The Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise appreciates your interest in this project. Please use the navigation menu to view public hearing videos and display boards. Clicking on the graphic will enlarge the view. The display boards are available for download on the main project website under the Documents section. If you wish to submit comments, please use the comment form below.
The Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, welcomes you to the Public Hearing for the Suncoast Parkway 2 (SR 589), Phase 2 Design project from SR 44 to CR 486, financial project identification number 442764-1.
To navigate through the information, click a menu link on the left side of the screen.
This video will provide helpful information about the project. It begins by discussing the three participation options for the December 8, 2020 Public Hearing, then provides a project overview and explains how you can get involved.
The Department encourages and welcomes your participation. Thank You.
The public hearing will be available virtually (online), via telephone and in-person. You may participate remotely via a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a broadband connection by using a free version of the GoToWebinar online meeting application.
Webinar: Attendees will need to register prior to December 8, 2020 by clicking here. The webinar opens at 5:45 p.m. with a formal presentation at 6:00 p.m., followed by a public comment period.
By phone: In listen-only mode attendees may dial 1-562-247-8422 and enter audio access code 788-095-786.
In-person: Citrus County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 3600 S. Florida Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450. Doors at the Citrus County Fairgrounds Auditorium will open at 5:30 p.m. All hearing attendees will be able to watch the live-streamed formal presentation.
The purpose of the public hearing is to share information with the public about the preferred alternative, the proposed new interchange at CR 486 and the minor roadway alignment modifications between SR 44 and CR 486.
The hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the preferred alternative for the project.
Every FDOT project goes through several project phases. Together, these phases are called “The Project Development Process”.
Currently, for this project we are in the Design and Re-evaluation phase (indicated by the red arrow).
During the project’s Planning phase, FDOT and local governments conducted ongoing long-range transportation planning to identify and prioritize individual projects. During the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study, numerous alternatives and their potential social and environmental effects were examined.
During the Design and Re-evaluation phase, detailed construction plans are prepared. The Right of Way Acquisition phase is when additional property needed for construction is purchased.
The Suncoast Parkway 2, Phase 2 – Design project schedule is tentative and subject to change. The final design phase began in January 2019. Public input received at the Public Meeting held on January 23, 2020 has been reviewed. Design updates have been incorporated into the plans where feasible. Final plans are anticipated to be completed by fall 2022, and construction is anticipated to begin in late 2022.
The Suncoast Parkway 2 is a planned four-lane tolled roadway that will extend 26 miles from US 98 in Hernando County to US 19 in Citrus County.
The Suncoast Parkway 2, is divided in three (3) phases. Phase 1 is currently under construction from US 98 to SR 44 in Lecanto.
Phase 2 will extend from SR 44 to CR 486, a distance of approximately three miles. This phase will complete the interchange at SR 44 and construct an interchange at CR 486.
Phase 3, from CR 486 to US 19, is not currently funded. All work on this phase is currently on hold.
The proposed typical section will provide four, 12-foot wide travel lanes, two in each direction, with 8-foot wide paved shoulders on the inside, 12-foot wide shoulders on the outside, and a grass median. The proposed limited access right of way for the road will be 300 feet in width. A 12-foot wide multi-use trail will also be constructed along the west side of the Suncoast Parkway. The right of way for the multi-use trail will be 50 feet wide. Stormwater facilities will be constructed along both sides of the roadway.
The preferred alternative will extend Suncoast Parkway 2 (SR 589) over SR 44, and continue onto existing Knoll Road and CR 486.
The project will complete the SR 44 diamond interchange
The preferred alternative provides a northbound off-ramp to CR 486 and a southbound on-ramp which bridges over the new Suncoast Parkway 2 travel lanes.
Existing Knoll Road will be realigned to intersect with CR 486 opposite of Pine Ridge Boulevard.
Local roads will be modified as needed to maintain access to area properties.
This legend is shown in the preferred alternative slides for ease of reference. The purpose of the legend is to assist in understanding the colors and symbols on the following slides which illustrate the preferred alternative. For example, the color orange is used to represent the proposed Suncoast Parkway 2 roadway that will be constructed as part of this project. The north arrow shown here pointing down and to the right, is shown on each of the following slides, maintaining this same orientation throughout.
The graphic shows the preferred alternative’s alignment and interchange configurations relative to the existing local roads, properties, and previously approved alignment. The previously approved alignment was developed as part of the State Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) Re-evaluation approved in 2010. The legend in the upper left corner provides a visual explanation of the symbols and lines used on the plan. This graphic depicts the preferred alternative which is available to download on the project website at www.Suncoast2.com under the documents section.
The diamond interchange at SR 44 will be completed with this project. Mainline Suncoast Parkway 2 will bridge over SR 44, with signalized northbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp. The proposed 12’ wide multi-use trail will connect to Phase 1 making use of the proposed signalized intersection.
The preferred alternative provides a northbound off-ramp to CR 486 and a southbound on-ramp which bridges over the new Suncoast Parkway 2 travel lanes. This proposed interchange is located at existing Knoll Road which will be realigned. There will be no direct connection between Suncoast Parkway 2 and Pine Ridge Estates.
The recommended interchange alternatives requires Knoll Road be realigned. A cul-de-sac will be constructed south of the proposed Suncoast Parkway 2, and the realignment will connect to CR 486 across from W. Pine Ridge Boulevard. The extension of Suncoast Parkway 2 (Phase 3) is currently on hold.
The projected traffic conditions for the 2050 design year are shown here. A projected Level of service (LOS) and anticipated delay in seconds per vehicle is provided at each of the proposed signalized intersections to be constructed as part of this project. Level of service is a term used to qualitatively describe the operating conditions of a roadway based on factors such as speed, travel time, maneuverability, delay, and safety. It is identified using letters A through F, with A being the best (free flow) and F being the worst (forced flow or breakdown).
Draft documents will be made available to review before and after the Public Hearing. These documents can be reviewed digitally at the project website Suncoast2.com, or in person at the Central Ridge Library and the Coastal region library.
Individuals who register online can provide written comments at the time of registration
Sign-up online to provide verbal comments
Fill out a comment form at the in-person venue
Complete speaker request card to provide verbal comments at the in-person venue
Email your comments to:
Francisco Cardona, PE, PTOE, Project Manager for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (HNTB)
Francisco.Cardona@dot.state.fl.us
All comments received or postmarked by December 28, 2020 will become part of the official public record for this Public Hearing.
