Traffic issues related to Interstate 75 and County Road 470 were a focus of Tuesday night’s meeting of the Sumter County Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners learned that the state is seeking a grant for a study of I-75 congestion and also reviewed a report on proposed improvements to CR 470.
Commissioner Doug Gilpin raised concerns about comments in a report on the proposed I-75 interchange at County Road 514.
In a justification report prepared by the Florida Department of Transportation’s central office, a comment said that the need for the interchange is unclear.
“I think we need to make it clear that this is a major portion of our overall plan,” Gilpin said. “I just want to make sure we stay right on that.”
County Administrator Bradley Arnold said FDOT needs to understand that the Village of Fenney development along County Road 468 is moving ahead “faster than any other development in Florida” and that the interchange is a key component of the county’s traffic plan.
Projected traffic volumes for the interchange estimate 30,000 vehicles daily in 2025, 77,000 vehicles in 2045 and 85 percent of them will be trucks, many from the 2,800-acre Monarch Ranch industrial park, which is planned near the interstate. CR 514 will connect with County Road 468 in Coleman and with CR 470 via U.S. 301.
The I-75 congestion study will center on the 75-mile corridor between Wildwood and Alachua. It will help manage congestion through traffic signal control and other technology, provide real-time traveler information, collect freight data from truck weigh stations, establish ride-sharing partnerships with the University of Florida and deploy grade crossing notification systems for three railroad crossings along the corridor.
Proposed improvements for CR 470 include widening to four lanes, a twin bridge over the Florida Turnpike and improving the offset intersection with U.S. 301.
In other business, commissioners:
· Received a proposed $118,103 budget for the Village of Fenney community development district in 2017. The money will come through a donation from the developer.
· Approved an outdoor car show parade on Sunday evening that will include closing County Road 235 for several hours. The event is part of the Royal community’s annual Father’s Day homecoming celebration. Royal is west of U.S. 301 along County Road 462 in Wildwood.
