Subject


The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, is hosting a public hearing as part of the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study for proposed improvements to State Road (SR) 29 from Oil Well Road to South of State Road 82 in Collier County, Florida. The PD&E Study will produce a conceptual design for acceptance by the FDOT Office of Environmental Management. This hearing offers people the opportunity to express their views about the location; conceptual design; and social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements. The Recommended Alternative is Central Alternative #2. It provides a 4-lane divided typical section with travel lanes varying between 11 feet and 12 feet wide. Right-of-way, median type and width, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations vary along the build alternative. The proposed improvements require a narrow strip of land from the Immokalee Airport Park owned by Collier County and the Immokalee Airport Conservation Easement managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. As part of the project development process and in accordance with Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, FDOT is seeking comments and input from the public, interested parties, and governmental agencies concerning the effects of the project on the activities, features, and attributes of these resources and the mitigation options under consideration for the proposed impacts. FDOT intends to make a Section 4(f) de minimis impact determination for these resources. At the formal hearing, attendees who complete a speaker’s card will be given the opportunity to make an oral statement that will become part of the public hearing record. Persons wishing to submit written statements or other exhibits, in place of or in addition to oral statements, may do so at the hearing or by sending them to Gwen G. Pipkin, FDOT District One, P.O. Box 1249, Bartow, FL 33831. All exhibits or statements postmarked on or before November 26, 2018 will become part of the public hearing record. The draft environmental and engineering reports developed by the Department will be available for public review starting on October 25, through November 26, 2018 at the Immokalee Branch Library at 417 N 1st Street. Library hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Draft project documents are also available at the FDOT Southwest Area Office at 10041 Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers, Florida 33913. FDOT hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The draft project documents are available on the project website at www.SR29Collier.com. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by FDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. §327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 14, 2016 and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and FDOT.