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Project News
From
the Ocala Star Banner
Planners hope SR 40 goes scenic
Published April 02. 2004 8:30AM
BY SUSAN LATHAM CARR
STAFF WRITER
OCALA - The State Road 40 Task Force got
into gear on Thursday and overwhelmingly agreed that
the best route to take to improve SR 40 is to make
it a scenic byway.
"I think it's a very positive approach," said Jim Thorsen,
U.S. Forest Service District Ranger for the Seminole Ranger District. State
Road 40 runs largely on U.S. Forest Service land. "I think there's a lot
more work to do. There's a lot of planning to do."
Task Force Interim Chairwoman Lennon Moore was encouraged
by the group's consensus.
"I think it has a lot of potential," said Moore,
who is also the Department of Transportation's government/community liaison. "Having
it designated doesn't mean it will never become a four-lane road."
It is not just the government that likes the idea
of having a scenic byway. Environmentalists like it, too.
"I think what happened here today is exactly the
right direction it should have gone," said Charles Lee of Audubon of Florida. "I
think it's clear that that's the only option that is viable for the forest." He
said he feels the forest is at risk because the communities around it do
not sense its value as an economic resource.
"It's a potential gold mine in terms of eco-tourism," Lee
said.
Because of Florida's continuing growth, the state
Department of Transportation believes SR40 eventually will have to be expanded.
But the road runs through the Ocala National Forest, sits largely on federally-owned
land, and runs through three counties. And there are environmental concerns
and laws governing the protection of the forest.
So, DOT hired facilitators to bring together federal,
state and local agencies as well as environmentalists and forest residents
to see if a plan to improve the road could be developed that would be acceptable
to all.
The Task Force agreed on the scenic byway concept
for the area between Silver Springs and State Road 19.
Jeff Shrum, Ocala/Marion County Metropolitan Planning
Organization transportation planner, said he could not endorse the concept
without first getting the approval of the MPO board.
"If you think we are going to sit here for 18 months
and let county commissioners and MPO decide they are not going to agree with
us, that's not going to happen," said Patricia Griffiths, a forest resident
who sits on the task force.
"I think you will get the support eventually," said Griffiths,
who is a former editorial page editor of the Star-Banner.
After the meeting, Shrum said he believes the scenic byway
is something the MPO board would consider.
Clay Henderson of Holland & Knight, one of the facilitators,
said they are trying to meet with commissioners to get them involved early
in the process.
The model presented to the task force was the National
Scenic Byway. If the National Scenic Byways designation is obtained, there
are federal dollars available.
There are 96 Byways in 39 states. In Florida there
are three: A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, the Indian River Lagoon
Scenic Highway, and the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway.
Bernard O'Connor with Prosser Hallock, another consultant,
presented examples of features that could be incorporated in the roadway's
design, including gateway arches to roadways; median treatments using flowers,
trees and guardrails; bridges over roads and waters; pedestrian bridges;
wildlife underpasses; and drainage features.
Rafael Montalvo, associate director of the Florida
Conflict Resolution Consortium, who is helping facilitate the discussions
for the DOT, said he understands the Ocala/Marion County MPO's frustration
because they have been trying for 10 years to get improvements to the roadway.
"You still have to work with everybody," Montalvo
said. "If there's something everyone can agree to, it will move through very
quickly. The people who fought it are here."
Susan Latham Carr covers state government. She may
be reached at susan.carr@starbanner.com or 867-4156
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