Welcome to the Public Hearing for the Gulf Coast Parkway Project - PDF document

Welcome to the Public Hearing for the Gulf Coast Parkway Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study The Formal Presentation Begins at 6:30 p.m. March 5, 2019 Welcome slide open until presentation begins 1

Gulf Coast Parkway PD&E Study Bay and Gulf Counties, Florida Public Hearing Financial Project ID No. 410981-2-22-02 March 5, 2019 Slide 1 – Project photo, study name, County, meeting title, FPID, federal aid no, ETDM no. Good evening. The Florida Department of Transportation would like to welcome you to the public hearing for the Gulf Coast Parkway Project Development and Environment Study, Financial Management Project Number FPID No. 410981-2-22-01. My name is presenters name. I am the presenters title for the Florida Department of Transportation. Thank you for coming this evening, here with me tonight are: Alan Vann, the FDOT Project Manager, and Greg Garrett with Atkins, our consultant project manager. Additional project staff members will be available to answer questions you may have on the material presented. A representative from the district right of way department is here tonight and will be available after the public hearing if you have questions regarding residential or businesses relocations on this project. A transcript is being made of all oral proceedings and will be part of the public record for this project. We now will begin the presentation. 2

Purpose of the Public Hearing  To share information related to  Three components to tonight’s proposed improvements and hearing: alternatives 1) Open House 2) Presentation  To discuss potential beneficial 3) Formal comment period following and adverse social, economic the presentation and environmental impacts upon the community.  To share opinions and concerns regarding the project. The purpose of this public hearing is to share information with the general public about the proposed improvement; its conceptual design; the preferred alternative; and the potential benefits and adverse social, economic, and environmental impacts upon the community. The public hearing also serves as an official forum providing an opportunity for members of the public to express their opinions regarding the project. There are three primary components to tonight’s hearing: First, the open house, which occurred prior to this presentation where you were invited to view the project displays and to speak directly with the project team and provide your comments in writing or to the court reporter; Second, this presentation, which will explain the project purpose and need, study alternatives, potential impacts, both beneficial and adverse, and proposed methods to mitigate adverse project impacts; and Third, a formal comment period following this presentation, where you will have the opportunity to provide oral statements at the microphone or you may provide your comments directly to the court reporter or in writing. 3

Laws and Regulations  This public hearing is being held in accordance with: o Section 120.525, F.S. – Meetings, Hearings, and Workshops o Section 335.199, F.S. – Transportation Projects Modifying Access to Adjacent Property o Section 339.155, F.S. – Transportation Planning o Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) o Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Other Nondiscrimination Laws o 49 CFR Part 24 , Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs o 40 CFR Part 1506 , Other Requirements of NEPA This environmental study has been conducted by FDOT (District 3) in compliance with all applicable federal environmental laws and pursuant to 23 U.S.C. § 327 and the implementing MOU between FDOT and FHWA signed on December 14, 2016; the FDOT Office of Environmental Management in Tallahassee is the approving authority. The proposed improvement involves construction of a new 4-lane roadway between U.S. 98 and U.S. 231 in Bay and Gulf Counties. This hearing is being held to provide you with the opportunity to comment on this project and share new information developed since the last public hearing. This public hearing was advertised consistent with the federal and state requirements shown on the slide. 4

Title VI Compliance  Public participation is encouraged and solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns about Title VI may do so by contacting: District 3, Florida Department of Tallahassee Office, Florida Department of Transportation Transportation Alicia Brininger, District 3 Title VI Coordinator Jacqueline Paramore, FDOT, State Title VI Coordinator FDOT District 3 Equal Opportunity Office 1074 Highway 90 605 Suwannee Street, MS 65 Chipley, Florida 32428 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450 (850) 330-1502 (850) 414-4753 Alicia.Brininger@dot.state.fl.us Jacqueline.paramore@dot.state.fl.us Public participation at this hearing is encouraged and solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns about Title VI may do so by contacting either the Florida Department of Transportation, District 3 office, or the Tallahassee office of the Florida Department of Transportation. This contact information is also provided in the project handout. 5

Project Development Process Process used 8 to evaluate potential impacts to determine an alternative involving a continuous community outreach process to ensure that all interested parties have meaningful participation in the process. FDOT is conducting a Project Development and Environment, or PD&E Study, for this project. The PD&E Process is used to evaluate potential impacts to determine an alternative utilizing a continuous community outreach process to ensure that all interested parties have meaningful participation in the process. As part of the 2014 public hearing, we received public input suggesting alternatives routes, which led to additional coordination & analysis from 2015-18, resulting in the Modified alternative being presented tonight . Public input and information received at tonight’s hearing will be taken into consideration when preparing the final documents for this study. 6

Study Area  U.S. 98 to U.S. 231  Bay and Gulf Counties  36.6 Miles The study limits extend from U.S. 98 in the south to U.S. 231 in the north, and from west of U.S. 98 in Panama City to west of Wewahitchka. The proposed improvement is 36.6 miles in length. 7

Purpose and Need What is the Purpose of the Study?  Enhance economic development, improve mobility, improve Tyndall AFB security, and improve hurricane evacuation routes. Why is the Project Needed?  Travel time reduction and capacity improvements  More direct route between U.S. 98 and U.S. 231  Consistency with Long Range Transportation Plans and Comprehensive Plans What is the Purpose of the Study? The purpose of the project is to enhance economic development in Gulf County through improved access and mobility; to improve regional mobility consistent with the Bay County TPO LRTP and the Gulf County Comprehensive Plan; to improve security of Tyndall Air Force Base; and to improve hurricane evacuation for residents of coastal Gulf County. Why is the Project Needed? The need for the project is to reduce travel times from south Bay and Gulf Counties to Panama City; to provide a more direct route to freight facilities on U.S. 231; to improve access between enterprise zones and U.S. 231; to provide a direct route for tourists traveling to south Gulf County; to provide a more direct route to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport; to increase traffic capacity of existing roadways; to improve security for Tyndall Air Force Base by providing an alternate route to U.S. 98; to provide an alternative emergency evacuation route; and to provide an alternative that is consistent with local transportation plans and comprehensive plans. The project IS consistent with local transportation plans including the Bay County Transportation Planning Organization 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), State TIP (STIP) and other regional plans. 8

Preferred Alternative Modified Alternative Alignment 19 Based on public input and an evaluation of engineering and environmental considerations, FDOT is presenting Modified Alternative Alignment 19 as the Preferred Alternative. Modified Alternative 19 provides the preferred combination of additional connections to the existing roadway network, reduced travel times to employment centers and the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, reduced tourist travel times, and reduced detour route distance around Tyndall Air Force Base. 9

Typical Section - Rural High-speed Rural and Urban median-separated typical sections with design speeds of 55 mph are proposed for the Gulf Coast Parkway. The Rural typical section would include two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction and a 12- foot shared-use path on one side of the roadway, for 29.9 total miles of roadway. 10

Typical Section - Urban The Urban typical section would include two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, a 6-foot 6-inch paved shoulder / bicycle lane and 4-foot paved shoulder, curb and gutter, and 5-foot sidewalks on both sides of the roadway, for 4.6 total miles of roadway. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities will be included throughout the proposed roadway. 11