← 07-Highlands_County_Feasability_Study_Public_Meeting_PPT_17_SEP_24_FINAL.pdf
Rebuilt HTML โ PaddleOCR-VL (Baidu)
Content placed at each item's bbox to mirror the original PDF layout (font sizes are estimated). overlay ยท view JSON
Page 1
Download HTML
Highlands County Feasibility Study
Public Meeting September 17, 2024
FPID #: 449503-1
Page 2
Download HTML
WHY A HIGHLANDS COUNTY FEASIBILITY STUDY
Regional Growth
Centrally located between major metropolitan areas
Proactively planning to accommodate future growth
Safety and Mobility Challenges
Increased truck traffic
Conflicts with pedestrians/bicycles
Limited evacuation and detour routes
Page 3
Download HTML
FEASIBILITY STUDY
DISTRICT ONE
Highlands County
FEASIBILITY STUDY
FPID: 449503-1
SEPTEMBER 2024 DRAFT
Scope:
US 27 from CR 17 to SR 17 in Highlands County
Assess need for future improvements within Highlands County with a focus on:
Safety to identify high crash locations
Traffic to evaluate capacity additions
Freight
movement
Alternative route for detours and evacuation
Local plan review to ensure consistency
Page 4
Download HTML
Highlands County Feasibility Study Findings
POPULATION TRENDS
Highlands County is expected to see a 54% increase in population.
SAFETY FREIGHT
EVACUATION/DETOURS
12 miles of US 27 have crash rates above the statewide rate.
US 27 serves as a major freight corridor carrying up to 43% truck traffic.
EVACUATION ROUTE
Limited parallel facilities to US 27 exist. Potential 67-minute detour to the nearest alternative route. TRAFFIC CONGESTION
TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Multiple segments of US 27 have more vehicles (up to 20% more) than can be accommodated.
Page 5
Download HTML
FUTURE YEAR BUILD OUT CONSIDERATIONS
Portions of US 27 will be at or near capacity in 2045
Increased truck traffic
Adding lanes to US 27 will not fix the problem:
New development will erode capacity initially gained from additional lanes
Impacts up to 304 parcels
Estimated project cost: $120 million
Page 6
Download HTML
SAFETY
Most crashes are in urbanized areas (Sebring and Avon Park)
The fatal crash percentage is four times the national average
Lack of continuous bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure identified as a contributing factor
Projected crashes with an additional lane:
TOTAL CRASHES DOWN
WRONG-WAY CRASHES UP
PEDESTRIAN CRASHES UP
Page 7
Download HTML
EVACUATION AND DETOURS
Regional transportation network does not have the capacity to handle evacuation traffic
Lengthy detours if portions of US 27 are closed
DETOUR AND EVACUATION ROUTES
DETOUR 1: SR 64 TO SR 66
Additional Travel Time (mins) 30
Additional Distance (miles) 30.7
DETOUR 2: US 98 TO SR 70
Additional Travel Time (mins) 60
Additional Distance (miles) 55.6
DETOUR 3: SR 70 TO SR 31 to CR 74
Additional Travel Time (mins) 67
Additional Distance (miles) 58.9
Page 8
Download HTML
FEASIBILITY STUDY
RECOMMENDATIONS
SEPTEMBER 2024 DRAFT
Page 9
Download HTML
FEASIBILITY STUDY > RECOMMENDATIONS
The need for the project is based on:
LAND USE CHANGES
TRAFFIC
CONGESTION
SAFETY
PD&E Study from SR 66 to US 98
Page 10
Download HTML
FEASIBILITY STUDY > RECOMMENDATIONS
The need for the project is based on:
NETWORK RESILIENCY
EMERGENCY EVACUATION
FREIGHT MOBILITY
PD&E Study from SR 70 to SR 66
Page 11
Download HTML
FEASIBILITY STUDY > RECOMMENDATIONS
็ฅ ๐ ๐
Identify operational improvements on US 27
Integrated adjacent project coordination
Setup for future change in character
Mobility Analysis
Page 12
Download HTML
Community Engagement
September โ 2024
Highlands County Feasibility Study Public Meeting:
In Person โ September 17^{th}
Virtual โ September 19^{th}
November 2024 โ May 2025
PD&E Study from
SR 66 to US 98
Visioning Workshops
In Person & Virtual
Four Locations: Two PD&Es & Two Mobility Analysis
Visioning Workshops
PD&E Study from
SR 70 to SR 66
Workshop Locations
Lake Wales
Sebring
Wauchula
Arcadia
Mobility Analysis
Page 13
Download HTML
Next Steps
PD&E SR 70 to SR 66 Visioning Workshop
In-Person - November 19, 2024
Turner Agri-Civic Center, 2250 NE Roan St, Arcadia, FL 34266
Virtual Self-Guided - November 20 โ December 4, 2024
PD&E SR 66 to US 98 Visioning Workshop
โ In-Person / Virtual โ Early 2025 (Location and Dates: TBD)
Mobility Analysis Visioning Workshops
โ In-Person / Virtual โ Spring 2025 (Location and Dates: TBD)
Page 14
Download HTML
For Project Information Contact:
David Long, Project Manager
(813) 334-7056
David.Long@dot.state.fl.us
Project Website:
https://www.swflroads.com/proj
Page 15
Download HTML