Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 01-29-Support of I-65 Connector — reading text

o RESOLUTION 01- 29 o A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA SUPPORTING AN INTERSTATE CONNECTION BETWEEN 1- 10 AND 1- 65 FOR THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF DEFENSE AND NON- DEFENSE MOTORIZED TRAFFIC DURING TIMES OF EMERGENCY OR NORMAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS; PROVIDING THAT THE FORT WALTON BEACH MPO RANK TIllS PROJECT AS NUMBER 1 ON THE NEEDS LIST AND URGING THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND FEDERAL I- l GHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO FUND CONSTRUCTION OF THE 1- 10 TO 1- 65 CONNECTOR TO THE ALABAMA STATE LINE; PROVIDING FOR A COPY OF TI-llS RESOLUTION TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; THE FEDERAL I- l GHWAY ADMINISTRATION; THE FORT WALTON BEACH METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION MPO); THE UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION FROM FLORIDA; THE GOVERNOR, STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND THE OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES MEMBERSI-llP; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS,the State of Alabama is in the last stages of completing the construction of a four- lane highway from the Georgiana 1- 65 interconnection to Andalusia, Alabama; and WHEREAS, the State of Florida has indicated funding sources may be available to construct a transportation corridor to the Alabama state line to meet a four-lane highway constructed in Alabama, which will connect Interstate 10 to Interstate 65; and WHEREAS, there are no four-lane highways connecting the states of Alabama and Florida other than in the Mobile and Dothan areas, leaving a vast population in South Central Alabama and the Florida panhandle with inadequate transportatioo routes for evacuatioo purposes; and WHEREAS, past weather experiences have demonstrated a great need for the emergency evacuation of defense and noo- defense citizens from the regioo; and WHEREAS, the construction of this proposed transportation corridor would provide an excellent means for transportatioo purposes, generate tmtold economic benefits to an economically depressed rural area, and would provide an excellent emergency evacuation route for htmdreds of thousands of defense and non-defense users and ordinary transportation needs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCn. OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA THAT: SECTION 1. The City Council supports an 1- 10/1- 65 connector constructioo project and W'ges the organization of a Coalition of Governmentsin Alabama and Florida to use whatever means available to solicit the support of the Federal Highway Administratioo, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Defense, the State of Florida Department of Transportation, the United States Congressional Delegation from Florida, the Governor, State Legislative Delegation and Okaloosa County League of Cities membership. SECTION 2. A copy of this resolution be provided to the Florida Department of Transportation, the Fort Walton Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization ( MPO) and Okaloosa County League of Cities and all other organizatioos and agencies cited in Section 1 above. SECTION 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval of Council and signature of the Mayor. APPROVED:. d/c,~~ /~ 0200/ MAYOR:~~ J.Z:::::- . '"~--., The form and legal sufficiency of the foregoing has re ' ewed and approved by the City Attorney. Go\le.~\' c... o..~ 1e..." i' t\# ~ ~