Public Input Sought for Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization’s Long-Range Plan
The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is embarking on a crucial initiative to gather public input regarding the prioritization of limited transportation funding over the next two decades. This feedback will play a vital role in shaping the region’s 25-year long-range transportation plan, ensuring that community needs and concerns are addressed.
The 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan
Among the key projects highlighted in the 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan is the significant widening of U.S. Highway 90. This project aims to expand the highway to six lanes from Scenic Highway in Escambia County to Stewart Street in Milton. The intersection at Bell Lane will serve as a critical connection point between two of the five segments involved in this extensive plan.
Currently, design funding of $18.6 million has been allocated for all segments of the 23-mile widening project. However, the timeline for construction remains undetermined, and a staggering $700 million is still needed for right-of-way acquisition and construction costs.
Workshops and Community Engagement
Recent workshops have been held to discuss the Cost Feasible Plan, a component of the FL-AL TPO’s 2050 Plan, which covers Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, as well as Baldwin County across the state line. Gary Kramer, a representative from the Emerald Coast Regional Council, emphasized the importance of these workshops, stating, “We update the long-range plan every five years. This is the final step in the process.”
The long-range planning process involves a multi-year approach, beginning with a "needs plan" that identifies essential projects in the region. This needs plan was adopted last month, paving the way for the Cost Feasible Plan, which outlines the projected revenue available for various project phases.
Funding Projections and Priorities
Cory Wilkinson, a senior planner with HDR, explained that the Cost Feasible Plan highlights both funded and unfunded projects. It is divided into three categories, including Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) projects, which represent the state’s highest priority for transportation capacity investments. The Florida Department of Transportation sets these priorities, focusing on the interstate system due to its significance for tourism, freight, and overall mobility.
Wilkinson noted that Interstate-10 is prioritized due to its status as a main corridor, with several SIS projects aimed at widening the interstate and other major roadways in the area. He pointed out that “U.S. 98 falls in there, but most of the priorities are on the interstate system.”
Key Projects and Community Concerns
One of the top SIS priority projects is a new I-10 interchange at Beulah Road, which is fully funded with $7.4 million allocated for right-of-way acquisition in the current fiscal year and construction planned for FY 27 at a cost of $280 million. Additionally, nearly $1.6 billion is projected for SIS projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties through 2050.
Residents have expressed varying opinions on the proposed projects. Sean Bullington, a local resident, praised the plans for I-10 but raised concerns about the lack of attention to Pine Forest Road, which he believes is critical for public safety and tourism. He highlighted the need for better infrastructure planning to accommodate rapid development in the area.
Phil Babiak, a long-time resident of Navarre, voiced his frustration regarding the long-range plan’s approach to congestion on Highway 98, the region’s only east-west transportation corridor along the coast. He argued that the proposed six-laning is insufficient given the growing traffic demands and advocated for a bypass around Eglin property to alleviate congestion.
Non-SIS Projects and Future Planning
The Cost Feasible Plan also allocates $411.1 million for Alabama projects and other non-SIS initiatives in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The top non-SIS priority is the construction of a new traffic management center, set to begin this year. This center aims to improve congestion management without necessarily widening existing roadways.
For Baldwin County, the sole project on the list involves the widening of Canal Road (SR 180) to five lanes, with funding planned for right-of-way and partial construction.
Call for Public Comments
Public comments on the Cost Feasible Plan will be accepted until July 15 and will be considered during the steering committee meeting at the Pensacola Bay Center on that date. The full FL-AL TPO is expected to adopt the plan at their next meeting in August, with the finalization of the 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan anticipated by the end of the year.
This is a pivotal moment for the community, as public input will directly influence how transportation funding is allocated and which projects are prioritized. Engaging in this process is essential for residents who wish to see their needs reflected in the future of regional transportation.