Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 06-27-Support of Bypass Route — reading text

RESOLUTION 06- 27 A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING A BYPASS ROUTE NORTH OF THE CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY AS PROPOSED BY A FOUR COUNTY CHAMBER COALITION FOR SUBMISSION TO AND ENDORSEMENT BY THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR AUTHORITY, THE FORT WALTON BEACH METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION ( MPO), AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the beaches and coastal communities of the Florida Panhandle are primarily served by Highway 98; and WHEREAS, the condition of Highway 98 and its capacity have reached deteriorating levels forcing longer commutes for the residents, local workforce, and guests to the area; and WHEREAS, with local populations more than doubling due to tourists, especially during the summer months and holidays, the infrastructure now in place is inadequate to handle the traffic volume; and WHEREAS, the tourism, hospitality and fishing industries central to this area, are reliant upon service workers and visitors, thereby creating an additional need for an alternative route; and WHEREAS, recent storm events have demonstrated an urgent need for greater, routes from this region; and more effective evacuation WHEREAS, the construction of the proposed transportation corridor or bypass to be built north of Choctawhatchee Bay and running east/west from Bay County to Western Okaloosa County is a logical and practical solution which would provide an excellent means of addressing those transportation and evacuation needs; and WHEREAS, an unprecedented coalition of business organizations representing more than 3, 000 businesses in the region has championed sponsorship of the attached conceptual alignment and desires approval and support by the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, THAT:  The City Council of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida fully supports the construction of a bypass north of the Choctawhatchee Bay as outlined in the attached position paper and encourages support by Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority, the Fort Walton Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization ( MPO), and the Florida Department of Transportation. Passed and duly adopted this db day of ~: 4,. t/ J 2006. By: Mike Anderson, Mayor ATTEST: Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: cA  01 o A Position Paper in Support of a Bypass North of Choctawhatchee Bay The report contained herein is a position paper in support of a bypass concept to be built north of Choctawhatchee Bay running east/west from Bay County to Western Okaloosa County. This position is supported by a coalition of chambers of commerce Okaloosa County: Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the Niceville- V alparaiso- Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. This unprecedented coalition of business organizations represents more than 3, 000 businesses in the region and reflects the desire of the organizations to see this bypass approved and supported by the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority. The concept of the bypass is simple. The needs are obvious. With Highway 98 being the main thoroughfare in the region, traffic congestion reaches nearly unbearable levels. Commute times for employees of the region are extended due to this congestion. With local populations more than doubling due to tourists, especially during the summer months and holidays, the infrastructure now in place is inadequate to handle the traffic volume. The bypass would also improve the efficiency of evacuations when hurricanes approach the region. During construction of the bypass, roads can also be upgraded to prevent damage from hurricanes. Our concept calls for Highway 331 to be widened to four lanes from Highway 98 in South Walton County to Interstate 10 near Defuniak Springs, including widening the bridge over Choctawhatchee Bay. The intersection with Highway 20 should be changed to a junction with off exit ramps. an overpass and on/ This allows for traffic to continue moving without stopping for traffic lights in turn improves commute times. Highway 20 should be four lanes from Highway 79 in Bay County going west to Niceville in Okaloosa County. With a junction at Highway 331 rather than an intersection, traffic would continue to flow rather than having to stop for traffic lights. During this expansion the highway should also be improved in areas of possible hurricane damage. An example would be in the area of Basin Bayou, where Hurricane Ivan washed away sections of the road, making it impassable. When the expanded Highway 20 reaches the NicevillelBluewater Bay area, it would link to the section that is already four lanes. It is at this point that the Mid Bay Bridge Authority' s  o o access road would intersect Highway 20. A junction here is also suggested so that traffic will not have to stop on either roadway. At this junction, travelers would have the option of taking the Mid Bay access road to the north of Nicevi lIe to its intersection with Highway 85. It is at this point that the roadway could intersect with the proposed bypass running from near Hurlburt Field in west Okaloosa County to Niceville. This would provide unimpeded traffic flow from Bay County to the Hurlburt Field area ofOkaloosa County and provide an alternate route to Highway 98. While the route would be longer in miles, it would be shorter in commute time. Traffic congestion through Okaloosa and South Walton Counties would be dramatically decreased. While this bypass is important to the region, improvements to Highway 98 through the Destin area are also crucial to traffic flow. We support improvements to Highway 98 through this area. As highway 98 approaches the harbor district in Destin, an area now known as Harbor Boulevard, we support and encourage any improvements that lend to a pedestrian- friendly district utilizing multi- modal transportation options and stops. We feel these improvements in infrastructure will alleviate many of the traffic issues our region now faces. We respectfully submit this plan to you for your consideration and approval.