Publishers note Hi Governor DeSantis
Thanks for forwarding my letter to the Environmental Turnpike Authority. Obviously you did not read my letter because you forwarded to the Problem instead of analyzing it.…The Florida Turnpike Authority, I believe that the Turnpike is done. We should not be paying an authority that needs to take free peoples land to keep them working. We have rights Governor Stick up for us. If you read my first letter you would realize people moved here with a dream. Residents are selling their homes so they don’t get into a confrontation with people they send out to talk to you. Tell them to get off your land!
They are trespassers! They had to talk to my lawyer to make an appointment to talk to me about coming on my land. Do you realize the Sabal Trail Gasoline has the same combination to the lock’s on gates they put up on every land owners property from Alabama to Orlando. I have caught several strangers on my land. I don’t expect anything different from these Turnpike people. Oh and by the way they tell story’s.
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Jennifer Stults, AICP CTP, CPM, FCCM
Planning & Environmental Management Administrator
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Dear Mr. Loury:
Thank you for contacting the Office of Governor DeSantis regarding the Northern Turnpike Extension project. Your correspondence was forwarded to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, part of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), for review and a response. We appreciate you reaching out with your concerns.
Currently, the project is in the planning phase and is following the FDOT’s Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) process and the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) process, both of which evaluate and compare corridor alternatives. While all options are still in consideration, four initial alternative corridors have been developed. The PD&E study will also evaluate a No-Build option as well as potential Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSM&O) improvements. Alternatives will be evaluated on environmental factors, as well as their ability to enhance regional connectivity, address regional congestion and safety, accommodate increased travel demand, and improve hurricane evacuation.
Starting at Florida’s Turnpike Mainline and the I-75 interchange, the planning level analysis used to develop the initial corridors considered minimizing impacts to the natural environment and communities while also considering previous studies and reports within the study area.The NTE is being studied to enhance regional connectivity and is not the only project being proposed to meet that end. As you indicated, the department is also preparing an Interstate Master Plan to evaluate potential short and long-term improvements to the I-75 corridor. For study purposes, the I-75 corridor has been divided into two study areas. Information about the project is available on the project websites at cflroads.com/project/443623-1 (southern study) or cflroads.com/project/443624-1 (northern study).
The department will follow all requirements of the PD&E process and will continue to work in partnership with local governments, environmental and community organizations, and the public to consider innovative concepts to combine right-of-way acquisition with the acquisition of lands or easements to facilitate environmental mitigation or ecosystem, wildlife habitat, or water quality protection or restoration. Additional analysis will be used to refine corridors during the ACE and PD&E phases that will avoid and minimize impacts to communities and environmentally sensitive features to the extent possible.
If you need additional information, our project manager William “Billy” Burke can be reached at 407-264-3142 and william.burke@dot.state.fl.us. You can also obtain current project information by visiting the project website: www.floridasturnpike.com/NTE.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Stults, AICP CTP, CPM, FCCM
Planning & Environmental Management Administrator
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
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TomL Reply
Hi Jennifer
Thanks for getting back to me. As you can tell I am not in the favor of Toll roads. especially when you take peoples land. The original Florida Turnpike wrecked the eco system in South Florida. No one is looking back and saying oh no what did we do? The water flow in the state was cut off from east to west. Yes there are a few bridges but not enough. I used the turnpike a lot going back and forth to the town where I was raised. Lot’s of construction area that was not worthy of the tolls I paid. I watch ALL the Cypress Heads dry up and die on both sides. The service center (Garages) are predatory, with jackup prices and arrogant behavior. The Lake Okeechobee area was effected, the farm land in that area paid a big price and at the end in Wildwood was the most horrible change. Gas and oil in the ground effecting the water supply, people who pray on truckers, predators some living in the woods who eventually get a job at one of the service center’s still praying on people. I remember seeing arrest for drugs and prostitution. It is not a good place for family’s to be around. The truckers are great people, but some want to pray on them and I don’t mean religion.
So I can only look at the past effects. I hope this time there won’t be destruction! I think widening what we have would be less impact on the eco system in the State of Florida. I believe in the Governor, hope he takes a good look at this extension
Your Humble Servant
TomL
352-804-1223
