TALLAHASSEE – Florida's controversial "toll roads to nowhere" project was officially repealed this week, when Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 100 into law, effectively canceling out developer-pushed legislation he signed in 2019.
The Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (M-CORES) program included three proposed toll roads. That legislation had been a top priority of then-Senate President Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton).
The new law cancels out plans for the Heartland Parkway, a toll road that was to run from Polk County south to Collier County. It also undoes plans to extend the Florida Turnpike.
The repeal bill does, however, leave in place plans to extend the Suncoast Parkway to the Georgia-Florida state line.
More than $130 million that had been earmarked for the projects will instead remain in a transportation trust, with the legislation directing the Florida Department of Transportation to focus resources on improvements to existing infrastructure and roadways.
The project, which would have had significant environmental consequences, was opposed by many environmental advocacy groups.
"We thank SB 100 sponsor Senator Gayle Harrell for drafting a bill that largely restores the planning process and its requirement to establish environmental and fiscal feasibility before highway construction begins," said 1000 Friends of Florida President Paul Owens. "We also thank Senator Randolph Bracy for making sure protections for the environment and vulnerable communities proposed by the M-CORES citizen task forces are included in SB 100.
"This is still a major highway construction bill, and we’ll be closely monitoring the projects it authorizes to protect the environment and prevent urban sprawl development," continued Paul. "But Florida is better off now that M-CORES is in the rear-view mirror.“
Comments
No comments on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.