Levy County Commissioners Unanimously Pass No Build Resolution Against Turnpike Toll Roads
12/21/21
Today, the Levy County Board of County Commissioners took a decisive stand against the Northern Turnpike Extension toll roads unanimously passing a “No Build” resolution opposing any of the routes in consideration. Commissioner Lily Rooks introduced the resolution following a presentation from FDOT project officials and representatives sending a clear message that Levy County and its residents don’t want to have anything to do with this toll road coming through and upending residents in the pathway or ruining their quality of life. The room was packed with hundreds of concerned residents who voiced their concerns with more than 3 hours of public comments and urging their County Commission to oppose these toll roads and asking FDOT project officials and representatives tough questions about the project development process and timeline. Unsurprisingly, FDOT representatives failed to offer specifics on the questions that were being pressed by the public instead using tired lines like “We are early on in the process”. The residents of Levy County deserve better and more transparency from FDOT.
The Levy County Board of County Commissioners will send their No Build resolution to the FDOT Secretary, the Governor’s Office, and the Legislature with both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House along with the more than 1,000 petition signatures from Levy residents against these toll roads. They have set a clear example for how other impacted County’s need to be advocating on behalf of their residents against these toll roads and now have a seat at the table and position with FDOT in the Project Development Process for the Florida Turnpike Extension toll road. If you live in Marion, Citrus, or Sumter County, this is the example that you want to organize around and urge your County Commissioners to consider.
You can review Levy County’s No Build resolution here: https://drive.google.com/.../1mV1AIQTj1286rIjz21z.../view...
You can watch a full recording of the meeting here: https://m.box.com/.../https%3A%2F%2Fapp.box.com%2Fs...
Thank you to all the local activists and residents who spoke up to protect their lands, their lifestyle, and the future of Levy County and the rest of the Nature Coast.
Marion County Commissioners Fail To Take A Hard Line Against Toll Road, Turnpike Extension
12/21/21
After two failed motions that were presented by Commissioners Stone and Bryant (both of which failed to take a hard line against the Northern Turnpike Extension asking for a #NoBuild resolution), the County Commission ended up voting to send a letter that only asks FDOT for “mitigation” which was the original unedited letter that was included in Marion County agenda packet. It needs to be noted that this letter DOES NOT OPPOSE A NEW TOLL ROAD IN MARION COUNTY. Instead, the letter the Marion BOCC agreed to send to FDOT will be interpreted by FDOT as a green light to pave over Marion.
The No Roads to Ruin Coalition opposed this letter and instead supported a true “No Build” resolution which we provided to the Marion BOCC. What the Marion County Commission voted to send to FDOT was a “weak sauce” letter and it will be interpreted by FDOT as a green light to pave over Marion County and beyond. This was an egregious error on the part of the Marion Board of County Commissioners.
Easily over 50 people today provided emotional and fact-backed public testimony about why they wanted their Commissioners to take a decisive stand against the toll roads. People spoke eloquently about how this toll road would displace them from their place of residence, how it would ruin the quality of life of Marion County, bisect farms and equestrian communities, and how it would impact the treasured Rainbow River and the County's various conservation lands and preserves. Many were understandably heartbroken and visibly upset after the approval of this weak letter by the Commission.
It should be noted that over 1,700 Marion County residents signed petitions in the last month alone opposing the toll roads here asking you to take a decisive stand opposing the toll roads. This comes on the heels after the City Council of Dunnellon unanimously passed their own No Build resolution the day before and the Levy BOCC also unanimously passed a No Build resolution on the same day. Those local governments set an example for how to lead and to have a seat at the table and a clear position with FDOT, the Governor, and the Legislature.
You can read the coverage from Ocala StarBanner about the contentious County Commission meeting on December 21st here. Photos of the meeting and No Roads to Ruin activists and local residents in action can be accessed here.
Excerpt:
"Many of the people who attended Tuesday's County Commission meeting left disappointed when the board declined to support the "no build" option for the proposed northern extension of the Florida Turnpike.
Instead, on a contentious 3-2 vote, the commission agreed to send a letter to the Florida Department of Transportation, urging it to give Marion County government a seat at the table as the state studies the proposed highway.
Nearly 200 people packed into the commission auditorium in Ocala. Many addressed the five commissioners, and the vast majority of them wanted the board to join the City of Dunnellon in fully objecting to the road project, which would extend the turnpike's northern terminus from Wildwood/Interstate 75 west to U.S. 19. Three of the four proposed routes go through Marion County."
Related coverage and news articles:
Ocala Gazette | "No Build" road debate continues
Our Santa Fe River | More Disappointing Leaders In Marion County
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Dunnellon City Council Unanimously Passes No Build Resolution Against Turnpike Extension
12/20
Today the City Council of Dunnellon took a decisive stand opposing ALL of the Turnpike Extension toll roads by passing a 'No Build' resolution. You can read the Ocala StarBanner's coverage of the meeting here.
Excerpt: "Michael McGrath, a representative from the Florida chapter of the Sierra Club and the No Roads to Ruin Coalition Steering Committee, applauded council members for holding Monday's meeting and taking a strong stance against the proposed road.
McGrath said it's clear that Dunnellon residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the four proposed paths, and he hope all the local governmental bodies whose communities will be affected by the roadway will unite in opposition.
City Council members Jan Cubbage, Louise Kenny, Valerie Hanchar, Anita Williams and the mayor all voted yes for the resolution."
None of these toll road routes are acceptable. We need more local and county governments to make their opposition to this toll road proposal clear to protect their residents, environment, local economy, and quality of life against these 'Roads to Ruin'.
Dunnellon's Mayor Bill White
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ACT NOW! Help Marion County Say "NO" to Toll Road Threat!
They got the “No Build” ball rolling in Dunnellon last week!
If you thought Marion County was free from the destructive “Roads to Ruin” toll road project, think again. We have more work to do.
While the M-CORES toll roads “program” was technically repealed last legislative session, not all of the threats were vanquished — chief among them the proposed Northern Turnpike Extension, which would directly impact Marion County. This extension was a disastrous idea when it was proposed in 2019 under the M-CORES banner, and it remains so today.
Once we start to pave over Florida’s remaining natural areas, there’s no going back. The Northern Turnpike extension is a recipe for out-of-control urban sprawl that will cost billions of taxpayer dollars, further strain our water resources, hurt family farms, and wreak havoc on wildlife and wilderness.
The Marion County Board of Commissioners will be addressing the county’s response to this toll road threat next week, and we need your help to stop it. Please participate in this public meeting in one or more of ways:
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Tuesday, 12/21 Marion County Board of County Commissioners regular meeting in the McPherson Governmental Campus auditorium, 601 SE 25th Avenue, Ocala, FL. Commissioners will discuss a letter or a “No Build” NTE resolution.
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Click here for Commission calendar.
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Go here for agenda (when it is available)
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Sign up here for public comment
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NOTE: The deadline for scheduling your public comment is 5 p.m. the Friday before the requested commission meeting (in this case 12/17). Contact Marion County Administration at 352-438-2300 to request to speak.
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When asked for the agenda item/topic please put “Northern Turnpike Extension”
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Before Tuesday, 12/21 please go here to send a strong “No Build” message to all Marion County Commissioners. Go here to find your commissioner.
Whether you email a message or attend in person, please:
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Make clear you support a “No Build” outcome for this project. Raise your environmental, community, cultural and other concerns about the proposed routes. For talking points check out the NTE Fact sheet and NO BUILD handout.
The public showed overwhelming opposition to a Northern Turnpike extension during last year’s M-CORES public comment period, and now we need folks in Marion County to push back against this latest proposed transportation boondoggle.
Share these Facebook events widely in your networks and with your neighbors!
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No Roads to Ruin FB event: https://fb.me/e/l2yKOzT9W
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Suncoast/Northern Turnpike FB group page event https://fb.me/e/1fvekyfJn
If you’d like to get even more involved, please fill out this form and we will be in touch.
Sign up for weekly No Roads to Ruin Coalition Friday news roundup and campaign update emails here.
Background info:
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Proposed route map
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NTE threats to Rainbow Springs
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FDOT Northern Turnpike Extension webpage
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Recent Ocala Star Banner coverage:
Let’s make this last push of 2021 so that we are ready to win the long fight in 2022!
Stop the Northern Turnpike Extension Toll Road
THE TOLL ROADS ARE BACK!! LET’S SAY #NoBuild (scroll down to learn more)
FDOT is planning a TOLL ROAD from Wildwood to a yet to be determined terminus. Folks living in Levy, Marion, Citrus, and Sumter County could be impacted either being up-ended, displaced entirely, or having the rural quality of life that’s makes the Nature Coast so special spoiled.
It has always been our position to oppose ALL of the routes, all of the toll roads originally imagined under the former M-CORES program. There isn’t one alternative that spares critical wild/springshed/rural lands and there is zero proof that there is a need for any of the routes. Our position and arguments remain the same. We still oppose exploring the “least offensive” outcome, because any and all of the routes spell SPRAWL that threatens what we hold dear. We will not be fooled into accepting the move of the threat to someone else’s backyard.
If you haven’t heard already, it is called the NORTHERN TURNPIKE EXTENSION. It could slice through our conservation lands, horse trails, farms and residential neighborhoods, aquifer recharge areas, and spring sheds.
Information we have learned from FDOT so far:
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The in-person meetings in Chiefland and Lecanto will be informal "1-on-1" (open house) style events with attendees walking around different stations where FDOT staff/contractors will be talking to individuals or small groups. We were told there will be comment cards to fill out.
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The comment period is now open and will remain open until the Project, Development & Environmental (PD&E) phase is over in Spring 2023.
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Commenters must MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY ARE OPPOSED TO THE NTE in their written comment. FDOT is still claiming it is too hard to determine whether commenters are for or against, so don’t mince your words. Please consider starting your comment with something like “I am opposed to all route alternatives. No build is the only option.”
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The previous “No Build” or “repeal M-CORES” resolutions previously passed by many local governments will not be considered by FDOT. Local governments must pass new “anti-NTE” resolutions. Check out this draft resolution you can use.
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FACT: Despite FDOT failing to acknowledge the "No Build" option on the video and website, “No Build” is always an option.
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FDOT has no firm definition of "co-location," so be very wary when you see/hear it.
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Beware: FDOT expects to 1) reach out to cities/counties to "sell the project" and 2) be invited to speak at city/county commission meetings
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“All” environmental info is available on EDTM webpage: https://etdmpub.fla-etat.org/est/index.jsp?startPageId=507&tpID=14480
Maps, Factsheets, & Materials
NTE Fact sheet and NO BUILD handout. These will be distributed at the Chiefland and Lecanto events by representatives of the No Roads to Ruin Coalition either at the entrance or inside the conference/auditorium rooms.
Draft town/city/county “NTE No Build” resolution: The time is now to build support and identify elected champions for a local government resolution against the NTE. Use this draft resolution to get started!
Want a pink yard sign? Either Levy-specific or general “Rural Florida.” Let us know. Email us at info@noroadstoruin.org.
Proposed route map
Check out this interactive Arc-GIS map made by Defender of Wildlife that analyzes and overlays many of the environmentally sensitive lands that would be impacted by the roadway proposal. Check out the map!
Facts About the NTE threats to Rainbow Springs
FDOT's Northern Turnpike Extension Arc GIS tool: FDOT's ETDM (Efficient Transportation Decision Making) website now has info on the Northern Turnpike Extension for Marion, Sumter, and Levy counties showing proposed routes which (no surprise to us) ignore the M-CORES Task Force recommendations. Take the same link to get to the map/routes (on the left side of the screen look for "view of map" under "Project Detail."
Local Petitions:
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Levy County
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Marion County
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Citrus County -- coming soon!
Hashtags/slogans:
You say kick off we say kick out!
You say kick off we say shut down!
Time to punt the NTE, FDOT!
#SaveItDontPaveIt
#KeepRuralFLRural
#NoBuild
#NoRoadstoRuin
#NoFarmsNoFood
#SaveOurSprings
#SaveTheManatees
#NoBuild
#NoRoadsToRuin
Have a handout out or other materials you’d like to share? Send it our way and we will distribute it. Email us at info@noroadstoruin.org
NOTE: The NRTR website still needs to be updated for this latest round of fights. Thank you for your patience. We will inform you when it has all the new materials, maps, information, news clips, etc.
News Articles
Proposed FDOT project upsets some Levy County leaders, residents
By Julia Laude, WCJB Gainesville
Residents of one north central Florida county are raising concerns on a proposed Department of Transportation project.
DeSantis' proposed $1B state gas-tax relief may not move dollars away from transportation projects
By Valerie Crowder, WFSU Tallahassee
Gov. Ron DeSantis wants lawmakers to spend $1 billion in surplus revenue next year to give Floridians a six-month break from paying state gas taxes.
The Florida DOT’s latest ‘Billionaire Boulevard’ plan has rural FL outraged
By Craig Pittman
Florida Phoenix
Last month, because of Halloween, TV was full of horror movies, including one cleverly titled “Halloween.”
Reduce tolls in Florida - the most tolled state in America. Infrastructure billions should.
By Scott Maxwell
Orlando Sentinel
We’re about to see more than $1 trillion in federal dollars injected into this nation’s economy — money meant to put Americans to work while also making needed investments in our roads, rail, ports, power grids and more.
SPEAK OUT Against the Northern Turnpike Extension @ FDOT's Kickoff Events | Dec 7 & 9!
SPEAK OUT against the #RoadsToRuin. Let's stop the wheels of destruction before it's too late.
There are two upcoming public “kickoff” events being organized by FDOT to discuss the Northern Turnpike Extension and the project development process.
The first meeting in Chiefland will be both in person and virtual. The second in Lecanto will be ONLY in person.
Save the dates: Tuesday, December 7th from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in Chiefland and on Thursday, December 9th from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in Lecanto.
Chiefland location: In-person at the College of Central Florida, Levy Campus, 15390 US-19, Chiefland, FL 32626
Lecanto location: College of Central Florida, Citrus Campus, 3800 S Lecanto Highway, Lecanto, FL 34461
Representatives from the No Roads to Ruin Coalition will be in attendance for both meetings. Arrive early and we will meet you at the entrance to provide hand signs/mini-posters, badges, etc. for those who wish to make their opposition more visible. Please either DM us or contact info@noroadstoruin.org if you plan to attend and share widely within your networks. Learn more here: https://floridasturnpike.com/.../northern-turnpike.../
FDOT's ETDM (Efficient Transportation Decision Making) website now has info on the Northern Turnpike Extension for Marion, Sumter, and Levy counties showing proposed routes which (no surprise to us) ignore the M-CORES Task Force recommendations. Take the same link to get to the map/routes (on the left side of the screen look for "view of map" under "Project Detail."
There are no acceptable alternatives that do not pave over vulnerable springsheds, agricultural lands, and neighborhoods in the pathway. The only acceptable alternative as far as we are concerned is the "No Build" alternative. There has been no demonstrated need from a traffic congestion perspective nor economic or fiscal feasibility. End of discussion. #NoBuild
More info on the supposed alternatives here: https://etdmpub.fla-etat.org/est/index.jsp.
Craig Pittman: The Florida DOT’s latest ‘Billionaire Boulevard’ plan has rural FL outraged
Read this column done by Criag Pittman that details local opposition to this proposed toll road: The Florida DOT's latest ‘Billionaire Boulevard’ plan has rural FL outraged - Florida Phoenix. Read it here.
Excerpt:
Last month, because of Halloween, TV was full of horror movies, including one cleverly titled “Halloween.”
That one, released in 1978, featured a frightened young woman, played by scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, fleeing a masked and murderous psycho named Michael Myers, whose dialogue consisted of him breathing very loudly.
At the film’s climax — do I really need yell SPOILER ALERT here for a 43-year-old movie? — Donald Pleasence saves her by shooting the homicidal maniac six times. The killer falls off a balcony, apparently to his death. But when Pleasence looks for his body, it’s gone. That’s how we wound up with approximately 437 sequels, remakes, and reboots with titles like “Halloween 29: Michael Myers vs. the Lord of the Dance.”
I was reminded of the never-say-die saga of Michael Myers the other day when I got a call from a very angry lady from Levy County who was upset about the M-CORES toll roads.
But wait, I said, the Legislature killed off those expensive and ridiculous roads to nowhere! They (figuratively) got shot and fell off the balcony!
Turns out they only killed two-thirds of it. One road, like Michael Myers, somehow survived the execution, crawled away to recuperate, and is now getting ready to kill again.
I am talking about the Northern Turnpike Extension, which is supposed to branch off from the Florida Turnpike in Wildwood and head north toward some as-yet-unnamed terminus. At least two of the potential routes show it cutting through Levy County.
The Levy County routes steamroll right through the longleaf pine flatwoods and swamps of the 58,000-acre Goethe State Forest, as well as smashing a hole in the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross-Florida Greenway, a currently unbroken 110-mile linear park that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean.
“They’re trying to sneak this in through the back door!” said Robbie Blake, the 75-year-old Levy County activist who called me.
Northern Turnpike Extension: No Build to all "Alternatives"
Governor DeSantis Signed SB 100
6/25/21
Governor DeSantis signed SB 100 “Highway Projects” into law. The good news is that one proposed road has been eliminated; the bad news is that the other two proposed roads remain. In total, the Governor's action falls woefully short of eliminating the original M-CORES threat and realizing the transportation needs of Florida.
While SB 100 does remove the imminent threat of the Southwest-Central Connector, the Northern Turnpike extension from Sumter to Citrus County and new road construction along US-19 north from the terminus of the Suncoast Parkway to I-10 are still on the books and must be stopped.
You can learn more about the No Roads to Ruin Steering Committee’s approach to SB 100 here.
Our fight continues to put an end to all of the #RoadsToRuin. One down and two to go! #NoBuild #NoRoadsToRuin #OneDownTwoToGo
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Basically everyone in Florida is united against these new highways
Florida wants to create 330 new miles of highways called M-CORES. Opponents have dubbed them "roads to ruin."