Cape Coral to Pine Island shared use path project feasibility study funded by FDOT

Every year in June the MPO submits its transportation projects funding request to FDOT for consideration as part of the update of their 5-year workplan.  Then in December of every year FDOT decides what of the request will be funded, adding the new 5th year projects.  This year's FDOT workplan was pretty disappointing for Lee County overall (more on that in a later post); however, there was one definite bright spot--approval of the feasibility study for a shared use path to connect Cape Coral and Pine Island.

Last spring LeeDOT submitted an application to the Lee MPO for a feasibility study for a shared use path connecting Pine Island to Cape Coral.  This project was one of two regional projects approved jointly by the Lee and Collier County MPOs to compete for funding from an FDOT District-wide fund called "Transportation Enhancement Projects".  On June 20th, the Lee MPO Board recommended funding of this project as part of its request to FDOT. FDOT has now released its workplan decisions, and they approved the Lee MPO request. This means that FDOT's 5-year funding plan for Lee County has programmed $1.1 million for the study in FY 2019-20. [Note: While this is good news, we were disappointed to learn that rather than additional funds from a district-wide "pot", the funds came out of the amount of funds already set-aside for Lee MPO bike/ped projects.]

It's important to keep in mind that this is the very first step in a long process--the study itself doesn't start for 5 years, but that's just how long the planning horizon is for transportation projects. The feasibility study will determine what type of facility should be used (multi-path, etc.) and will deal with challenges such as right-of-way issues and wetland mitigation.  Public meetings will be held during this study process to hear from affected communities.  Once the study is completed, hopefully in 2020-21, then there's design and construction work to be planned and funded.

 There was strong community support for this project from Pine Island, Matlacha, and Cape Coral residents, as well as BikeWalkLee and the Cape Coral Bike-Ped group. The application was also supported by both the County's bike/ped advisory committee (BPAC) and the MPO's bike/ped committee (BPCC).  Take the time to thank the Lee MPO Board and FDOT for approving this project, and LeeDOT staff (Andy Getch) for submitting the grant application and BPAC and BPCC members for endorsing the application.  Citizens also have an opportunity to speak at the Dec. 19th MPO Board meeting (9 a.m. in Cape Coral City Council Chambers) when the Board will hear a presentation of the overall workplan by FDOT and will vote on adoption of the FDOT 5-year workplan.

Below are links to two BikeWalkLee blog stories from June on this issue.

June 23: MPO Board recommends funding study for Pine Island Rd. shared use path project, connecting Pine Island and Cape Coral

 June 5:  See earlier blog post on project

 Report by Darla Letourneau

MPO Board recommends funding study for Pine Island Rd. shared use path project, connecting Pine Island and Cape Coral

 
Thanks to Bob McKnight, Chair of the Matlacha Civic Board, for speaking on behalf of all of Pine Island at today's Lee MPO Board meeting in support of the proposed project for a shared use path connecting Cape Coral and Pine Island.

Matlacha's Bob McKnight speaks to Cape MPO member Rick Williams

At the June 20th Lee MPO Board meeting, one of the agenda items for approval was the annual list of bike/ped priority projects for submission to FDOT for funding.  Included on this list as a "shared" #1 priority was the Pine Island Rd. Shared Use Path PD & E study that was proposed by LeeDOT and recommended by all the MPO committees to the MPO Board for inclusion in the funding request to FDOT.  This project was also submitted to FDOT earlier for consideration as a regional enhancement project, as recommended jointly by the Collier and Lee County MPOs.

At the Board meeting, Bob McKnight, the Board Director of the Matlacha Civic organization spoke in strong support of the project.  He said that it had the unanimous vote of the civic board--the first ever unanimous vote.  He said he was also representing all of Pine Island as he was speaking in support.  He urged support for the project because it is needed for connectivity between Pine Island, Matlacha, and Cape Coral, it is needed for safety, and it will connect that area with the whole county so users can travel by bike between inland and coastal areas of Lee County.

The MPO Board unanimously approved the list of projects to be submitted to FDOT (which included the Pine Island Rd. shared use path project). The requested $520 K is for a feasibility study, which would determine what type of facility should be used (multi-use path, etc.).  FDOT will decide which of the recommended priorities are approved for funding in its November/December workplan for 2015-20.  If FDOT approves the study, it would be the beginning of a 5 year-plus process of getting a path designed and constructed.

BikeWalkLee is a strong supporter of this project and urges FDOT to fund the feasibility study in the upcoming workplan. 

Report by Darla Letourneau

 See earlier blog post on project