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# Highlands County Feasibility Study Public Meeting September 17, 2024

FPID #: 449503-1

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## 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

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EVACUATION

ROUTE

Urban Areas 0 5 10 20 Miles



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## FEASIBILITY STUDY

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DISTRICT ONE

## Highlands County FEASIBILITY STUDY FPID: 449503-1

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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:

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Safety to identify high crash locations

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Traffic to evaluate capacity additions

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Freight

movement

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Alternative route for detours and evacuation

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Local plan review to ensure consistency

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## Highlands County Feasibility Study Findings

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POPULATION TRENDS

Highlands County is expected to see a 54% increase in population.

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SAFETY

12 miles of US 27 have crash rates above the statewide rate.

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FREIGHT

US 27 serves as a major freight corridor carrying up to 43% truck traffic.

EVACUATION ROUTE



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ROUTE DE TOUR

EVACUATION/DETOURS

Limited parallel facilities to US 27 exist. Potential 67-minute detour to the nearest alternative route. TRAFFIC CONGESTION



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Multiple segments of US 27 have more vehicles (up to 20% more) than can be accommodated.

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## 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

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## 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

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## 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

<div style="text-align: center;">DETOUR 1: SR 64 TO SR 66</div>



<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Additional Travel Time (mins)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>30</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Additional Distance (miles)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>30.7</td></tr></table>

## DETOUR 2: US 98 TO SR 70


<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Additional Travel Time (mins)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>60</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Additional Distance (miles)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>55.6</td></tr></table>

## DETOUR 3: SR 70 TO SR 31 to CR 74


<table border=1 style='margin: auto; word-wrap: break-word;'><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Additional Travel Time (mins)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>67</td></tr><tr><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>Additional Distance (miles)</td><td style='text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;'>58.9</td></tr></table>

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## FEASIBILITY STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS

DISTRICT ONE

Highlands County

FEASIBILITY STUDY

FPID: 449503-1

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SEPTEMBER 2024 DRAFT

PD&E Study

from SR 66

to US 98

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PD&E Study

from SR 70

to SR 66

Mobility Analysis

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## FEASIBILITY STUDY > RECOMMENDATIONS

## PD&E Study from SR 66 to US 98

## The need for the project is based on:

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LAND USE CHANGES

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TRAFFIC

CONGESTION

SAFETY

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## FEASIBILITY STUDY > RECOMMENDATIONS

## PD&E Study from SR 70 to SR 66

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The need for the project is based on:

NETWORK RESILIENCY

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EMERGENCY EVACUATION

FREIGHT MOBILITY

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## 祝 🌙 🎉

Identify operational improvements on US 27

Integrated adjacent project coordination

Setup for future change in character

## Mobility Analysis

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## Community Engagement

## September – 2024

Highlands County Feasibility Study Public Meeting:

• In Person – September 17^{th}

• Virtual – September 19^{th}

## November 2024 – May 2025

Visioning Workshops

• In Person & Virtual

• Four Locations: Two PD&Es & Two Mobility Analysis

Visioning Workshops

## Workshop Locations

Lake Wales

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Sebring

Wauchula

PD&E Study from

SR 66 to US 98

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Arcadia

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PD&E Study from

SR 70 to SR 66

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Mobility Analysis

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## Next Steps

## 目

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 – December 4, 2024

PD&E SR 66 to US 98 Visioning Workshop

☐ In-Person / Virtual – Early 2025 (Location and Dates: TBD)

Mobility Analysis Visioning Workshops

☐ In-Person / Virtual – Spring 2025 (Location and Dates: TBD)

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## For Project Information Contact:

David Long, Project Manager  
(813) 334-7056  
David.Long@dot.state.fl.us  
  
Project Website:  
https://www.swflroads.com/proj

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FDOT

## THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO DRIVING BUZZED

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Distracted driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone.