Introduction
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, part of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is conducting a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study for the widening of Florida’s Turnpike Mainline (SR 91) from north of SR 60 to south of Clay Whaley Road, in Osceola County.
The PD&E Study is the second phase of the FDOT project development process. Each PD&E Study requires the combined efforts of professional engineers, planners and scientists, who collect and analyze project-related information to determine social, economic, physical and environmental impacts. Afterward, they develop the best solution for a community’s transportation needs.
Click here to see the PD&E Process Video
Noise Studies will be performed as part of this PD&E study. During the Design Phase, final noise wall locations will be determined.
Project Background
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise has identified the need to widen this portion of Florida’s Turnpike Mainline (SR 91) to add capacity that will accommodate future traffic volumes of freight and passenger vehicles linked to the projected growth in population and industry. Additionally, Florida’s Turnpike Mainline is a designated emergency evacuation route by the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
The PD&E Study involves evaluating alternatives for widening Florida’s Turnpike Mainline (SR 91) from north of SR 60 to south of Clay Whaley Road (Mile Post 193-238.5) in Osceola County, Florida. Possible future interchange access locations are also included as part of this study. The Turnpike Mainline within the project area is currently a four-lane (two lanes in each direction) limited-access toll facility. The PD&E Study will evaluate and prepare project cost for:
- Widening the Turnpike Mainline to three general toll lanes in each direction, from north of SR 60 to the planned Southport Connector Expressway
- Widening the Turnpike to four general toll lanes in each direction, from the planned Southport Connector Expressway to south of Clay Whaley Road
- Recommendations for potential phased implementation
- Prepare alternatives for consideration of up to two new interchanges
- No build alternative
The proposed corridor improvements will bring additional benefits such as:
- Increasing capacity
- Meeting existing and future travel demands
- Improving facility operations
- Enhancing roadside safety features
Study Area
The project limits are along Florida’s Turnpike Mainline (SR 91) from north of SR 60 (Yeehaw Junction – Mile Post 193) to south of Clay Whaley Road (St. Cloud – Mile Post 238.5) in Osceola County, Florida. The total project length is approximately 45.5 miles.
Environment
This PD&E study will examine existing environmental conditions across the Social, Cultural, Natural and Physical Environments so that we can analyze the potential impacts of various improvement alternatives. The project area ranges from agricultural and conservation lands to the south and more populated areas to the north, including potential future developments. Cultural resource surveys have not covered the entire project area and additional surveys will be conducted. There are multiple recorded archaeological sites and resource groups along the corridor that require documentation and evaluation in a Cultural Resources Assessment Survey Report. Within the Natural Environment, there is potential involvement of multiple protected species and their habitats, wetlands, and surface waters. The project crosses the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, crosses two water management districts (WMD) (St. John’s River WMD and South Florida WMD), spans multiple drainage basins, and is adjacent to the C-34 Canal. There are sensitive noise receptors on the northern part of the corridor due to the development occurring in the area. Potential contaminated sites will be investigated during the study, particularly near agricultural areas.
A State Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) will be prepared for this project.
Innovation
The Enterprise is at the forefront of planning for a safer, more efficient, and technologically advanced transportation system for the future. The Enterprise continually seeks opportunities to integrate emerging transportation technologies that can help reduce congestion, create mobility choices, minimize environmental impacts, and improve safety. The Enterprise also recognizes that connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies hold unprecedented opportunities for enhancing mobility and increasing safety on our roadways.
If you have an idea for a technology or innovation that you would like to be considered as part of this study, please reach out to one of the contacts in the Stay Connected section below.
Schedule
Schedule is subject to change.
Documents
- Public Kickoff Newsletter
- Newsletter #1 (English)
- Newsletter #1 (Spanish)
Stay Connected
Project inquires, comments, innovation/technology ideas, or requests to be added to the project mailing list, can be mailed or emailed to:
JASON CHRISTOPHER, P.E, ENV SP
Project Manager
Consultant to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Rax Jung, Ph.D., P.E.
Project Development Engineer
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, Public Information Office using the contact information below:
DANIEL JIMENEZ
Community Outreach Specialist
Consultant to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Consultant to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
If you choose to provide feedback on this site or in an email, such information is a public record under Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Laws and available for public inspection upon demand. Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status.
If you need special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or require translation services (free of charge), please contact the Project Manager using the contact information listed on this page. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or 955-8770 (voice).
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by the Florida Department of Transportation pursuant to 23 United States Code Section 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 14, 2016 and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and FDOT.