Public Involvement
Recommended Alternative
FDOT selected the recommended alternative based on a determination that the no-build, Transportation Systems Management and multimodal alternatives do not meet the purpose and need of the Central Polk Parkway project. Traffic analyses conducted during the PD&E study indicate the need for new six-lane highways within the study area in addition to planned highway and transit improvements already included in the Polk TPO 2035 Polk Mobility Vision Plan. The recommended build alternative alignments and six-lane roadway typical section are found below.
Final Project Materials
Six-Lane Typical Section
Key Panel Graphic
East Map 1
East Map 2
East Map 3
East Map 4
East Map 5
East Map 6
West Map 1
West Map 2
West Map 3
April 2011 Newsletter
January 2011 Newsletter
October 2010 Newsletter
September 2010 Newsletter
Final Documents
Final State Environmental Impact Report March 2011
Final Project Development Summary Report March 2011
Final Contamination Screening Evaluation Report March 2011
Final Noise Study Report March 2011
Final Traffic Report March 2011
Final Endangered Species Biological Assessment March 2011
Final Conceptual Stage Relocation Plan March 2011
Final Cultural Resource Assessment Survey Volume I December 2010
Final Cultural Resource Assessment Survey Volume II December 2010
Final Comments and Coordination Volume I of II March 2011
Final Comments and Coordination Volume II of II March 2011
Final Wetland Evaluation Report March 2011
Geotechnical Memorandum December 2010
Final Pond Siting Report Volume I March 2011
Final Pond Siting Report Volume II March 2011
Final Location Hydraulics Report March 2011
Preliminary Traffic and Revenue Study March 2011
Public Hearing Held
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) conducted a formal public hearing to display the preferred build alternatives for the Central Polk Parkway and receive comments from the public. The public hearing was held in two sessions on January 24, 2011, in Haines City and January 27, 2011, in Bartow. The same information was presented at both sessions. About 400 people attended the hearing, 267 in Haines City and 131 in Bartow.
Each evening began with an open house at 6 p.m. when attendees viewed the preferred alternative alignments on aerial photographs, asked questions and provided comments to FDOT representatives. A court reporter received oral comments. The formal public hearing began at 7 p.m. each evening. The hearing moderator offered introductory remarks, and an audiovisual presentation described the preferred alternative alignments. Public testimony followed the slide show. Written comments were also accepted.
The proposed Central Polk Parkway would be built on new alignments within 350 feet of limited access right-of-way, which would include 324 feet of limited access right-of-way. The western leg of the proposed roadway extends from SR 60 east of Bartow northwesterly to the Polk Parkway (SR 570). The eastern leg connects SR 60 east of Bartow to I-4 in northeast Polk County. The no-build option is also a viable alternative throughout the study process.
Right-of-way acquisition is proposed for the build alternatives. Potential encroachments on wetlands and floodplains have been identified as a result of the study and may be given special consideration under Executive Orders 11990 and 11988, Protection of Wetlands and Floodplain Management, respectively.
For more information about the Central Polk Parkway PD&E Study, please contact Nicole Harris, E.I., FDOT Project Manager, P.O. Box 1249, Bartow, FL 33831; (863) 519-2373; e-mail nicole.harris@dot.state.fl.us.
Hearing Materials
Comment Form
Handout
Presentation
Key Panel Graphic
East Map 1
East Map 2
East Map 3
East Map 4
East Map 5
East Map 6
West Map 1
West Map 2
West Map 3
Documents
Draft Contamination Screening Evaluation Report December 2010
Draft Noise Study Report December 2010
Draft Traffic Report December 2010
Draft Preliminary Location Hydraulics Report December 2010
Draft Preliminary Pond Siting Report December 2010
Endangered Species Biological Assessment December 2010
Final Cultural Resource Assessment Survey Volume I December 2010
Final Cultural Resource Assessment Survey Volume II December 2010
Draft Project Development Summary Report December 2010
Draft Wetland Evaluation Report December 2010
Draft State Environmental Impact Report December 2010
Alternative Alignments Public Information Workshops Held
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hosted two public information workshops in October 2010 to present alternative alignments for the proposed Central Polk Parkway. FDOT notified by direct mail property owners within 300 feet of either side of the centerline of the alignments being studied. In addition, persons who attended previous public workshops or expressed interest in the engineering and environment study were notified.
Ninety-seven people attended the public information workshop in Bartow on October 25, 2010, and 143 people registered at the October 28, 2010, workshop in Haines City. The 350-foot wide alternative alignments were displayed on aerial photography of the study area. The western leg of the study area extends from S.R. 60 east of Bartow northwesterly to the Polk Parkway (S.R. 570). The eastern leg connects S.R. 60 east of Bartow to Interstate 4 in northeast Polk County.
Both workshops were held in an open house format. The public asked questions and provided comments to FDOT representatives in a one-on-one setting. A court reporter was present to receive oral comments. Written comments were also accepted. An audiovisual presentation described the process resulting in the refinement of the recommended project corridors, displayed at public workshops in September 2010, to the remaining nine alignments, which were recommended for further study. A no-build alternative remains viable throughout the study process.
A formal public hearing is tentatively scheduled for early 2011 to present a preferred alternative or alternatives. For information about the Central Polk Parkway study, please contact Project Manager Nicole Broome at (863) 519-2373 or nicole.broome@dot.state.fl.us.
Agenda
Comment Sheet
Handout
PowerPoint
Corridor Report
Alternative Alignments Map and Matrix
Alternative Alignments Panel Maps Layout
Alternative Alignments Panel Maps
East Map 1
East Map 2
East Map 3
East Map 4
East Map 5
East Map 6
West Map 1
West Map 2
West Map 3
Recommended Corridors Public Information Workshops Held
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) conducted two public information workshops in September 2010 to seek input on the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study of the proposed Central Polk Parkway. FDOT notified all property owners within 300 feet of either side of the centerline of nine recommended corridors being studied.
Approximately 150 people attended the workshop in Haines City on September 9, and 120 people registered at the September 13 workshop in Bartow. The 600-foot wide recommended corridors were displayed on aerial photographs of the study area. The western leg of the study area extends from S.R. 60 east of Bartow northwesterly to the Polk Parkway (S.R. 570). The eastern leg connects S.R. 60 east of Bartow to Interstate 4 in northeast Polk County.
Both workshops were held in an open house format. The public asked questions and provided comments to FDOT representatives in a one-on-one setting. Written comments were also accepted. An audiovisual presentation was shown that described the process resulting in the refinement of the preliminary project corridors, displayed at public workshops in December 2009, to the remaining nine corridors, which were recommended for further study.
Public information workshops are tentatively scheduled for late October 2010 to present 350-foot wide alternative alignments within each of the nine recommended corridors. The alignments and interchange locations will be displayed on aerial photography.
The proposed multi-lane roadways would be built on new alignments. A no-build alternative will remain viable throughout the study process. The objective of the study is to provide documented information necessary for FDOT to reach a decision on the type, design, and location of the proposed Central Polk Parkway. For information about the Central Polk Parkway study, please contact Project Manager Nicole Broome at (863) 519-2373 or nicole.broome@dot.state.fl.us.Corridors Public Workshops Summary
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) conducted a second series of meetings for the Central Polk Parkway Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study in December 2009. The meetings provided an overview of the project and presented the project corridors, revised “purpose and need” statement and the updated study schedule. FDOT is accepting public input on this information as the corridors are refined.
FDOT conducted the following meetings:
- Stakeholders meeting on December 2, 2009 at FDOT District One headquarters in Bartow
- Corridors Public Workshop on December 8, 2009, at FDOT District One headquarters in Bartow
- Corridors Public Workshop on December 10, 2009, at Northridge Church in Haines City
A Power Point (slide) presentation was shown that describes the process used to refine the preliminary project corridors that were shown at the Purpose and Need Public Coordination Meetings held in March 2009. The corridors were displayed on aerial photographs of the study area. The public asked questions and provided comments to FDOT representatives. The Power Point presentation and materials are available below.
The study area extends from State Road (S.R.) 60 east of Bartow northwesterly to the Polk Parkway (S.R. 570) and from S.R. 60 east of Bartow northeasterly to I-4. The proposed roadway would be four lanes on new alignment. A no-build alternative is also a viable alternative throughout the study process.
The general objective of the PD&E study is to provide documented information necessary for FDOT to reach a decision on the type, design and location of the proposed improvements for the project study area. The next series of public meetings are tentatively scheduled to be held in spring 2010 to present corridor alignments.
For more information about the Central Polk Parkway PD&E Study, please contact Nicole Broome, project manager, FDOT, P.O. Box 1249, Bartow, FL 33831; (863) 519-2373; or nicole.broome@dot.state.fl.us.
Agenda
Purpose and Need Statement (December 2009)
Purpose and Need Public Coordination Meetings Summary
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hosted an initial series of meetings for the Central Polk Parkway Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study. The meetings allowed interested persons the opportunity to express their views and identify issues of concern during the early stages of the study and to review and comment on the draft “purpose and need” statement and the preliminary corridors that were displayed.
FDOT conducted the following meetings:
- Stakeholders meeting on March 10, 2009 at FDOT District One headquarters in Bartow
- Regulatory Agencies meeting on March 17, 2009, at FDOT District One headquarters in Bartow
- Public coordination meeting on March 17, 2009, at FDOT District One headquarters in Bartow
- Public coordination meeting on March 19, 2009, at Northridge Church in Haines City
A slide presentation described the draft “purpose and need” statement developed for the project. Preliminary project corridors were displayed on aerial photographs of the study area. Department representatives answered questions and addressed comments from officials and the public who reviewed the study displays.
The study area extends from State Road (S.R.) 60 east of Bartow northwesterly to the Polk Parkway (S.R. 570) and from S.R. 60 east of Bartow northerly to Interstate 4. The proposed roadway would be a four-lane facility on new alignment. The no-build option is a viable alternative throughout the study process. The general objective of the PD&E study is to provide documented information necessary for FDOT to reach a decision on the type, design and location of the proposed improvements for the project study area. A second series of public meetings are tentatively scheduled to be held this summer to present the viable corridor alternatives.
For more information about the Central Polk Parkway PD&E Study, please contact
Nicole Broome, project manager, FDOT, P.O. Box 1249, Bartow, FL 33831; (863) 519-2373; or nicole.broome@dot.state.fl.us.
Draft Purpose and Need Statement (March 2009)
Public Involvement
Public involvement will be an extremely important component of the PD&E study. Several methods of receiving information from interested citizens will be used including scoping meetings, public information workshops and a formal public hearing.
Separate scoping meetings with governmental agencies and the public will be held early in the study process. The meetings will assist FDOT with early identification of issues of concern and potential solutions.
Public meetings, including informal public information workshops and a formal public hearing, will be scheduled. Workshops will be held following identification of study corridors and development of alignment alternatives. The hearing will be conducted to present a preferred alternative(s) and the no build alternative.
Throughout the study process, presentations will be given to various governmental groups. Also, interested citizens may request a presentation to their group or organization.
