Yesterday, Escambia County Comm. Gene Valentino went before the Santa Rosa County Commission asking that they join a regional transportation authority that would have the power to bond out gas tax revenues and work on the biggest road issues in the area – Hwy 98, Hwy 90 (Milton area) and Gulf Beach Hwy.
Santa Rosa BCC voted it down 3-2 – Tom Stewart, Don Salter and Gordon Goodin voted nay. The RTA is a progressive concept. Valentino wants it to include Okaloosa, Walton and Bay. It lets the counties take action on the roads that have become death traps. The RTA also takes away the excuse that Santa Rosa County likes to use – “We will ask the state legislature to help.”
Expect more pressure on the Santa Rosa County commission.