Presentation for:

Agency Project Advisory Group (APAG) Meeting#3

December 9, 2015

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I-4 Poinciana Parkway ConnectorProject Development and Environment (PD&E) Study

Project Number: 433693-2-22-01ETDM Number: 13957

Today’s Agenda

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• Welcome and Introductions• Activities since last APAG MeetingPublic Involvement and agency coordinationAlternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Report

• Corridors Recommended for further evaluation in the PD&E

• Next Steps• Questions / Comments

Purpose of the Agency Project Advisory Group (APAG)

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• Consists of a Diverse Group of Project Stakeholders Regulatory Agencies Local Government Environmental Community / Citizens

• Helps to identify issues / opportunities early in the study process

• Assists in the development of concepts • Opportunity for input on corridor refinements and

additional corridors that should be evaluated

Recap of Project Activities

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• ETAT Webinar (August 21, 2013)• ETDM Programming Screen #13957 (September – November

2013)• APAG#1 (October 30, 2013)• Kickoff Public Meetings (Purpose and Need) (December 2013)• USFWS and USACE coordination (April 23, 2014)• ETAT Review of Methodology Memorandum (MM) for Alternative

Corridor Evaluation (ACE) (June to July 2014)• FWC coordination (November 4, 2013)• APAG#2 (December 10, 2014)• Polk TPO (May 2015)• Corridor Public Meeting (June 2, 2015) • USFWS and USACE coordination (August 2015)• ETAT Review of Draft ACE Report

(30 days - November 23, 2015 to December 22, 2015)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC), Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)

Osceola County Expressway AuthorityOCX Master Plan

FDOT DISTRICT FIVE

NortheastConnector Expwy

Southport Connector

I-4 Poinciana Parkway Connector

Osceola Pkwy Extension

PoincianaParkway

Cypress Parkway

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I-4 Poinciana Parkway Connector Study Area

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• Osceola and Polk Counties

• FDOT Districts 1 and 5• MetroPlan Orlando’s

2040 Long Range Transportation Plan

• Polk TPO• Other related studies

Poin

cian

a Bl

vd

Poinciana Parkway

Extension of ErnieCaldwell Blvd

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I-4 Poinciana Parkway Connector Study Area

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• Osceola and Polk Counties

• FDOT Districts 1 and 5• MetroPlan Orlando’s

2040 Long Range Transportation Plan

• Polk TPO• Other related studies

Poin

cian

a Bl

vd

I-4 BTU StudyWith Managed

Lanes

Poinciana Parkway

Central Polk Parkway

SouthportConnector

PD&E Study

Cypress Parkway

Extension of ErnieCaldwell Blvd

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Project Need

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Poinciana

Under Construction

The purpose of the project is to:

Enhance roadway connection from I-4 to Poinciana Pkwy

Improve overall traffic operations

Expand regional system linkage

Other objectives of the project include:

Support economic development

Consistency with local and regional plans

Enhance evacuation

Study Process

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Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE)

Public Meeting #1December 10 &12, 2013

Public Meeting #3

Start StudyJuly 2013

Purpose and Need

Alternatives

Public Meeting #2June 2, 2015

Corridors

Draft Environmental Document

Final Environmental Document

Public HearingAgency / Public

Review & Comment

PD&E Study

Alternative Corridor Evaluation

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• Various data collected • Initial traffic forecasts• Six project corridors developed• Two Public Meetings –

December 2013 and June 2014• Two Agency Project Advisory

Group meetings – December 2013 and December 2014

• Small group, stakeholder and agency meetings

• Corridor evaluation and recommendations

Data collection

Identify corridor constraints

Develop potential corridors

Receive public input

Identify viable corridors for further analysis

FUTURETRANSIT

Engineering Considerations

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• Typical Section Options Consistent with OCX Master Plan typical

section width Proposed 4 lanes are expandable to 6 lanes

• Design Speed (70 mph)• Corridor width 425 feet

• Facility Type Controlled Access Limited Access Toll Facility

• Design Criteria• Access Management• Interchanges

400’ Typical Section from OCX Master Plan

Corridors Evaluated

1. I-4/World Drive 2. I-4/SR 4293. I-4/CR 5324. I-4/CR 545. Central Polk

Pkwy/Ernie Caldwell

6. Central Polk Pkwy/Cypress Pkwy

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Future Traffic Projections

• Traffic volumes forecast for 2045

• Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

• Corridors 1-4 high traffic demand

• Corridors 5 & 6 low traffic demand

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75,800

69,000

59,800

72,000

34,300

31,500

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Purpose & Need Evaluation

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Engineering Considerations

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Evaluation Summary

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LOWMEDIUM

HIGH

Public and Agency Input

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• What we’ve heard: Desire to get to I-4 Regional

connectivity via SR 429

Minimize environmental impacts

Corridors 1 & 2B are too impactful

Corridor 4 too many residential impacts

Corridor 6 does not enhance connection to I-4

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Recommendations

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Recommended Corridors prior to Public Meeting held June 2015

Corridor 4 Existing corridor Fewer impacts to

wetlands and wildlife habitat

High residential impacts No existing I-4

interchange

Recommendations

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Corridor Name

SatisfiesPurpose and

Need Objectives

0 – Fails7 – Best

Environmentally Damaging Ranking1 – Highest Impact 7 – Lowest Impact

Engineering Cost Ranking1 – Highest7 – Lowest

Recommended for Further

Study?

1 World Drive 4 1 3

2A S.R. 429 7 3 1

2B S.R. 429 5 2 2

3 C.R. 532 7 7 6

4 C.R. 54 3 6 5

5 Ernie Caldwell 1 4 7

6 Cypress Pkwy 0 5 4

Recommended Corridors in ACER

Corridor 2A Connects to existing I-

4/SR 429 interchange Impacts FGT substation Higher cost

Corridor 3 Existing I-4 interchange Existing corridor Fewer impacts to

wetlands and wildlife habitat

Near Reunion and Championsgate

High non-residential impacts

FDOT Recommendations (Revised)

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Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Report

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• Submitted to Environmental Technical Advisory Team (ETAT) on November 23, 2015

• Review is anticipated to end December 22, 2015 (30 days)

Opportunity for input & Upcoming Meetings

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• Alternatives Public Meeting• Public Hearing• Small Group Meetings• Agency Meetings• Newsletter Updates• Project Website• i4poincianaconnector.com

Project Schedule

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Next Steps

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• ETAT completes review of ACE Report• Revise ACE Report based on comments• FHWA concurs on recommended corridors for further

evaluation• Class of Action by FHWA

Environmental Assessment / Environmental Impact Statement• Design Traffic • Initial Alternatives Development• PD&E-level Engineering and Environmental Analyses• Alternatives Public Meeting

Spring/Summer 2016 – Poinciana• Interchange Justification/Modification Report

Contact information

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Amy Sirmans, PEFDOT Project Manager

Phone: (386) 943-5404 Toll Free: 1-800-780-7102

Email: Amy.Sirmans@dot.state.fl.usWebsite: www.i4PoincianaConnector.com

Written comments and questions can be mailed to:I-4 Poinciana PD&E Study

Attention: Amy SirmansFlorida Department of Transportation

719 S. Woodland Blvd., MS1-501Deland, FL 32720

I-4 Poinciana Parkway ConnectorProject Development and Environment (PD&E) Study

Questions