By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that the Florida Legislature recently backtracked on some of its commitment to build the controversial 300 miles of new toll roads across rural parts of the State?
Last week, a House committee advanced a bill that would repeal the road projects, setting up for a full floor vote. The bill has already passed the Florida Senate. The 2019 bill that approved the new toll roads was somewhat repealed. That bill required the Department of Transportation to extend the Suncoast and build a third route linking Polk and Collier counties.
The new bill being sent to the House modifies two existing routes: It orders the State to make improvement to U.S. Highway 19, from the Suncoast Parkway up to Interstate 10 in Madison County, by 2035. The bill as well orders the State to extend Florida’s Turnpike from Wildwood, where it currently ends, to a “logical and appropriate terminus” determined by the Department of Transportation.
Environmentalists across the state have been highly concerned about the proposed new roads since the 2019 bill passed. One of their concerns was the destruction of the panther population. Another concern was the entire eco system connected to the Everglades.
At the time of writing this article, a House vote on the bill was not yet scheduled.