Proposed Expansion of Wekiva Parkway

[The Prez]

The following is a letter I received from Mighk Wilson at Metroplan
Orlando regarding the Northern Corridor expansion of the Beltway
across the Wekiva River Basin. Mighk has provided the information to
alert us bicyclists of the potential impact to access and thoroughfare
of the area to pedestrians and bicyclists. He has asked us to be
proactive to securing our interests in the roadway expansion. Please
read and participate as you see fit. The letter was initially sent to
Hal Downing, Keri Caffrey, and me. Mighk will provide additional
information which I will post to keep you updated and rally the troops
to the public hearings. In the meantime, please take pictures of the
route if you ride through the area to document that we do use the
route.

Thanks,
Tom
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Keri, Hal & Tom:

You may have heard some stories about the Wekiva Parkway project, a
limited access expressway being planned to go from I-4 near Sanford to
US 441 near Plymouth-Sorrento Road. As currently planned, the
project would eliminate portions of SR 46 from just east of the Wekiva
River to west of the CR 46A intersection in Lake Co. (just west of the
Rock Springs Reserve entrance). This means bicyclists will not be
able to travel between northern Seminole County and eastern Lake
County. The Expressway Authority and FDOT have planned to accommodate
the construction of trails through the corridor, but not to actually
provide those trails through the project.

It is conceivable (though admittedly not probable*), that the
expressway could be built and that bicyclists (and hikers, the Florida
National Scenic Trail crosses the Wekiva on SR 46) would be unable to
cross the river and the corridor for some years until trails are
constructed.

The Expressway Authority will be holding public hearings on the
project in September (dates and locations have not yet been
published). It is important they understand many cyclists use SR 46,
and have done so for many years. I suggest clubs/groups could
document their use very easily with cell phone cameras on regular
rides (and perhaps post them to a photo-sharing site), and should
attend one or more of the hearings to express concern about access.

While this is not expected to be a federally funded project, the
possibility of federal funding exists, and OOCEA has even gone through
the federal environmental planning process in the case that such
funding becomes available. If the project becomes "federalized," it
will fall under the US Code, which includes the following language:

"The Secretary shall not approve any project or take any regulatory
action that will sever an existing major nonmotorized route or
adversely affect the safety of nonmotorized traffic and light
motorcycles, unless a reasonable alternate route exists or is
established."

Considering that this project could eliminate cyclist and pedestrian
access from the corridor, FS 335.065 could also be invoked:
335.065 Bicycle and pedestrian ways along state roads and
transportation facilities.--

(1)(a) Bicycle and pedestrian ways shall be given full consideration
in the planning and development of transportation facilities,
including the incorporation of such ways into state, regional, and
local transportation plans and programs. Bicycle and pedestrian ways
shall be established in conjunction with the construction,
reconstruction, or other change of any state transportation facility,
and special emphasis shall be given to projects in or within 1 mile of
an urban area.

Local cyclists need to get involved now to ensure their access to this
corridor will be protected.

Mighk Wilson
Smart Growth Planner
METROPLAN ORLANDO
One Landmark Center; 315 East Robinson Street; Suite 355; Orlando,
Florida 32801
P: (407) 481-5672 Ext. 318
F: (407) 481-5680
Email: mwi...@metroplanorlando.com
www.metroplanorlando.com

[Reg]

For more information go to the Expressway Authority's page for this
project at;

http://www.oocea.com/Corporate/oursystem/SR429/WekivaParkway.aspx