Posted on 02/26/2019 1:19:20 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
TALLAHASSEE — In a move that evokes a bygone era in Florida — one of black-and-white TVs, cheap land and undiscovered beaches — state Senate President Bill Galvano is betting big that asphalt is the key to the state’s economic future.
Environmentalists and urban planners are alarmed by the Bradenton Republican’s push for lawmakers to launch three ambitious highway projects across swaths of Florida that are now home to plenty of cattle and pine trees, but few people or jobs.
Combined, the road projects amount to what could prove the biggest expansion of the state highway network since Florida’s Turnpike began in the mid-1950s.
“I want multipurpose corridors, and that means greater access to water, sewer and broadband, which will impact everything from schools to business,” Galvano told GateHouse Media.
But at a time when fellow Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking lawmakers for $625 million to address coastal and inland water problems that many at least partially blame on poorly regulated growth, Galvano’s goals are counterproductive, critics say.
The organization 1000 Friends of Florida, which takes a dim view of sprawling development in Florida, said highway expansion into rural regions won’t necessarily bring jobs.
But it will shift the Florida Department of Transportation’s focus away from urban highways and mass transit needs, said Thomas Hawkins, policy and planning director for 1000 Friends.
“Where FDOT’s dollars are directed is where it puts its attention,” Hawkins said. “These seem like projects more suitable for where the state was yesterday, not where it’s heading tomorrow.”
The Tampa-area Suncoast Parkway, which now stretches less than 60 miles from Hillsborough County to Citrus County, would be extended another 150 miles to the Georgia line under Galvano’s plan.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocala.com ...
PING.
Newly elected governor Mike Dewine wants an 18cent (64%) increase in state gasoline taxes
I am buying a smaller more fuel efficient vehicle
If he wants to build roads to relieve congestion or to make it easier for people to get to places they want to go, fine.
But this story makes it seem like he wants to build roads to employ lots of construction workers for a few years and to build into rural areas on the “build it and and they will come” approach to economic development.
“But this story makes it seem like he wants to build roads to employ lots of construction workers for a few years and to build into rural areas on the “build it and and they will come” approach to economic development.”
If they’re toll roads, they probably won’t see much in the way of new development until all other options are exhausted, at least if Houston is any guide.
Our Interstate highways ate overcrowded now, and Florida is growing extremely fast. If a hurricane comes, people can be stranded on the highways. Additional highways are needed, and others needed such as an East-west Freeway from Sarasota to the east coast.
Those complaining was all growth stopped, Florida returned to the 1950’s. Sorry, not gonna happen.
Lawyer/legislators spend “We the People’s” money like a child making out a gift list to Santa.
Before they spend a penny they should first take into account how much money they are going to take in. Then decide what percentage of that will be used to pay off their debts. Finally they can budget out what is left and not spend a penny over that. And keep it up until their debt is paid off.
I did that. When someone at the dealer suggested how good I was to go green, I said “I’m not green. I’m cheap.”
And, don’t forget the technique of bankrupting ranchers and farmers with unjustified “Eminent Domain” takings of land for public projects— pushing this through crooked courts to do it. Sort of like an asphalt version of Californication’s high speed rail debacle. A money pit.
Florida is a very large agricultural state- with year round growing seasons and huge cattle operations. It doesn’t need more condemnations to build tract homes for liberal democrats and their crappy politics.
‘Conservative’ lol
That would work for State Road 70 (SR-70—mostly 2 lane). Except for commercial trucks, traffic is light most of the time, and crosses soupy/unfriendly-to-asphalt landmass. Unfortunately, it doesn't lead anywhere special. (Except for folks who'd like it to stay the way it is).
Even though the Rt-27 roadway is six to eight lanes, the run from I-4 to SR-70 IS getting critical, so the occasional cloverleaf and a few overpasses need constructing NOW.
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