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Colonial Parkway PD&E Study (FPID 440314-1)

About The Project Environment Innovation Schedule Documents Stay Connected
Anil Sharma, P.E.
Project Manager for
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (HNTB)
PO Box 613069
Ocoee, FL 34761-3069
Anil.Sharma@dot.state.fl.us
407.264.3041


Rax Jung, Ph.D., P.E.
Project Development Engineer
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
P.O. Box 613069
Ocoee, FL 34761-3069
Rax.Jung@dot.state.fl.us
407.264.3870

Public Hearing


September 26, 2019
(Click box for additional meeting information)

The Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is conducting the Colonial Parkway (SR 50) Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate alternatives that would:

  • reduce congestion,
  • create mobility choices,
  • improve safety,
  • enhance evacuation routes, and
  • avoid and minimize environmental impacts.

We are also identifying potential solutions that consider emerging transportation technologies.

This Colonial Parkway PD&E Study is focused on solutions that maximize the use of the State Road 50 corridor to improve east-west mobility for the region and the local community by including both additional local State Road 50 travel lanes (already planned) and new Colonial Parkway toll lanes.

During the PD&E Study, multiple opportunities for input from the community will be scheduled. The No-Build Alternative will also be analyzed during the PD&E Study. The study corridor extends along SR 50 from Woodbury Road to SR 520 – shown in the Study Area Details with Map.

Study Background

The proposed Colonial Parkway corridor improvements will bring many additional benefits to the community such as: reduced congestion; enhanced mobility options for longer trips; multimodal enhancements such as continuous sidewalks, bike lanes and opportunities for transit connections; improved vehicle, pedestrian and bicyclist safety; and improved evacuation and emergency response times. This can be accomplished with a focus on avoiding and minimizing environmental impacts and implementing aesthetic design elements like landscaping and lighting.The proposed Colonial Parkway corridor improvements will bring many additional benefits to the community such as:

  • reduced congestion;
  • enhanced mobility options for longer trips;
  • multimodal enhancements such as continuous sidewalks, bike lanes and opportunities for transit connections;
  • improved vehicle, pedestrian and bicyclist safety; and
  • improved evacuation and emergency response times.

This can be accomplished with a focus on avoiding and minimizing environmental impacts and implementing aesthetic design elements like landscaping and lighting.

The various studies that have been conducted along Colonial Parkway agree that capacity improvements are needed to address existing congestion and future traffic demand. The latest projections indicate that SR 50 will be over-capacity even with a six-lane widening by 2025.

This Turnpike Colonial Parkway PD&E Study is a new effort apart from work conducted by other agencies previously.

This PD&E Study will evaluate capacity improvements that will include:

  • new local travel lanes on SR 50, and
  • new limited access (toll) lanes.

The Turnpike has also identified the following key considerations:

  • protection of the Econ River,
  • minimization of impacts to environmental resources,
  • identification of community context sensitive solutions,
  • provision of infrastructure for emerging technology, and
  • enhancement of this emergency evacuation route.

Study Area Map

Project Description

The proposed Colonial Parkway (SR 50) facility improvements would extend from SR 408, at its current eastern terminus, to SR 520 along the SR 50 corridor providing added capacity along with a limited access, tolled east-west corridor to serve through trips and relieve congestion along existing roadways. This PD&E Study will include alternatives to widen SR 50 and introduce general toll lanes.

Environment

The natural environment is a critical foundation of the region’s economy and quality of life.

Access to high-quality rivers, parks, forests, and preserves is an important draw for residents and visitors.

The study area is located within the Econlockhatchee River Basin, locally known as the "Econ River". The Outstanding Florida Water, makes it a connecting point for important and fragile natural systems and wildlife corridors.

FDOT will work collaboratively with its environmental partners to ensure that as new transportation corridors are considered, they are located in places that would not sever important connections in natural systems, or that they are designed to allow wildlife to safely pass.

Innovation

Using Emerging Technology to Improve Quality of Life

The future of transportation is already here. Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is leading the region by planning for a safer, more efficient, and more technologically advanced corridor for the future. Emerging transportation technologies will be considered in the Colonial Parkway PD&E Study to address the transportation goals and needs along the SR 50 corridor.

The Colonial Parkway PD&E Study will identify corridor improvements that will:

  • reduce congestion,
  • create mobility choices,
  • improve safety, and
  • enhance evacuation routes.

The study is also identifying potential solutions that embrace emerging transportation technologies. As we look to integrate all these project goals into the overall design, a key element of the Study will be consideration for new, emerging transportation technologies. There are several technologies that can be accommodated in a new corridor to help improve safety, create efficiency, and minimize environmental impacts.

Do you have an idea for a technology to be considered as part of this study? Click here and submit your idea.

Click here to see the Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) Technology Video

Click to enlarge image

Public Hearing


September 26, 2019
(Click box for additional meeting information)

Schedule

Please note schedule is subject to change.

Click to enlarge schedule

The Colonial Parkway PD&E Study is expected to last approximately 18 months during which time the study team will analyze multiple alternatives. Project alternatives, potential alignment information and the results of the detailed evaluation will be communicated to interested persons at future public information meetings.

Over the next several months, project activities will include engineering analysis, environmental analysis, and public outreach. Opportunities for public input will be provided throughout the study. Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise encourages the public to remain involved by providing comments, asking questions, and offering suggestions. The next public meeting will be a Public Hearing, tentatively scheduled for fall, 2019. The purpose of the Public Hearing is to present the recommended alternative and receive public comments.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. If you need special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or require translation services (free of charge), please contact the Project Manager using the contact information listed on this website (left) or use the form in the Stay Connected section, at least seven days (7) before the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or 955-8770 (voice).

Documents

Public Hearing - September 2019

Public Information Meeting - May 2018

Public Kick-off Meeting - November 2017

Videos

Newsletters

May 2018 November 2017

Stay Connected

Visit WikiMap

Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is using a new tool (also known as “WikiMapping”) that creates a map where citizens can provides ideas and comments to stay connected during the Colonial Parkway PD&E Study.
  • When you follow the WikiMap link on your smartphone or computer, you will be taken to a website with a map of the study area.
  • You may choose to enter your email address or use the tool anonymously.
  • Choose “Continue to Map” to view an aerial or a street map.
  • Places of local interest are shown on the map.
  • Along the top, there are three tools – "Contact”, "Instructions" and “Create Your Comments Here.”
  • To add a note to the map with an idea, choose the “Create Your Comments Here” and a menu will pop up so that you may categorize your idea.
  • Then, you place the icon on the map and add a few words to summarize your idea.
  • That’s it! Your ideas will be shared with the project team right where you placed the dot on the map.

Comments




For information in Spanish, please contact: (Para información en español por favor contacte:)

Henry Pinzon
(407) 264-3802
Henry.Pinzon@dot.state.fl.us

Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, Public Information Office using the contact information below:

Stephanie Eisenberg
Community Outreach Specialist for
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (WSP USA) PO Box 613069
Ocoee, FL 34761
(407) 264-3064
Stephanie.Eisenberg@dot.state.fl.us

If you choose to provide feedback on this site or in an email, such information is a public record under Florida's Government in the Sunshine Laws and available for public inspection upon demand.

If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, please do not submit your email address here. Instead, contact our office by phone or in writing for further assistance.

Pursuant to Section 119.011 (11), Florida Statutes, all electronic communications made or received by Florida's Department of Transportation, including its officers, employees and agents, are public records. Unless exempted under Section 119.07 (6), Florida Statutes or another statute, all public records may be inspected and copied by any person desiring to do so under the supervision of the custodian of the public records.