On November 8, Audubon Florida's Director of Advocacy Charles Lee urged the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to shift gears and put more emphasis on environmental and land use planning when approaching decisions on new highway corridors in a Tallahassee meeting.

FDOT is proposing studies to consider major new roadways from Tampa to Jacksonville and across Central Florida linking Tampa, Orlando, and the Florida east Coast.

Lee pointed out vital wildlife habitats, including the Green Swamp Area of Critical Concern, Osceola National Forest, St. Johns River, Econlockhatchee River, and the Everglades Headwaters could be divided or otherwise impacted by urban sprawl if roads are inappropriately evaluated.

Audubon joined with other environmental groups in asking the FDOT Secretary to require comprehensive stakeholder driven planning and evaluation processes such as those that successfully protected the Wekiva River ecosystem when the "Wekiva Parkway" toll road was designed beginning in 2002.

While many issues and concerns remain, FDO T's response was positive and offers hope that a viable process to secure protection of these areas can be implemented. A key requirement is assuring that sensitive land resources are protected and purchase of lands or conservation easements are funded ahead of road-building and that adequate wildlife crossings are integrated in road designs.

For more information, see this article from the Florida Current.