuin? FDOT has already cut or delayed 77 projects to their five-year work plan in order to pay for the M-CORES boondoggle. @WiltonSimpson @ChrisSprowls @kellistargel. #NoRoadstoRuin #RepealTheRoads (image)

Sample Post #5

Thread 1/2: .@GovRonDeSantis vetoed vital online learning, septic to sewer, flood protection, 911 services, and affordable housing projects BUT left $90 M in funding for reckless, destructive toll roads intact for the Roads to Ruin. 

2/2: .@GovRonDeSantis: read this article — we don’t need M-CORES! https://bit.ly/3pFDwEx #NoRoadstoRuin #RepealTheRoads

 Easy Talking Points for M-CORES:

• Repeal M-CORES, the program to build 3 new toll roads through wild and rural Florida that has already wasted millions upon millions of precious tax dollars 
• 93% of the public that provided comments to FDOT (nearly 10,000) opposed building the roads
• There is no documented need for these roads. Task Force members could not determine a need for new roads or expansion of existing roads and advised FDOT to keep the “no build” option.
• They will devastate our natural and agricultural areas
• Budgets are tight. Cutting M-CORES funding will save the state more than $100 Million this year alone and up to $25 Billion in the long-term
• Upgrade existing infrastructure: More than $90 Million in transportation backlog and water quality projects were cut from the 2020 budget. These could have been fully funded if the M-CORES budget last year, which increased from $90M to $117M, had not been wasted on planning for new toll roads nobody wants.
• Repeal M-CORES and redirect the funding to the true needs of our state: protecting our water quality, maintaining productive agricultural areas, keeping the rural character of our communities, and supporting the health of all Floridians
• Repeal M-CORES.  It is unconscionable to consider increasing tuition at our state universities when M-CORES is being funded. An educated workforce is imperative for Florida’s future — unneeded toll roads are not.
• Protect the FL panther and other threatened/endangered species 
• Protect our farmlands, protect our rural economies and way of life  
• Covid-19 cases rising, massive unemployment, allocate funding to essential programs and Covid relief instead not roads to ruin
• Need to create a climate-resilient future, not toll roads to ruin