Public Opinion
Public input and support is essential for the advancement of the 10-laning of I-75. The Southwest Florida Expressway Authority has began a Public Involvement Program in January 2007 to provide information about the I-75 Express Toll Lanes concept and to receive input from Southwest Florida citizens. Please review the information below and then click the button at the end of this page to take the Public Opinion Questionnaire.
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According to a traffic study conducted by the SWFEA consultants, when the six lanes open in 2010, some sections of I-75 will have Levels of Service E, which is below the regionally adopted Levels of Service for I-75, As a result, motorists will travel at speeds well below the posted speed limits and experience frequent “stop and go” traffic much like it is today.
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Two independent traffic studies indicate that by 2015, between Immokalee Road to Colonial Boulevard, I-75 will experience Levels of Service E and F. The graphic represents the results of the traffic evaluation conducted by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise.
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Conventional State and Federal funding sources are not available through 2030 to add more than the two new lanes.
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Without some alternative funding source such as tolls, I-75 will remain six lanes for the next two decades.
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Both the SWFEA consultant and FTE concluded that the required configuration to generate enough toll revenue to finance the project and best serve future traffic is four (4) general purpose (non-tolled) lanes on the outside and six (6) tolled express lanes on the inside. A 44-foot multi-modal envelope will be maintained in the median consistent with State policy.
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This configuration will allow drivers a choice to travel in the four (4) general purpose (non-tolled) lanes or pay a toll to travel in the six (6) express lanes. The express lanes will also help relieve traffic congestion in the general purpose lanes.
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The SWFEA Consultant and FTE have both recommended initially financing/constructing 10 lanes on I-75 from Immokalee Road to Alico Road (highest traffic volume). This 10-lane section could be completed by 2014/15.
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The SWFEA consultant is recommending that the two new inside lanes be tolled upon completion. This would start a revenue stream that would allow SWFEA to immediately begin the design, finance and construction process to complete this first phase of the additional four (4) lanes (ultimate 10 lane section).
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If the two new lanes are not tolled, it could delay the 10 lane project for another 3 – 5 years.
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The revenues generated from tolling the two new inside lanes could be used to finance the completion of the six-laning from Colonial Boulevard to SR 80 and make improvements to the Daniels Parkway interchange.
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The revenues generated from tolling the two new inside lanes could also be used for “quick response” road ranger/tow trucks to efficiently remove vehicles after a traffic accident or other incident to minimize additional congestion. This service would be available to vehicles using any lane, not just the toll lanes.
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All toll options involve electronic toll collection, using open road tolling and transponders. THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY TOLL BOOTHS ON THE INTERSTATE!