Officials, task force members weigh multi-county road project

Some powerful Florida officials back a massive road project that could redefine how people get from Polk to Collier counties. Others wonder: Does Florida really need another big thoroughfare?

By Grier Ferguson
| 6:00 a.m. February 7, 2020
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File. Florida Senate President Bill Galvano of Bradenton points to several positive effects the Southwest-Central Florida Connector could have, from encouraging business growth to improving hurricane evacuations.

Development

In May 2019, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law the Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance program.

M-CORES and other transportation programs are expected to be funded by about $135 million a year starting in fiscal year 2022-23, using portions of motor vehicle license taxes. The bill also set into motion activities within the Department of Transportation, including establishing task forces to study three potential road corridors. One of those is the Southwest-Central Florida Connector, extending from Collier to Polk counties. The task forces are charged with delivering a final report by Oct. 1.