Project News

From the Ocala Star Banner

ROAD TO THE FUTURE

Published 01/19/2005

SR 40 on list of roads state may enlarge for future needs

Traffic rolls on State Road 40 near Lynne. The speed limit on this
portion of SR 40 was recently raised to 55, and the road has been targeted for
further development by the state.

Environmentalists on the State Road 40 Task Force say they are
concerned because the roadway has been placed on the state's strategic
transportation plan and possible future changes to the road could threaten
sensitive lands.

"That's what our task force has been struggling with - whether that
road really does need to be four-laned," Jennifer McMurtray,
transportation and wildlife ecology associate with the Defenders of Wildlife said
Tuesday. "Sometimes there are places that are too sensitive for a
high-intensity, high-speed road. Thirty miles through the Ocala National Forest is
one of those places."

The task force, comprised of transportation planners and environmentalists, has been meeting for about a year to determine if there are ways to mesh environmental concerns with the transportation needs of widening east/west SR 40 that runs through the Ocala National Forest.

What they heard Friday about the state's Strategic Intermodal System, commonly referred to as "SIS," has concerned some task force members.

Terry Kraft, project manager with the Florida Department of Transportation, explained that there are two designations being placed on roads that play, or may play, a major role in the state's strategic transportation plan.

The roads that play a critical role in moving people and goods to and from other states and nations as well as major regions in the state have been labeled, "SIS facilities." In Marion County, Interstate 75 would be considered a SIS
facility.

Roads that may play a critical role in the future are called, "Emerging SIS." State Road 40 is considered an emerging SIS.

Both SIS facilities and Emerging SIS roads will be eligible for a
larger chunk of the state's transportation dollars. Beginning in 2009-2010, the
money spent on those roadways will be increased until, in 2015, 75 percent of
the transportation trust fund dollars will go to these roadways. Historically, they have received 62 percent. The Florida Legislature made the
transportation policy shift in 2003.

"The interstate system was falling rapidly behind," George
Gilhooley, FDOT District 5 secretary, said Friday. District 5 includes Marion
County. "It's not only a people thing. It's also a freight and goods system."

The SIS plan will be presented for adoption to the state's Secretary of Transportation, Jose Abreu, on Thursday.

McMurtray said the number of vehicles using SR 40 is not high
enough for a major designation. There are less than 7,000 truck trips a day, she
said.

"In this case, with these traffic numbers, there's no justification
to be beefing up this road, particularly because it's going through an
environmental treasure," McMurtray said.

Kraft said DOT is trying to find a balance.

"We were trying to reassure them that being designated doesn't mean
it will be high-speed or high-capacity," Kraft said. "We need to work with
everybody to design it differently than other facilities might be designed."

Terry Gilbert, biological scientist with the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, reminded the group that any road project
will require the FDOT to get permits. That could help ensure that the National
Forest is protected.

The U.S. Forest Service actually owns the land on which SR 40 sits.

"Ultimately it's not that critical because it's still up to the
Forest Service," McMurtray said. "So, business as usually is not really
going to get it in this instance."

Task Force member Guy Marwick, who lives off SR 40, said he sees
pros and cons to having SR 40 a designated road on the SIS.

"The only good thing I can see is there's a possibility of some
money available to do a better job of whatever is done," Marwick said. "I
think it can be done, but it can only be done one way - that is right. If
you don't do it the best it can be done, you should not do it at all."

Susan Latham Carr may be reached at 867-4156 or
susan.carr@starbanner.com.