Welcome

www.swflroads.com

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One welcomes you to the public hearing for the US 27 Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study. The study is about the proposed widening of US 27 to six lanes fromthe Highlands County line to north of State Road 60 in south Polk County. The project limits for this 19-mile study areshown on the map.

Public involvementPublic involvement is a very important part of thisPD&E study. Several methods are used to provide and receive information from public officials, agencies and interested citizens. They include newsletters, presentations to neighborhoods, small groups or organizations, and public meetings.

A project website www.swflroads.com is available foryou to share comments with FDOT and the project team. Click on Future Projects to find the US 27 website.

Public hearing March 22, 2016

This is the only segment of US 27 in Polk County that is not asix-lane highway. The proposed widening is listed as a feasible project in the Polk Transportation PlanningOrganization’s (TPO) Momentum 2040 Plan, the county’slong range transportation plan.

The purpose of this proposed project is to provide additionallanes to meet growing travel demand and enhance regionalfreight mobility. These additional lanes will improve safety and will move traffic more efficiently during an evacuation. A no buildoption also is a viable alternative throughout the study process.

Tonight’s agendaThis hearing is conducted to allow you an opportunity to express your views concerning the social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed widening of US 27. We welcome your comments about the project presented this evening.

An open house begins at 6 p.m. when you can view the proposed improvements on aerial photographs, ask questions and provide comments to FDOT representatives. The formal public hearing begins at 7 p.m. when the hearing moderator will offer introductory remarks followed by a video presentation describing the proposed project. An intermission will follow when you canregister to make oral comments, which will be received followingthe intermission. You also can complete a comment sheet and leave it with us this evening, or you can take home a comment sheet, complete it and mail it to us postmarked by April 1, 2016.

Title VI and related statutes

FDOT solicits public participation without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Anyone who feels that he or she has been discriminated against may complete a complaint form located at the table in the back of the room. Then, mail it to the address listed on the poster board.

Federal-state partnership in highwaysThrough a series of Congressional acts, the Federal-aid Highway Program was conceived and developed as a joint federal-state partnership. The success of this partnership is evident in the thousands of miles of excellent highways and bridges comprising the nation’s transportation network. FDOT, in consultation with FHWA and in accordance with state law, makesfinal decisions for the location, design, construction, and maintenance of Florida’s highways.

FHWA, in accordance with federal law, cooperates with the State of Florida in planning and developing federal-aid transportation improvements. The federal agency reviews and approves all federal-aid actions proposed by FDOT.When present at a public hearing, FHWA representatives serve as observers and technical advisors regarding federal requirements and procedures.

Right of way acquisition and relocationThe recommended roadway improvement can be completed within the existing right of way. However, additional right of waywill be needed for wetland mitigation for Segment 1 from the Highlands County line to CR 630A and for wetlandmitigation and floodplain mitigation for Segment 2 from CR 630A to Presidents Drive. To fulfill these requirements, theDepartment is currently evaluating impacting a 60-acre off-site parcel located adjacent to the west side of US 27, just north of the Camp Inn RV Resort (within Segment 2). Potential acquisition of the mitigation parcel will not require relocations of any residences or businesses.

The proposed right of way needed for the recommended interchange alternative will require two residential relocations and the relocation of a church. The FDOT will implement a Right of Way and Relocation Program in accordance with Florida Statute 339.09 and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. Brochures that describe the Department’s Relocation Assistance Program and Right of Way Acquisition Program are available. Department right of way representatives are also available this evening to assist you and discuss the program.

You can also ask about right of way by contacting the District One right of way office located at the Florida Department of Transportation, 801 North Broadway, Bartow, Florida 33830; telephone: 863-519-2407. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Contact usIf you have any questions about the US 27 PD&E study, please contact:

Tony SherrardProject Manager

Florida Department of Transportation801 North Broadway Avenue

PO Box 1249Bartow, FL 33831

Phone: 863-519-2304Email: antone.sherrard@dot.state.fl.us

Project scheduleFollowing completion of the PD&E study, if the build alternative is selected, the design (preparation of construction plans), acquisition of right of way (if necessary), permits and construction phases are scheduled as follows in theFDOT Tentative Five Year Work Program for fiscal years 2017 through 2021.

NO BUILDALTERNATIVE

0

0

0

0

0

0

None

None

0

0.0

0.0

No

0

Fail

EVALUATION FACTORS

0/0

0

0

0

0

1

Moderate

Low - High

9

8.74

0.87

Yes

1/8

N/A

0/0

0

0

0

0

2

Moderate

Low - Moderate

17

11.13

23.07

Yes

0/1

N/A

3.6/26

1 (church)

2

1

0

1

Moderate - High

Low - High

114

6.17

2.69

Yes

4/14

Pass

ROW Acreage Required / Parcels Affected

Potential Business Relocations

Potential Residential Relocations

Churches

Schools

Parks/Recreation/Conservation

Potential Cultural Resources - Historic

Potential Cultural Resources - Archaeological

Potential Noise Sensitive Sites

Wetlands & Other Surface Water Impacts (Acres)

Floodplain (Acre-Feet)

Potential Threatened and Endangered Species

Potential Contamination Sites (High/Medium)

Accommodates Six - Lane SR 60

Estimated Costs (in millions)

Design

Wetland Impact Mitigation ($115,131 per acre)

Listed Species Mitigation ($30,000 per credit)

ROW

Construction

1 1

2

3

4

6

5

5

5

Needs for roadway design footprint only (does not include potential 60-acre wetland/floodplain mitigation parcel for Segments 1 and 2).

Open waters include lakes, dry and wet ditches.

Floodplain impacts bases on currently effective FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).

Engineering estimate are in present day costs.

Costs are based on current STIP information.

Costs are based on FDOT Environmental Mitigation Payment Processing Handbook, July 2015.6

5

4

3

2

1

BUILDALTERNATIVESEGMENT 1

BUILDALTERNATIVESEGMENT 2

BUILDALTERNATIVESEGMENT 3

w/REFINED SPUI

$ 0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

$ 0.0

$ 6.904

1.006

2.050

4.014

$50. 787

$ 5.043

1.281

0.0

2.307

$ 34.943

$ 6.765

0.710

0.696

5.575

$ 50.427

BUILDALTERNATIVEGRAND TOTAL

3.6/26

1 (church)

2

1

0

4

Moderate - High

Low - High

140

26.04

26.63

Yes

5/23

$ 18.712

2.998

2.746

11.896

$136.151

Highlands C/Lto north ofCR 630A

North of CR 630Ato south of

Presidents Drive

South ofPresidents Drive

to north ofSR 60

Highlands C/Lto north of

SR 60US 27 EVALUATION MATRIX

Project overviewIn 2014, the average daily traffic that traveled this segment of US 27 ranged from 17,600 vehicles near the Highlands County line to 29,000 vehicles near SR 60, with trucks making up about 20 percent of the traffic. In 2040, the average daily traffic volumes are predicted to increase to 42,800 vehicles near US 98 and 52,800 vehicles near the SR 60 interchange.A six-lane highway is needed to accommodate the expected traffic volumes.

US 27, a Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) highway, is a regional freight corridor that is a vital link between Interstate 4and Miami. Truck traffic is expected to increase significantly now that the CSX Integrated Logistics Center near Winter Haven is operational. In addition, expansion of regional distribution facilities located in the Frostproof Industrial Area Freight Activity Center also is expected to add to increased truck traffic on US 27.

How the roadway will lookAt a public information meeting on September 19, 2013, we asked for your input on proposed improvements to US 27within the project limits. Based on your comments and additional environmental and engineering analyses, we selecteda recommended build alternative for the US 27 improvements.

Since US 27, within the project limits, is located in rural and urban areas, we developed two six-lane typical sections,or how the future highway will look. They are a six-lane rural roadway and a six-lane suburban roadway.We limited our evaluation to these two typical sections because of design standards that must be met for SIS highwayslike US 27.

Within the project limits, the majority of US 27 will be a rural typical section that includes three 12-foot lanes in eachdirection, separated by a 40-foot grass median. Five-foot paved outside shoulders will accommodate bicyclists.Roadside ditches will handle stormwater runoff.

No additional right of way is required to construct the roadway; however, additional right of way will be needed to mitigate floodplain and wetland impacts. Right of way needs will be further defined during the design and permitting phase.

In the northernmost 0.8 mile of the US 27 project, the recommended build alternative uses a suburban typical section.This section includes three 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, separated by a 30-foot median with 6.5-foot pavedinside shoulders. Five-foot paved outside shoulders will accommodate bicyclists. Open roadside ditches will handle stormwater runoff. Five-foot sidewalks are included on both sides of the highway. No additional right of wayis required.

Within the project limits, there are two bridges on US 27 located over Lake Streety Canal and over the CSX Railroad. Following a detailed analysis of their conditions, the recommended build alternative widens the Lake Streety Canal bridge to the inside and the CSX Railroad bridge to the outside of the existing travel lanes.The bridges will include three 12-foot travel lanes with10-foot outside shoulders and inside shoulders that will

6-Lane Suburban Typical Section6-Lane Rural Typical Section

US 27 at SR 60 interchangeFor the interchange at US 27 and SR 60, the Refined Single Point Urban Interchange alternative is recommended.This alternative includes a new relocated intersection of Gibson Avenue and SR 60 (no signal) west of the Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard intersection. The interchange also includes a new signalized intersection on SR 60 approximately 2000 feet west of US 27 to allow access to the properties in the southwest quadrant of the interchange. The proposed right of way needed for this alternative will require two residential relocations and the relocation of a church.

No build alternative

Environmental effectsThe study evaluated potential environmental effects associated with the recommended build alternative. Detailed analyses of wetlands, floodplains, threatened and endangered species, water quality, hazardous materials, recreational sites, noise, air quality, historic structures, and archaeological sites are an important part of this study. Based on our analyses, we do not anticipate significant effects associated with the recommended build alternative.

There is an evaluation matrix on display and included in your handout that shows a detailed comparison of therecommended build alternative and the no build alternative. The matrix shows potential effects to the social and natural environments and cultural resources. It also identifies preliminary costs.

What happens next?Following this public hearing, FDOT will complete a final review of the engineering and environmental findings ofthis study. We will finalize the draft study reports that are displayed this evening and make a recommendation that willbe submitted to the Federal Highway Administration for approval. Following approval, the project is eligible to advance to design, right of way acquisition (if needed) and construction phases as funding becomes available.

The no build alternative is also an option and remains a viable alternative throughout this PD&E study. The no build alternative assumes no through lanes, turn lanes or operational improvements are made to US 27 through the year 2040. Only routine maintenance is done on the highway.

While the no build alternative does not achieve the goal of accommodating increasing traffic volumes on US 27, it requires no construction costs, causes no substantial increase in operation and maintenance of the existing roadway, and results in minimal environmental effects.

vary from 7 to 10 feet.

Bridge Typical Section

Refined Single Point Urban Interchange