APPENDIX B TPO Survey #2 Results Identifying Transportation Investment Priorities
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“IDENTIFYING TRASPORTATION INVESTMENT PRIORITIES”
SURVEY RESULTS POLK TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION November 23, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................... 3 QUESTION 1: ........................................................................................................................... 4 QUESTION 2: ........................................................................................................................... 5 QUESTION 3: ........................................................................................................................... 6 QUESTION 4: ........................................................................................................................... 7 QUESTION 5: ........................................................................................................................... 8 QUESTION 6: ........................................................................................................................... 9 QUESTION 7: ......................................................................................................................... 10 QUESTION 8: ......................................................................................................................... 11
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BACKGROUND The Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) has been working over the past 12 months to identify and prioritize needed improvements to the Polk County transportation system over the next 25 years. Included in the prioritization are roadway projects, transit system improvements, and facilities for walking and biking. The recommendations range from new roads, roadway widenings, intersection improvements, new and improved transit routes, high speed passenger rail service, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and multi-use trails. The TPO completed a second opinion survey to gain feedback on the proposed priorities. The TPO distributed the survey at various public workshops and meetings as well as posting the survey on the project website. The survey was available for three months, from August 2010 until November 2010 and could be filled out via the paper copy or online at the 2035 Mobility Vision Plan website (http://www.2035mobilityvisionplan.org).
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QUESTION 1: Looking at the list of roadway projects recommended for funding are there projects that should be added or removed?
We received 194 comments for this question. Below is a list of add/remove projects that received more than one comment. Add Projects: 96: US 17/92 - 10th St to 17th St 97: US 17/92 - Hinson to Osceola CL 129: Marigold Ave - Poinciana Pkwy to Coyote Rd 134: Marigold Ave - Coyote Rd to CR 580 229: Poinciana Parkway - CR 580 to US 17/92 277: Capps Rd - SR 60 to Mammoth Grove Rd 311: Pollard Rd Extension - SR 60 to CSX ILC 324: Thompson Nursery Rd Extension - US 17 to CR 652 CR 580: US 17/92 to Osceola County Line CR 580: US 17/92 to US 27 without going through downtown Haines City
Mountain Lake Cutoff Road: at SR 17 Rifle Range Road: The entire roadway Snively Avenue: The entire roadway Remove Projects: 97: US 17/92 - Hinson to Osceola CL 134: Marigold Ave - Coyote Rd to CR 580 136: CR 17 A - US 27 to SR 17 207: Western Polk Connector, South/Clark Rd Extension - I-4 Frontage Rd to CR 35A 266: Turn west to meet Power Line Road at Carl Boozer Road 266: Haines City/Davenport Eastern Rd Hinson Ave to Champagne Rd Central Polk Parkway: SR 60 to I-4 Central Polk Parkway: E205/E113 (Proposed Eastern Leg from Dundee Area to Davenport Area)
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QUESTION 2: Looking at the list of transit projects recommended for funding are there projects that should be added or removed?
We received 79 comments for this question. Below is a list of add/remove projects that received more than one comment. Add Projects: Commuter Rail T-103 – Route 32 Extension Medulla/Willow Oak T-106 – USF Polytechnic to Winter Haven via Highway 540 T-117 – Mulberry to Lake Wales via Bartow T-130 – Winter Haven to Dundee
Remove Projects: High Speed Rail
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QUESTION 3: Looking at the list of sidewalk projects recommended for funding are there projects that should be added or removed?
We received 77 comments for this question. Below is a list of add/remove projects that received more than one comment. Add Projects: 20 – US 98 from Edgewood Dr to Lake Parker Ave 97 – US 27 from SR 540 to SR 542
Remove Projects: 42 – Old Bartow-Eagle Lake Rd/Crystal Beach Road from US 98 to US 17 78 – SR 60 from Bonnie Mine Rd to SR 60A
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QUESTION 4: Looking at the list of bicycle and trail projects recommended for funding are there projects that should be added or removed?
We received 65 comments for this question. Below is a list of add/remove projects that received more than one comment. Add Projects: 22 – Swindell Rd from CR 542 to SR 546
Remove Projects: None
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QUESTION 5: Overall, how would you rate the transportation system in Polk County? The graph below represents the 124 comments we received for this question. 65 60 55 50
Number of Responses
45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Poor
Average
Good
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Excellent
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QUESTION 6: If current transportation funding sources (federal, state, and local gas taxes) are not enough to meet future transportation needs, how should projects be funded in Polk County? 75 70 65 60 55
Number of Responses
50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Increase sales tax
Increase gas tax
Increase vehicle registration fees
Higher vehicle registration fees based on vehicle weight and size
Impact fees on new development
Don't increase taxes or fees and let conditions get worse
We received 32 other comments/suggestions for this question. Other: Ask for material donations Have percentage of automobile inspection go towards roads Larger portion of General Revenues towards transportation Local people fund shelters New mobility fee – user fee for facility use Spread out the costs
Toll roads on some projects Be responsible Budget more wisely Do not increase taxes Do not increase registration fees Do not waste money No new registration fees No new taxes
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QUESTION 7: Which of the following are the best ways to keep you informed about this process? 85 80 75 70 65 60
Number of Responses
55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Newspaper
Newsletter
Website
Email Notices
Public Meetings
We received 8 other comments/suggestions for this question. Other: Bay News 9 Water bill listing Local TV news Phone calls Television
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QUESTION 8: What other transportation improvements (i.e. roadway, transit or bicycle/pedestrian) should be addressed in the 2035 Mobility Vision Plan? We received 59 comments for this question. The TPO broke the comments into the following seven categories: Bike and Trail, General, Road and Intersection, Sidewalk, and Transit. Bicycle and Trail: • Need more. • Include bike facilities in all road improvements. • Ewell Road and Pipkin Road need additional lanes for bikes. • We should finish the existing trails before we start new ones. General: • Looks like an excellent plan. • Let public and elected officials know of the gap between funding and needs of projects • An emphasis should be put towards greater funding for maintenance of existing transit and roadway facilities. • Great job staff. A focus on sustainability. • Funding should be diverted to roadway projects only. • Should have listed the unfunded roads in the tables. • Keep up the good work. • Repairs and prioritized existing projects should be completed before new projects are started. • This is an ambitious list of projects and hope all could be funded. • Road projects should come before trail projects. • No more taxes. • Spend tax payers money more wisely. • Increase tourists tax to pay for new roads and transit. • A lot of accidents at Patterson Road and Orchid Drive; concerned over safety of children going to the school at the corner. Road and Intersection: • Don’t add roads based on potential development in rural areas. • Focus funds to improve roads within core of developed areas. • Need toll road from Polk County at US 27 and I-5 to Florida Turnpike via Poinciana Area. • Widen SR 37 to 6 lanes south of Alamo to School House. • Change name of Home run Blvd. Connector to Heller Brothers Blvd. from Homerun Blvd. to Ernie Caldwell Blvd. to US 27. • Ewell Road and Pipkin Road need additional lanes. • Don’t put a toll road through my family’s property.
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• • • •
People living in County are being discriminated against and not afforded equal protection under constitution when new roads (Central Polk Parkway) are planned in these areas because there are less people per acre. Make Avatar build the roadway for Poinciana residents out of their development instead of building Central Polk Parkway. Why is CR 54 at US 27 on the list, it was just improved? The overpass at US 27 and Ernie Caldwell Blvd. is unnecessary and very costly project.
Sidewalk: • SR 60 from SR 17 to 11th Street is heavily traveled by school children. • Need more. • Put improvements on hold until economy improves. • Overlook Drive sidewalks recently installed are unsafe because where they require you to cross the street at a non intersection. • Sidewalks shall be on both sides of the road. • The County needs more sidewalks to encourage walking. Transit: • Focus funds to improve alternate transportation corridors. • Need more mass transit with higher frequencies in most urban areas • Don’t agree with proposed high speed rail stop location in Polk City. • Depending on location of high speed rail stop location you need to include transit, bike, and pedestrian access to it. • Public transportation should be number one priority. • Bus service should be more frequent. • Use smaller buses with in city areas. • Cross bus routes to allow for transfers. • Need more bus routes. • Stop spending money on transit, so we can balance a budget. • Need more rail line for commuter traffic between towns in Polk County. • Need more direct bus routes from city to city. • You should look at Toronto, Canada and model your transit system after that system. • Need more diversity in transit system: bus, rail, trolley. • The existing mass transit system leaves a lot to be desired. Ridership will increase in years to come and needs will be greater. • More public transportation is needed in southeast Winter Haven to accommodate Legoland tourist traffic. • If mass transit reduces vehicle traffic, do the roads need to be widen or just maintained. • Need pull off lanes for buses. • Bus stops should include a cover. • Extend hours and frequency of bus routes. • Need Sunrail in Poinciana.
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