Join us for a brief 20-minute press conference with local residents, coalition partners, and ‘No Build’ activists to celebrate our historic win and hear from local leaders what FDOT’s “Pause” and study concluding “no viable proposed corridors” means. Learn more here or at our Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/2sw4JKlP6

McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium–outside the County Commission Building in the lawn on the side of the building. 

601 SE 25th Ave. Ocala, Florida 34471 

If you are planning to attend, please arrive around 9:00 AM. The press conference will start at 9:30 AM sharp. More details can be found here in the media advisory. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE AND BACKGROUND: On August 4th, FDOT announced that they would be ‘pausing’ the Northern Turnpike Extension after the Florida Turnpike Enterprise Alternative Corridor Evaluation Study Concluded with no Viable Proposed Corridors.  

• Please read our response and press release. The devil is in the details and frankly, there aren’t many. As a Coalition, we still have many questions. One thing is certain: this project is not ‘dead’. Until FDOT makes its position crystal clear, we will remain vigilant and involved.
• One thing is certain: this ‘pause,’ whatever it may mean, is directly related to the mobilization of the Citrus, Levy, Marion and Sumter county voters who dared to refuse to take ‘toll’ for an answer, and the adoption of ‘No Build’ resolutions across the four-county study area.
• To date (8/5/22) the following communities have adopted “No Build” resolutions: the Levy Board of County Commission, Citrus Board of County Commission, Dunnellon City Council, Inverness City Council, Inglis Town Commission, Yankeetown Council, and Bronson Town Council

Further background: On Tuesday, May 24th the Citrus County Commission unanimously rejected the Northern Turnpike Extension instructing staff to prepare a “No Build” resolution opposing each of the routes through Citrus County (e.g. Alternative Corridor Central and Southern, the purple and yellow routes). The Citrus Commissioners also voiced support for opposing the Alternative Corridor North B (the Blue Route).

This is the biggest win yet in the effort to stop the construction of the Northern Turnpike Extension, which would bisect existing conservation lands such as SWFWMD-owned conservation lands, family farms and ranches, historic Black communities, and jeopardize our aquifer, rivers, lakes, and the Outstanding Florida Springs of the Homosassa River, Crystal River, and Rainbow River. Thank you to everyone who has shown up and has spoken up for the future of Citrus County and all of the Nature Coast! #NoBuild #NoRoadsToRuin #OnWard

You can read a recap of the meeting here.

Sign the Citrus petition opposing the Northern Turnpike Extension. Be sure to share this with your family, neighbors, and friends! 

• NTE Fact sheet and NO BUILD handout (last updated 5-22-22)

Write a letter to the editor

• Letter to the editor how to resource
  • Contact Information for Papers: Linked here you will find contact information for submitting letters to the editor for top Florida papers.
    • Citrus County Chronicle submission link. 400 word limit.
    • Tampa Bay Times submission link. 25o word limit.
    • Orlando Sentinel submission link. 250 word limit.
• Example LTEs for No Roads to Ruin campaign   

Organize locally to pass a “No Build” resolution! 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. 

Speak up to your relevant local government body and let your local electeds know that you want them to oppose ALL of the proposed Northern Turnpike toll roads routes: 

• Citrus County local electeds contact info (Citrus BOCC, Crystal River City Council, and Inverness City Council).  
• Citrus Board of County Commissioners: Regular meetings of the Board are open to the public and are normally held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month however the County’s calendar does vary so be sure to check the meeting calendar. Citrus BOCC meetings are almost always held at 1:00 PM unless there is a community workshop or some other forum being considered by the BOCC.  
  • Address: 110 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness, FL. 34450
  • Contact your County Commissioners
    • Telephone: 352-341-6560
    • County Map of all Districts
    • Contact for County Administrator
      • Email: randy.oliver@citrusbocc.com 
      • Phone: (352)-527-5210 
  • Providing written public comment via email: submit comments to comments@citrusbocc.com to be read into the record.
    • You can also provide public comment via form here. 
  • Citrus County meeting calendar, agendas, and minutes for relevant Board, Commission, and Advisory Council meetings
• Crystal River: City Council meetings are held at 5:30 PM on the second and fourth Monday of the month.
  • Address: 123 NW US-19, Crystal River, FL 34428
  • Contact your City Council members
  • Meeting schedule and city calendar
  • Agendas and Minutes
• Inverness: The Inverness City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Inverness Government Center,  212 W. Main Street, Inverness. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the first floor.
  • Contact the City Council
  • Contact the City Clerk
    • Email: cityclerk@inverness-fl.gov
    • Phone: Office: (352) 726-2611 ext 1007, Cell: (352) 560-1063
  • Agendas and minutes
    • Subscribe for updates and public meeting notices
  • City Calendar with upcoming public meetings
• Hernando/Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): See the homepage and links for relevant staff information, organizational chart/structure/committees/boards, and upcoming meetings. The Hernando/Citrus MPO Board meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of each month.
  • Contact the MPO (general comment form)
    • Address: 1661 Blaise Dr. Brooksville, FL 34601
    • Phone: (352) 754-4082
    • Email: mpo@hernandocounty.us
  • MPO Calendar: contains meeting information to upcoming Board meetings and other relevant Committees and Advisory Councils
• Citrus County Chamber of Commerce: 
  • Are you a local business opposed to these toll roads? Contact the Chamber and let them know how they will negatively impact your livelihood. Or email: info@citruscountychamber.com  
    • Interested in joining on to a business sign-on letter to be addressed to the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, the Citrus Board of County Commissioners, the Inverness City Council, and the Crystal River City Council? Email info@noroadsruin.org 
  • Chamber Calendar: see relevant local events 
  • Addresses
    • Crystal River: 915 N Suncoast Blvd, Crystal River, FL 34429, Phone: (352) 795-3149
    • Inverness: 106 W Main St, Inverness, FL 34450, Phone: (352) 726-2801

Contact your state representatives in the House and Senate and let them know you are concerned and opposed to the Northern Turnpike Extension Toll Roads. Find them here. 

Need talking points and other relevant resources? See below for maps, factsheets, & other materials.

• NTE Fact sheet and NO BUILD handout.  
• 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? Join others by saying that “Rural Florida Says No Toll Roads!” Place your order today! 
• Proposed route map

FDOT’s Northern Turnpike Extension ArcGIS 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.”