Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2017-482 the title of which is as follows: (Commissioner Bogen)
 
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S PLAN TO EXPAND A 3.5 MILE SEGMENT OF THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE/STATE ROAD 91 FROM ATLANTIC BOULEVARD TO WILES ROAD TO ADD FOUR NEW EXPRESS LANES; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ACTION:  (T-12:22 PM)  Approved, as amended, directing the County Attorney's Office to amend the first sentence of the Resolution, Section 1, Page 2, as discussed by the Board surrounding a new environmental study being performed, including modification to construction and location of gas pipes, as well as direction to the County Attorney's Office to forward information to Florida Department of Transportation and other appropriate entities. (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE:  9-0.

Action of the Board of County Commissioners is required to adopt Resolutions.

Enables the adoption of the above Resolution expressing opposition to the referenced project.

The Florida Department of Transportation ("FDOT") intends to widen an approximately 3.5 mile segment of the Florida Turnpike/State Road 91 from Atlantic Boulevard to Wiles Road to increase the number of travel lanes from six lanes to ten lanes for the primary purpose of adding four new express lanes to this short segment. FDOT has indicated that this project will commence during the current State Fiscal Year and, according to the current FDOT schedule, construction will not be completed until Fiscal Year 2021.

The intrusion into the neighboring communities caused by this expansion will be entirely to the west and will therefore unequally impact the neighboring communities. In many areas, the sound barrier wall will be only five feet from the western community's property line. These western neighborhoods will be significantly adversely affected by the expansion, including by suffering dramatically increased noise, air pollution, traffic congestion, and physical encroachment into the communities as required to support four additional express lanes and the requisite infrastructure.
 
FDOT has not conducted an appropriate project development and environmental study of the impact of this planned project. The most recent environmental study was conducted more than a decade ago in 2006, and therefore does not take into consideration the significant development in the area and the increased utilization of the Turnpike.