Lee County decides to toll 32km of extra I-75 lanes in SW Florida - $1.29b project UPDATED

Lee County commissioners voted 4 to 1 this week to implement tolling on 32km (20 miles) of I-75 where third lanes are soon to begin construction by Florida DOT. This means the project may go ahead without Collier County to the south. Florida DOT's contractor is beginning third laning 56km (35 miles) of I-75 from near the Caloosahatchee River north of Fort Myers at a cost of $430m. Scheduled to open late 2010 the lanes will be managed with variable tolls in the major portion located in Lee County at least.

Forecasts indicate failing levels of service from opening day in some segments, and much of the highway reaching saturation by 2015 and a need for ten lanes by 2030. The plan is to use toll revenues to underpin phased construction of fourth and fifth lanes which would be tolled to give a 2F/3T/3T/2F ten lane configuration by 2030.

Florida DOT is financing the fifth and six lanes out of tax money. But they say that there will be no more tax money for any further improvements in this section of I-75 until at least 2030, and have encouraged tolls for construction beyond six lanes.

The state legislature established the South West Florida Expressway Authority (SWFEA) in 2005 to act on behalf of Lee and Collier County which at the time agreed to provide $775k from each to cover start up costs. An executive director was selected. But anti-toll sentiment on the Collier County board torpedoed the plan for the SWFEA to operate as a two-county authority. Lee County is providing staff and initial funding. Appointments of dedicated staff to SWFEA, including the exec-director have been put on hold.

SWFEA board chairman William Barton sums up the situation: "If we don't toll lanes 5 and 6 then we don't build the ten lanes we'll need. It's that simple."

Barton says Collier County should reconsider its position and join Lee County and Florida DOT in supporting the local toll authority.

Traffic projections to 285k/day

Traffic forecasts for 2015 are for daily traffic in the range 110k to 180k on 6 lanes with six of 11 segments having LOS-E and -F (heavy congestion). For 2030 on six lanes traffic would range between 159k and 225k with 10 out of 11 segments LOS-E/F. With 10 lanes traffic in 2030 would be 163k to 285k with only two of 11 segments at LOS-E/F.

Wilbur Smith have calculated that 6 toll lanes and 4 free lanes (as now) makes the project financially viable, while having 6 lanes free and only 4 toll lanes "significantly reduces the revenue potential and financing capacity". There are also major speed benefits from 6 toll and 4 free over 4 toll and 6 free.

Cost of widening beyond 6 lanes is much higher per mile because of the need to buy extra right of way and to rebuild completely most of the overbridges.

The full 56km (35 miles) is estimated to cost $1.29b in 2007$s. A more likely scenario than doing the full 56km in one shot is doing the highest priority 26km (16 miles) at a cost of $693m. The 26km highest priority section - located in the middle - is fully self-supporting with the tolls but the full 56km is only 75% self-supporting according to PFM.

Opponents say feds & state should cough up $s

Opponents of tolling say the federal and state governments should cough up the money for 4th and 5th lanes free. They also say the tolling of tax supported third lanes is "double taxation."

SWFEA respond that tax-based grants won't be forthcoming to build the 4th and 5th lanes. Talk about "double taxation" won't produce the needed money they say.

Lee County sentiment is likely in favor of tolls because growth is faster there and congestion threatens more than in Collier County. In addition Lee County has three toll bridges, and has used variable tolls to successfully manage traffic and reduce congestion. They also seem capable of producing elected officials who are able to think beyond hackneyed sound bites.

Florida Turnpike Enterprise, Wilbur Smith Assoc and Public Financial Management have been doing traffic and revenue studies for SWFEA. Cella Molnar Assoc have done public involvement work.

The presentations leave open the possibility for doing a private concession for the 4th and 5th laning.

TOLLROADSnews 2007-08-17

ADDITION: Kris Cella who does public outreach for the SWFEA says that the scope of the toll lanes in Lee County is not yet fully decided. Originally the first phase was only going north to the airport exit, but there is support for extending this as far as Colonial Boulevard. She says this is now being studied by Wilbur Smith Assoc and a decision will be made after they have done analysis and made recommendations.

WSA has major role staffing SWFEA

Wilbur Smith have a contract with the SWFEA as general engineering consultant and they are providing staff as needed rather than the Authority hiring its own staff, Cella told us. An executive director for the authority was chosen last year but following the loss of support for tolling from Collier County the board decided not to proceed to the appointment. Meanwhile, each county has been lending staff from its transportation planning department to do staffwork.

WSA is now taking over from county staff.

Cella says the I-75 toll lanes could proceed in several different ways:

- a SWFEA traditional public toll funding
- Florida DOT/Turnpike
- a longterm lease & toll concession to investors
- some combination

Under Florida's new transportation law the welcome mat has been put out to investor groups.

Unsolicited bids can be submitted as in Virginia and Georgia.

Several companies are already active in investigating the I-75 toll lanes.

TOLLROADSnews 2007-08-20