The hearing is being held to afford interested persons the opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design and social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed East West Road, a new four-lane roadway that will connect State Road 33 in Lakeland to the Pace Road Extension at the Polk Parkway, a distance of about six miles. The new road will initially be built as a two-lane facility that can be expanded to four lanes as funding becomes available. The East West Road will serve as the primary access to the new USF Polytechnic campus at the southwest corner of I-4 and the Polk Parkway, as well as for other associated research parks and businesses that will support and enhance the campus. Financial Project ID Number 426645-1-21-01.