Future Transportation Projects within the Loxahatchee River

Basin

Florida Department of TransportationDistrict IV

3400 W. Commercial Blvd.Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309

Photo by Jeff Ripple

FDOT District 4 Work Program Loxahatchee River Basin

1. I-95 – widening, add HOV lanes

a) from Don Ross Rd to SR 706 - Oct. 2007

b) From SR 706 to St. Lucie Co. – Year 2011

c) I-95 resurfacing – SR 76 to St. Lucie Co. – Oct. 2007

2. SR 706 from the Turnpike to Chasewood Plaza – Aug. 2007

3. I-95 ITS installation - June 2007

Current Activities

ETDM Screening

Wildlife Crossing Survey

Collect Traffic Data

WHAT IS ETDM? A GIS based software program that allows

agencies the opportunity to post comments regarding the proposed transportation improvement project.

Current Activities-ETDM

• SFWMD – coordinate with LRCC, coordinate with

CERP, coordinate with Park

• FDEP – coordinate with LRCC, coordinate with

CERP, coordinate with Park

No comments from Department of Interior regarding W&S

Culvert/Bridge Crossing Usage Survey

Culvert/Bridge Crossing Usage Survey

nongame species Vehicle/pedestrian

activities

Preliminary Traffic Study

Initial Analysis indicates need for additional capacity – one additional lane in each direction

(This was determined by developing a long term Average Annual Daily Traffic forecast based on

current and planned future developments)

Purpose Start data collection early to identify issues up front to allow

input from stakeholders that will be useful during the PD&E study

• Does the bridge profile need to be studied?

Agency CoordinationAgency coordination required for transportation

projects within the Loxahatchee River Basin:

Loxahatchee River• Wild and Scenic River• Section 4(f) property

Jonathan Dickinson State Park• Section 4(f) property

FDOT Coordination for Wild and Scenic Rivers

Coordination with National Park Service (NPS):

• Coordination letter describing the proposed activities is submitted to NPS for review and comment

• NPS must respond within 30 days

• NPScomments should be incorporated into the appropriate PD&E Document

Compensation for Unavoidable Impacts

• Mitigation for impacts to wetlands and/or park land would be required for unavoidable impacts from FDOT projects

• Agencies (South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) prefer mitigation to be:

In kind Within the same drainage basin as the impact

• FDOT will need potential mitigation areas/projects within the basin

Questions?