Yesterday, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) unveiled a draft of its five-year infrastructure improvement plan. FDOT Spokesperson Ian Satter said they will prioritize safety when considering future projects.
“The top priorities, the safety projects, the things that will improve the people’s livelihoods, economic stability, as well as people working, be able to get to and from their homes and work and school,” Satter said.
The tentative work program attempts to find a balance between using taxpayer dollars appropriately while making sure they can complete projects communities need, across the region.
Some projects outlined Thursday will improve pedestrian traffic in Bay, Walton, and Gulf counties through the SunTrail program.
“We have some that are looking at Walton County. We also have one currently being studied in Bay County and Mexico Beach. So a SunTrail also provides the ability for non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians and runners to be able to have a space to safely move along some of these major corridors. So U.S. [Route] 98, for example, in Mexico Beach, we’re currently studying to put a SunTrail facility there which would allow people to walk and bike along that corridor without actually being on U.S. 98,” Satter said.
The five-year work program looks to fund each stage of a proposed project.
Other plans discussed included constructing the first new rest areas in Jackson County since Hurricane Michael. There are several resurfacing projects, including an expansion of East Avenue, from Port Panama City’s east terminal to U.S. 98.
Source: WMBB, MyPanHandle
