Summati n Weekly
USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
T h i s C o m mu n i t y N ew s p a p e r is a publication of Escambia / Santa Rosa Bar Association
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 15, No. 51
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
December 16, 2015
1 Section, 8 Pages
Transporting Florida Forward I-10
By Josh Newby Northwest Florida’s state highway system is comprised of the arteries that connect our economic hubs, our centers for distribution, our regulatory agencies, and the end users—us and our neighbors. Just like utilities, food or any of the other necessary things in American life that we often take for granted, our highway system has behind it a vast network of engineers, planning professionals, money, and agencies that all work in tandem, knowing that their work is most successful when it is not even noticed. Throughout Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, there are almost 200 state highway construction projects planned or ongoing, some of which are minor like the addition of a turn lane, and others of which are major, such as the Pensacola Bay Bridge replacement. Through every project from repaving to the construction of new facilities, a huge number of organizations and people work together to maximize funds, minimize negative impact, alleviate traffic, and expedite completion. Perhaps because of its name, many assume that the state highway system only includes, well, highways. But while many state roads are the traditional long stretches of asphalt with little traffic regulation, many of the streets we use everyday are also part of the system. Ownership of road is based on right of way and who owns the property on the road. While Florida is not a majority-share highway system state, according to FDOT Urban Planning Manager Bryant Paulk, the system does probably handle more than half of the average annual daily traffic count (AADT). That is a big part of how funding is allocated and usage is measured: not by the length of the road, but by its average annual usage. While the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) handles funding, planning, studies, and contracting out the construction for nearly all state highway projects, no matter how minor or major, the agency relies on information from local bureaus like the FloridaAlabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). There are various TPOs throughout the state, all of whom conduct surveys and cost feasibility studies in order to plan for the future transportation needs of
the region in a collaborative manner that is beneficial to all residents and visitors. All five commissioners and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties sit on their local TPO board. Santa Rosa County Commissioner Jayer Williamson, who currently chairs the Florida-Alabama TPO, sees transportation—and local transportation planning—as vital to the state economy and overall welfare of the community. “Our interstate corridor is vital to commerce, and all the roads that shoot off of that and lead to our businesses are important for sustainability into the future and for one-time usage for visitors from the west,” said Williamson. “We want to make sure we have projects that serve the needs of our constituents, but also the region. That road does not stop at the county line. It continues on to help other people in other counties.” The public echoes these sentiments. In the most recent survey conducted by the Florida-Alabama TPO, 72 percent of respondents said that transportation issues are “very important” to them and their family. Unfortunately, 65 percent said they do not have enough transportation choices. Most report traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, and the construction of new roads to be the three primary issues on which money should be spent. TPOs across the state conduct surveys like these to gauge the opinion of those who most often use our state highway system for work, leisure, errands and general transportation. Using that data, combined with general maintenance requirements and feasibility, the TPO puts together a long-range plan for submittal to the FDOT. The most recent long-range plan goes through 2040 and foresees about $2.4 billion in transportation needs throughout the region. “We put together what is essentially a wish list based on our data, knowing that not all of it is cost feasible right now and that most of it will be subject to further studies,” said Mary Robinson, transportation director for the West Florida Regional Planning Council. In fact, the TPO only forecasts about $431 million in estimated revenue for the projects on its wish list, most of which comes from gas taxes. Therefore, it is up to the FDOT
to put together a five-year plan, we have to work with them and their county by county, to invest in and pay schedules to make sure they align for. with our timelines,” said Paulk. “So it goes from a very general But what happens when a new 25-year planning outlook to a five construction project drags on for much year implementation outlook,” said longer than anyone anticipated or any Robinson. “The FDOT really has to business wanted? That happened with look at what’s going on in the current the still ongoing Avalon Boulevard fiscal year and the short-term future.” construction in Santa Rosa County. First, the FDOT conducts Project The six-year, $40 million undertaking Development and Environment that stretches five miles from I-10 to (PD&E) studies to meet the US 90. The endeavor included facility requirements of the National widening, sidewalk additions and the Environmental Policy Act, but, also construction of a service road, and it to study construction impacts on has been blamed for the closure of businesses and communities near the small businesses, a golf resort and lots construction site. The study will help of congestion-related headaches. them determine the exact location Originally expected to complete and conceptual design of feasible by winter 2014, the project hit a couple build alternatives for roadway snags that should have probably been improvements. All along, a no-build caught in the PD&E and planning alternative, which essentially projects phases, such as questionable soil what would happen if the facility condition, confliction with power remains in its current state, remains lines, a high water table and roadway a viable alternative. The PD&E base failure. Parts of the project had study is expensive, often costing a to be redesigned on the fly to deal million or more dollars, and is only with the new challenges, and Paulk complete when the FDOT accepts the admitted that the FDOT may have considerations and proposals. been a bit eager to use funding on the “The department does its best project. during this phase to minimize “We had a lot in the pipeline at negative impact and balance all that time,” said Paulk. “We were so aspects of the project to make it the excited for Avalon to improve.” best it can be for the larger highway Robinson agreed that when system and all communities and funding is awarded, departments can businesses involved,” said Paulk. become over-eager. Construction If the FDOT selects the “build” mishaps like Avalon highlight the alternative, the project moves on need for patience and prudence in to the design phase, during which the early stages of transportation the department works with traffic planning. While long-lasting projects engineers and contractors to prepare are a frequent complaint of travelers detailed, time-effective construction and a stereotype of the industry, it plans. is important to remember all the After the plans are set, the roadways we travel everyday were department sets out to acquire the built and maintained without even our right-of-way for new construction. slightest notice. This phase is critical to regional buy- “You have to plan your work and in and goodwill toward the project. work your plan,” said Williamson. If the new facility is scheduled to “Transportation constantly teaches us rollout over a portion of an existing that.” business’ parking lot, for example, After the new project is complete, the department will not only pay for it is subject to ongoing need-based that land but will estimate the lost resurfacing, which falls outside of the income to that business as a result and TPO’s recommendation purview. The pay damages in that amount. Last but FDOT handles other maintenance certainly not least, construction begins needs, as well, based on necessity like only after all of the aforementioned bridge repair and replacement. has taken place. The department Some projects that will reach the advertises the bid, vets responses, construction phase in the next few and oftentimes tacks on a timeline years in Escambia County include incentive for early completion. replacement of the Pritchett Mill “We try to spread out our projects Bridge ($1 million), Penasula Creek and bids, because there’s only a Bridge ($1.2 million), Boggy Creek certain number of contractors and Bridge ($3.2 million), and Pine
Barren Creek Bridge ($4.34 million). Also important to Escambia County is the ferry boat landing at Quietwater Beach, expected to start in either late 2016 or early 2017 and cost $862,000. Most upcoming Santa Rosa and Okaloosa County construction projects are road resurfacing and school area sidewalk construction. Some exciting projects included on the TPO’s adopted cost feasible plan are: • Widen Nine Mile Road to four lanes from Mobile Highway to Beulah Road (construction cost: $11.3 million) • Widen US 98 to six lanes from Bayshore Drive to Portside Drive (construction cost: $22.4 million) • New bus route and service to Navy Federal via I-110 and US 90 from Pensacola and Milton, respectively (combined construction cost: $10.8 million) • Major intersection improvement at I-10 and US 29 (construction cost: $77.76 million) • Widen I-10 to six lanes from Nine Mile Road interchange to US 29 (construction cost: $38.7 million) The most notable yet unfunded project is an improvement to the 17th Avenue/Bayfront Parkway intersection. The concept’s PD&E is scheduled, and $5.2 million for design and $6 million for right-ofway acquisition has been funded, yet the endeavor boasts $40.3 million shortage in construction funding. It is not unusual for projects to only proceed as funding allows. In fact, 25 projects on the adopted cost feasible plan have scheduled or completed PD&E and design phases with rightof-way and/or construction funding shortages. Transportation is a vital part of our larger national economy and is routinely one of the most underfunded aspects of our infrastructure as a country. The system is necessary, however, to our way of life, the way we do business, and the way we get away from it all. It takes a village to keep the state’s cars and trucks moving smoothly. A village, and a whole lot of money.