Chiefland Mayor Chris Jones mulls over a comment from an FDOT official.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            A representative of the Florida Department of Transportation told Chiefland City Commissioners Monday the agency would never convert a free highway like U.S. 19 to a toll road but it might consider building a toll road alongside an existing transportation corridor.

            Brandi Bertram said the idea of co-locating a toll road alongside an existing highway is one of many options being considered by FDOT as the agency gathers citizen input from Open House and Task Force meetings and from public settings like the city commission meetings.

            “If we were to build adjacent lanes, that could be the toll road, but we will not convert an existing roadway from free to toll,” she said.

            Bertram was joined by other FDOT consultants gathering public input about future toll roads known as M-CORES. The term refers to Multi-Use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance.

            The toll roads would pass through rural parts of Florida, possibly the Chiefland area, where economic development has been slower than in cities.

            Mayor Chris Jones asked Bertram if she was saying the state is thinking about building a toll road adjacent to U.S. 19.

            “If that’s what comes out of the process,” Bertram responded.

            “That sounds like a waste of money,” Jones said.

            “That’s all part of the task force process; that’s all part of the input coming from the task forces, the public; you can go to FDOT listens (online) and submit comments or attend any of the community Open Houses or Task Force meetings. You can provide your comments on what you want to see out of the process.”

            Jones said it would seem to him that using an existing highway like U.S. 19 for a toll road might work.

            Bertram said FDOT is open to all ideas.

            “Part of the process is to look at everything and so co-location, which is what they are calling that, where it would run along an existing corridor, but enhance that corridor, add different things; you can add different things to the right of way to be able to run broadband, water and sewer and other facilities that are not there.”

            Jones asked Bertrand if she was saying FDOT would upgrade broadband.

            She said part of the toll road legislation passed in Tallahassee includes creating space for broadband internet in road rights of way, but she said FDOT wouldn’t build the broadband. It would provide the space in the right of way.

            “Part of the bill is to expand broadband. Part of the process would be that you would provide the infrastructure to come in and run lines,” she said.

            Bertrand added, “Everything is on the table and your input is being solicited by FDOT in all these different formats, the meetings, the community, the open houses and what we’re doing here tonight.”

            Jones said part of the problem in bringing new businesses to this area is the lack of broadband internet for commercial users.

—————-

 City of Chiefland Regular Meeting February 24, 2020; Posted February 24, 2020