Skepticism over proposed toll road between Orlando, Naples dominates webinar
Skepticism over proposed toll road between Orlando, Naples dominates webinar
By Chad Gillis
Fort Myers News-Press
State transportation planners and consultants pitched a second highway in as many days, and they got a similar response both times: many in the public simply don't want any of the three proposed toll roads to cut through different sections of Florida.
Excerpt:
Many at the meeting said they were concerned about this Southwest connector because it would cut through the heart of the Florida panther breeding population.
Eugene Kelly with the Florida Native Plant Society said the webinar felt like a justification for building the roads.
"I've grown frustrated and I feel like I'm just repeating myself," Kelly said. "I just can't understand why it feels like the burden of proof is on the public."
Planned M-CORES highways solve problem that isn’t there | Commentary
Planned M-CORES highways solve problem that isn’t there | Commentary
By Tim Jackson | Orlando Sentinel
“The “result” of this “solution” has primarily been sprawling low-density development marching into our countryside, replacing farms and open space. It also has resulted in a population that is unhappy with their lifestyle — fighting traffic congestion every time they need to go anywhere, putting up with overcrowded schools, and experiencing the loss of open space, wildlife, and clean lakes, rivers, lagoons, streams, and springs. Another result of this “solution” has been the loss of farmland and rural communities which, ironically, is the opposite result from another supposed purpose of the Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (M-CORES) — to bring economic development to Florida’s rural communities.” - Tim Jackson
Watch: Jefferson County Against the Toll Roads Video Series
Please take a few minutes to listen to these local perspectives and concerns of citizens from Jefferson County who have been leading a local fight to oppose the toll roads to nowhere to maintain their rural quality of life, preserve their cultural heritage, and prevent the development of tollway that could cut right through the historic downtown of Monticello. This video was put together through the collaborative efforts of Citizens for Responsible Government of Jefferson County, the Jefferson Progress & Preservation Committee, and Tall Timbers Research Station.
Part 1 of 3:
https://youtu.be/FQVgTjaAEoE
Part 2 of 3:
https://youtu.be/vGlT4wR6ffo
Part 3 of 3:
https://youtu.be/I9zJiBSDDfE
Guest opinion: Restarting economy by weakening water quality, growth management a bad idea
Guest opinion: Restarting economy by weakening water quality, growth management a bad idea
An important column on water quality from our partners at the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida says the effort to fast-track permits to destroy wetlands “is particularly concerning as we face three massive toll roads through some of our state’s most important wetlands. These roads, if realized, will have terrible effects on our water quality.”
#NoRoadsToRuin #SaveOurWetlands