Community Forum #1 Priority Transportation Projects May 14, 2013 @ Polk State College, Winter Haven The Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) hosted a community forum to solicit public comments on transportation projects needed to improve safety and mobility in Polk County. The new Transportation Adviser Network was convened for the first time as part of this event. After a brief introduction, attendees participated in a table exercise in which they were asked to provide their individual suggestions on needed transportation projects. This was followed by a group discussion designed to build consensus around the most important projects. This report provides a record of the suggested projects including those identified as high priority projects. It also includes some notes related to these projects, e.g., information on projects already moving towards construction. This information received at this forum will help guide the TPO’s development of priority projects and future updates to the long range transportation plan. The participants provided
18
88 comments regarding 73 unique projects or concepts.
Intersection Projects
20
25
Road Projects
25
Public Transit Projects Bike/Pedestrian Projects
21 in-person participants 13 people viewed session via online stream 3 people submitted email comments
The following is a list of the suggested transportation projects. Key Projects in Bold Red = High Priority (#) = Corresponding project note on page 4
Transit Projects • High speed rail to access airports in Orlando and Tampa • Add bus stop at new Poinciana medical center • Add bus stop near Marigold Avenue • Add more bus stops that accomodate short trips • Keep right-of-way near available for future construction of high speed rail • Promote education and access for senior citizens • Shorter headway for bus routes
• Add bus shelters to all stops • Provide discounted or free bus passes for sudents at Ridge Career Center and Traviss Career Center • Add “kid friendly” seating with recognizable character branding • Add bus stops in front of labor solutions businesses • Offer discounted bus fare for job seekers • Begin bus routes earlier for day laborers
• Extend SunRail to connect with Polk County • Implement real-time website / app for Find My Route
Intersection Projects • Update and improve intersection at US 27 at SR 60 • Install audible signal at Avenue K and 1st St. South in Winter Haven (1) • Overpass at CR 544 and US 27 (2) • Overpass at CR 540 and US 27 (2) • Overpass at CR 542 and US 27 (2) • Update and improve intersection at US 17 and CR 546 in Haines City (2) • Update and improve • Grade separations at major intersection at SR 60 and US 98 intersections on US 27 (2) • Update and improve • Flatten out intersection at Lake intersection at Cypress Rd. and Arian Blvd. at 559 Powerline Rd. • Easier In/Out access for new • Optimize signal operation Poinciana medical center throughout Polk County
• Improve safety at intersection at US 98 and Griffin Rd. (3) • Create an “always green” lane on US 27 South • Add a flashing crosswalk signal at Bomber Rd. and US 17 (4)
Road Projects • Build toll road near Poinciana (5) • Build the Poinciana Parkway (5) • Create an alternate exit route from Cypress Parkway • Expand Johnson Ave. to 4 lanes from Haines City to Poinciana (6) • Expand the North-South portion of the Polk Parkway to 4 lanes (7) • Widen Cypress Parkway • Add turn lanes to Cypress Gardens Rd. • Continue to push Complete Streets features to accomodate all users • Expand US 27 N to Lake Coun- • Widen US 17-92 from Haines City to Kissimmee (10) ty to 6-lane divided highway (8) • Widen CR 557 from Lake Al• Lower speed limit on Coyote fred to I-4 (11) Rd. in Poinciana from 45 MPH • Improve traffic flow through to 30 or 35 MPH Haines City • Add collector roads along • Increase signage for trucks in US 27 (9) US 98 South • Expand Rifle Range Rd. to 4 • Construct better escape routes lanes all the way to SR 60
west from Poinciana in case of hurrican evacuation • Connect housing developments with road networks • Pot holes need to be addressed in more timely manner • Extend southbound and westbound ramps at SR 60 and US 27 (12)
Bike/Pedestrian Projects • Build more trails close to I-4 • Add bike lane and sidewalks to Bomber Rd. (13) • Add bike lane and sidewalks on Rifle Range Rd. from Eloise to SR 60 (14) • Add sidewalks near Eastside Elementary in Haines City (15) • Implement bicycle rentals or a bike swap program on Polk’s trail network • Add sidewalks in Highland City, around to April St. and Crews Lake Rd. • Improve safety of Fort Fraser Trail near Bartow Ford and
• • • • • • •
Bartow HOSPITAL Ped/bike access should be to new road construction and road improvement projects Bike/ped improvements in Jan Phyl Village Bike/ped improvements in Garden Grove Fill in sidewalk gaps throughout Polk County More funding for trails Coordinate with cities and FDOT to include trails when road resurfacing is done Add bike lanes on Marigold Parkway
• Add bike lanes on Cypress Parkway • Create more education and awareness around the issue of bike/ped safety • Add trails and bike lanes from Haines City to Poinciana • Add sidewalks/trails from US 17 to Oak Street in Haines City • Create trail bridge for Fort Fraser Trail over SR 60 in Bartow • Improve knowledge of Polk’s “Blue Ways” • Increase number of bike lanes and further distance them from vehicle traffic
Notes on some of the suggested transportation priorities 1. The TPO is committed to working with local governments and planners to address such improvements that consider the needs of all users. 2. There are several intersection projects along US 27 that have recently been completed and other improvement projects scheduled, but none that call for above grade intersections. 3. Preliminary engineering is scheduled to take place in 2015 to add lanes and reconstruct intersections on US 98 from Memorial Blvd. to Griffin Road; additional turn-only lanes were added to this intersection in 2012 4. This is already a signalized intersection with a pedestrian signal and crosswalk. 5. There is roughly one mile of the Parkway within Polk County’s jurisdiction, which is scheduled for construction later this year. Osceola County is responsible for the remainder of the project. 6. In the TPO’s LRTP this project is considered cost feasible for 2031-2035. Polk County would be the lead agency on it. 7. In the TPO’s LRTP construction from CR 546 to north of the eastern toll plaza is scheduled between 2021-2025. Florida Turnpike Enterprise programs this project. 8. The project is 9. The county has several projects planned for roadways that will parrallel US 27 and some phases of Ernie Caldwell Blvd. are already complete or will begin construction soon. 10. This project is partially funded for the preliminary phases, but does not have funding for the construction phase yet. In the TPO’s LRTP the preliminary phases are expected to occur between 2031-2035 11. This project is considered coast feasible for 2021-2025 in the TPO’s LRTP, meaning the TPO predicts funding to be available for it at that time. 12. This is listed in the TPO’s LRTP as an “unfunded need” at this time. 13. The TPO has identified this is as a need, but funding is not yet identified and right-ofway needs to be purchased. 14. A sidewalk project on Rifle Range Rd. from 10th St. to Bomber St. is scheduled for construction during the 2015-16 fiscal year. 15. This project is scheduled to be constructed during the 2015-16 fiscal year with funding provided by the Safe Routes to School program.