The Florida – Alabama Transportation Planning Organization, the TPO, has adopted their 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). This plan outlines the transportation projects for the next 25 years in the Florida-Alabama Urbanized area. This covers the greater Pensacola area, from Lillian, Alabama to Navarre and the Santa Rosa / Okaloosa County line. This area also extends up toward the north central portions of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. The Long Range Plan is updated every 5 years.
Consultants, engineers, and planners with intense public involvement collaborated to develop a list of needs for the region. Public workshops for the Needs Plan and the Cost Feasible Plan were held in April and August respectively. The Needs Plan is in excess of $7 billion dollars. This amount would fund all of the projects that are needed in the area.
Staff worked closely with the Florida Department of Transportation, (FDOT), to establish the financial resources component of the Plan. This component estimates the revenue that may be utilized for projects over the life of the plan. The funding that was determined came to approximately $322 million dollars. The difference between the Needs and the funding available is roughly $6.678 billion dollars.
A public workshop was held in October in which State Representatives, local government officials, staff, and the public participated to better understand the challenge of funding transportation projects.
At its November meeting, the TPO discussed how to fund the projects. Based on compromises and mutual respect, the TPO came together in unanimous agreement to approve the updated Blueprint 2035 Plan (LRTP 2035) for the Florida- Alabama TPO. The following chart shows the end result of how the Long Range Transportation Capacity Projects are being planned:
| 2035 LRTP State and Federal Funded Capacity Projects | ||||
| PDE/PE– Project Development and Environment / Preliminary Engineering
ROW– Right Of Way                                         CST– Construction |
$ in Millions | |||
| 2016-2020 | ||||
| Main Street from Barrancas to “A†Street | PDE/PE | ROW | 0.4 | |
| Nine Mile Road from Pine Forest Road to US 29 | ROW | CST | 13.8 | |
| Nine Mile Road from I-10 to Pine Forest Road | PDE/PE | ROW | 4.4 | |
| SR 87 Connector | PE | 11.7 | ||
| 2021-2025 | ||||
| Main Street from Barrancas to “A†Street | PDE/PE | 0.3 | ||
| Main Street from “A†Street to Baylen | PDE/PE | 0.4 | ||
| Burgess Road from US 29 to I-110 Overpass | ROW | 1.8 | ||
| Pinestead-Longleaf Connector | ROW | 5.5 | ||
| Gulf Beach Highway from Blue Angel Pkwy to Navy Boulevard | PDE/PE | 6.7 | ||
| US 90 from Avalon Boulevard to Stewart Street | ROW | 9.3 | ||
| US 90 from Airport Road to SR 87S | PDE/PE | 1.8 | ||
| US 98 from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive | ROW | 8.5 | ||
| 2026-2030 | ||||
| Main Street from Barrancas to “A†Street | CST | 2.4 | ||
| Main Street from “A†Street to Baylen | ROW | CST | 2.0 | |
| Burgess Road from US 29 to I-110 Overpass | CST | 10.1 | ||
| Sorrento Road from South End of Bridge to the North End | PDE/PE | 2.9 | ||
| US 90 from SR 87S to S.A. Jones Road | PDE/PE | 4.1 | ||
| 2031-2035 | ||||
| Sorrento Road from North End of Bridge to Blue Angel Parkway | PDE/PE | 3.3 | ||
| SR 87N from Langley Street to TPO Boundary | PE | 3.4 | ||
| US 90 from Avalon Boulevard to Stewart Street | CST | 13.6 | ||
| US 98 from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive | ROW | 15.7 | ||
| Nine Mile Road from I-10 to Pine Forest Road | PDE/PE | ROW | 3.0 | |
| Pinestead-Longleaf Connector | ROW | 3.0 | ||
| US 90 from Avalon Boulevard to Stewart Street | ROW | 2.5 |
Every year in September, the TPO has the opportunity to review and prioritize the projects. This list of projects is submitted to FDOT for annual funding in FDOT’s Five Year Work Program. The Project Priorities come directly from the LRTP Cost Feasible Plan list. The FDOT Five Year Work Program for Fiscal Year 2012-2016 will be presented at the December 8, 2010 TPO meeting at 9 AM at the Escambia County Commission Chambers.
The public is urged to attend all TPO meetings and workshops to provide vital input on their transportation concerns. Public participation is crucial to effective transportation planning.
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