US Highway 27 is a major north-south controlled access roadway that plays an important role in regional mobility and the state economy. With connections throughout Florida and into other states, US 27 is a part of the state's Strategic Intermodal System (SIS). The SIS is a statewide network of high-priority transportation facilities, including the state's largest and most significant commercial airports, spaceport, deep water seaports, freight rail terminals, passenger rail and intercity bus terminals, rail corridors, waterways, and highways. In providing direct access between South and Central Florida regions, it also acts as a major truck route and connects with several other important SIS facilities in the state. US 27 also designated as an important evacuation route by Florida Division of Emergency Management connecting other major arterials in District 1. Improvements along US 27 will increase capacity, and efficiency, leading to improved evacuation and emergency response times.
US 27 serves as the main arterial through Highlands County connecting the Heartland region Florida including the six counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee to South Florida. The US 27 Corridor under evaluation in Highlands County is a divided facility with majority of facility running along urbanized areas of Highlands County including the cities of Sebring and Avon Park. The study area represents the vital corridor in the transportation network for the Sebring-Avon Park Urbanized Area in Highlands County and provides access to employment, residential neighborhoods, and recreational destinations, and services. The District 1 Regional Planning Model estimated population growth of 54% and employment growth of 62% for the district and 54% growth in population and 37% growth in employment for Highlands County. Aviation and its related industries have shown significant potential in recent years and are identified as continuing to have regional impact in the future. The Sebring Airport is expected to have major impact on trade and logistics, and employment, in the years to come as per LRTP.
Maintaining efficient access to key business, residential, and activity centers, and improving capacity that will provide reliable travel times along these roadways is crucial to economic development and vitality in the region. Additionally, ensuring safe and efficient operations along US 27 is critical given that the facility is on the SIS plan and is designated evacuation routes to be used during a disaster.
The need for this project is to evaluate and improve safety and mobility along US 27. Ensuring safe and efficient operations along US 27 is critical given that the major arterial is on the SIS and the Florida Division of Emergency Management has designated US 27 as evacuation routes to be used during a natural disaster.