[Altavia]

Florida Turnpike extension moving ahead, despite opposition | WUSF Public Media

The state Department of Transportation held a "kick-off" public meeting on plans to extend the Florida Turnpike north.

State transportation officials are moving ahead with plans to extend the northern end of the Florida Turnpike beyond where it now ends at Interstate 75 in Wildwood.

Several alternative routes were presented during a public meeting Tuesday night in Chiefland, in Levy County. Jeff Arms is the program manager for the Turnpike Authority.

"The project study area includes Citrus, Levy, Marion and Sumter counties," he said. "The project is early in the planning phase, and is following the Florida Department of Transportation alternative corridor evaluation process."

Earlier this year, state lawmakers eliminated a toll road proposed for southern Florida. But they kept this and an extension of the Suncoast Parkway north in the planning process.

Community task forces found little need and scant public support for any of the toll road projects. Arms said those reports will be taken into consideration.

"The project will consider previous studies and reports," he said. "In fact, the section of Florida Statutes actually states that the Turnpike Enterprise shall take into consideration the guidance and the recommendations of any previous studies or reports, including but not limited to the task force reports."

Opponents say there is little need for the toll road and it would destroy some of the last remaining rural areas north of Tampa Bay.

Several groups continue to rally opposition to the toll roads, saying it would destroy some of the area's last remaining rural lands and threaten Rainbow Springs, one of the state's largest springs.

Here's a statement from the No Roads To Ruin Coalition, which was formed to oppose the toll roads:

If built, this extension would destroy large swaths of Florida’s last remaining rural lands, threaten waterways with pollution, endanger iconic wildlife, disrupt farmlands, and promote unsustainable sprawl. It is no surprise that of nearly 10,000 comments submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation regarding proposed M-CORES toll routes, 93% were opposed. Florida’s remaining natural areas are worth more than the sum of their parts. Residents in counties like Citrus, Levy, Marion, and Sumter know that when we start paving over our rural heritage and wild places, there is no turning back.
Another public information session is scheduled for this summer. A full report is expected to be on the governor's desk by the end of 2022.

[Rollie]

Anything that would relieve congestion on I75 is badly needed.

Rollie

[tophcfa]

I am disappointed looking at the map of the proposed extension, since it appears to go toward the gulf coast. Here is a vote for a new express toll road that goes straight up the middle of the peninsula towards Jacksonville. Currently there is no easy and direct way from I 95 north of JAX to the Villages. When driving all the way from New England to the Villages, the worst part of the entire drive is from Jacksonville to our Villages home (except the weather is usually much better).

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Robbie0723

Florida Turnpike extension moving ahead, despite opposition | WUSF Public Media

The state Department of Transportation held a "kick-off" public meeting on plans to extend the Florida Turnpike north.

State transportation officials are moving ahead with plans to extend the northern end of the Florida Turnpike beyond where it now ends at Interstate 75 in Wildwood.

Several alternative routes were presented during a public meeting Tuesday night in Chiefland, in Levy County. Jeff Arms is the program manager for the Turnpike Authority.

"The project study area includes Citrus, Levy, Marion and Sumter counties," he said. "The project is early in the planning phase, and is following the Florida Department of Transportation alternative corridor evaluation process."

Earlier this year, state lawmakers eliminated a toll road proposed for southern Florida. But they kept this and an extension of the Suncoast Parkway north in the planning process.

Community task forces found little need and scant public support for any of the toll road projects. Arms said those reports will be taken into consideration.

"The project will consider previous studies and reports," he said. "In fact, the section of Florida Statutes actually states that the Turnpike Enterprise shall take into consideration the guidance and the recommendations of any previous studies or reports, including but not limited to the task force reports."

Opponents say there is little need for the toll road and it would destroy some of the last remaining rural areas north of Tampa Bay.

Several groups continue to rally opposition to the toll roads, saying it would destroy some of the area's last remaining rural lands and threaten Rainbow Springs, one of the state's largest springs.

Here's a statement from the No Roads To Ruin Coalition, which was formed to oppose the toll roads:

If built, this extension would destroy large swaths of Florida’s last remaining rural lands, threaten waterways with pollution, endanger iconic wildlife, disrupt farmlands, and promote unsustainable sprawl. It is no surprise that of nearly 10,000 comments submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation regarding proposed M-CORES toll routes, 93% were opposed. Florida’s remaining natural areas are worth more than the sum of their parts. Residents in counties like Citrus, Levy, Marion, and Sumter know that when we start paving over our rural heritage and wild places, there is no turning back.
Another public information session is scheduled for this summer. A full report is expected to be on the governor's desk by the end of 2022.

Looks like a pork barrel project which would only serve a small part of Florida's population. There are plenty of back roads back there which already serve the resisents.

Note it does not connect to any city.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Rollie

Anything that would relieve congestion on I75 is badly needed.

Rollie

Judging by the route it will do very little, if anything, to alleviate problems on 75. Widening of 75 and Turnpike would help more in my humble opinion.

[Dana1963]

Now The Villages will be expanding NW

[MrFlorida]

Most of us will be gone before it gets done.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

When driving all the way from New England to the Villages, the worst part of the entire drive is from Jacksonville to our Villages home (except the weather is usually much better).

Fact check ->> TRUE

[Hape2Bhr]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

I am disappointed looking at the map of the proposed extension, since it appears to go toward the gulf coast. Here is a vote for a new express toll road that goes straight up the middle of the peninsula towards Jacksonville. Currently there is no easy and direct way from I 95 north of JAX to the Villages. When driving all the way from New England to the Villages, the worst part of the entire drive is from Jacksonville to our Villages home (except the weather is usually much better).

I don't see that happening looking at the terrain between Ocala and Jacksonville, in addition to the naval base and parks. Rt 301 is much better now with the Baldwin and Starke bypasses. Also the notorious speed traps are no longer. And the occasional slowdowns and traffic lights get you acclimated to Buena Vista and Morris Blvd speed limits.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Currently there is no easy and direct way from I 95 north of JAX to the Villages. When driving all the way from New England to the Villages, the worst part of the entire drive is from Jacksonville to our Villages home (except the weather is usually much better).

We take 95 -> 295 -> 10 -> 301 -> 75 -> 44 and up Morse...

Yes, there are a few lights where you have to slow to 45 mph, but it's only 2.5 hrs...

Better than 95 in S Carolina which almost ALWAYS has an accident...

[VApeople]

It looks like the turnpike extension will make it much easier to drive to the booming town of Chiefland.

They even planned a way to avoid the usual traffic jams in Bronson.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Most everyone in The Villages now will not live long enough to see it built.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Better than 95 in S Carolina which almost ALWAYS has an accident...

Fact Check -->> TRUE

[laboutj]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

Fact Check -->> TRUE

I just drove back to Mass yesterday and 95 southbound in S. Carolina was a parking lot

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by laboutj

I just drove back to Mass yesterday and 95 southbound in S. Carolina was a parking lot

Every freakin' time!

Last time we came down, we left DC Friday, around 1:00pm, planning to get to Florence around dinner time and stop for the night. It breaks the ride up and we get in around noon the next day, giving us an extra day...

Sure as the sun will rise, we hit a backup and sat for almost 1 1/2 hours, only to find absolutely nothing... No Car-B-Q, no wreck, no debris in the road, nothing...