A public hearing is being held regarding plans to improve safety in the areas of State Road (S.R.) 44/U.S. 441 at the intersections of Fern Drive in Leesburg, and Waterman Way/Nightingale Lane in Tavares, Lake County. The project addresses operational and safety concerns in the area by converting the full median openings to directional median openings. These modifications reduce traffic conflict points at the intersections, improving safety. The public hearing will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, 2017, at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tavares-Leesburg, 3601 West Burleigh Boulevard, U.S. Highway 441, Tavares, FL 32778. There will be an open house at 5 p.m. during which staff will be available to discuss the project and answer questions, followed by the formal hearing presentation at 6 p.m., after which participants may provide their verbal comments to all present. Participants may provide verbal comments directly to a court reporter before and after the formal presentation. Written comments can be submitted at the hearing, sent by mail to Dave Mixon, Florida Department of Transportation, District Five Traffic Operations, 719 South Woodland Boulevard, M.S. No. 562, DeLand, FL 32720, or sent by email to Dave.Mixon@dot.state.fl.us no later than May 22, 2017. All comments written and oral will become part of the project’s public record. The draft project documents and other information will be available for public review from June 8, 2017 to July 10, 2017 at the Leesburg Public Library, 100 East Main Street, Leesburg, FL 34748, Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and at the Tavares Public Library, 314 North New Hampshire Avenue, Tavares, FL 32778, Monday and Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator by phone at 386-943-5367, or via email at Jennifer.Smith2@dot.state.fl.us.