<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span></span></div><div><br></div> <div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div dir="ltr"> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span></b> James Dorven <jamesdorven@yahoo.com><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> "libs-or@listsmart.osl.state.or.us" <libs-or@listsmart.osl.state.or.us> <br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Friday, March 30, 2012 12:15 PM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> MetroPlan Orlando Board Endorses Wekiva Parkway Financing Plan <br> </font> </div> <br>
<meta http-equiv="x-dns-prefetch-control" content="off"><div id="yiv890560588"><div><div style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt;"><h2 class="yiv890560588entrytitle"><i>Regional transportation board supports building the Wekiva Parkway to complete the beltway around Central Florida.</i><br></h2><div class="yiv890560588entry"><div> <br>The
MetroPlan Orlando board endorsed the Wekiva Parkway financing plan at
its meeting today, marking the first approval of the plan. Next, it
will be reviewed by the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization
and the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority.<br> <br> “Wekiva
Parkway completes the last segment of Central Florida’s beltway and
will have an immense impact on our region’s transportation system for
the better,” said <b>MetroPlan Orlando Chairman and Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dallari</b>.
“The financing plan brings a significant fiscal impact to our region
with only slight delays to our five-year plan. The Wekiva Parkway will
fuel the economy and create jobs for years to come.”<br> <br> The
nearly $1.7 billion project builds 25 miles of new toll expressway
through Orange, Seminole, and Lake counties. It also constructs several
miles of non-toll road improvements, including: 1) construction of
seven miles of 4-lane and 6-lane portions of SR 46, 2) reconstruction of
the US 441/SR 46 interchange in Mount Dora, and 3) relocation of CR
46A to provide improved wildlife connectivity and local road system
benefits. If the project receives all necessary approvals, construction
could begin by fall 2012 and conclude in 2021.<br> <br> “The Wekiva
Parkway financing plan is a unique partnership between the Florida
Department of <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://lists.bnl.gov/pipermail/eic-epol-l/2012-March/000144.html">Orlando Transportation</a>, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, and the
Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority,” said <b>MetroPlan Orlando Executive Director Harry Barley</b>.
“We appreciate the hard work of our partners to find a way to fund
this important regional project. A tremendous amount of effort has
been exerted by many people over the past decade to bring this project
to life.”<br> <br> The MetroPlan Orlando board had an extensive
discussion of regional impacts prior to approving the financing plan.
Though building Wekiva Parkway will likely result in delaying other
important projects in the three-county area, the board ultimately felt
the benefits to the region far outweighed the costs. The board
recommended that any savings realized from low bids on Wekiva Parkway
be invested in the delayed projects where possible.</div>
<h3>About MetroPlan Orlando</h3>
<div>MetroPlan Orlando is the metropolitan planning organization for
Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties – the Orlando Urban Area. As the
regional transportation planning organization, MetroPlan Orlando
provides the forum for local elected officials and <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.historicpreservation.gov/web/13048/2/-/wiki/Addressing%20Security%20Bibliography/Luxury+Airport+transportation+in+Orlando">Orlando transportation
experts</a> to work together to improve<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.transportationresearch.gov/dot/fhwa/SitePages/The%20Orlando%20Experience%20A%20Hit%20With%20International%20Travelers.aspx"> transportation for Central Florida</a>
residents, businesses and visitors. For more information, visit
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.metroplanorlando.com">www.metroplanorlando.com</a>.</div> </div></div></div></div><meta http-equiv="x-dns-prefetch-control" content="on"><br><br> </div> </div> </div></body></html>