Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #269FY0102
West Virginia Corridor
Requester:		Donald Cooper			Organization:		City of Port St. Lucie
Project Title:		West Virginia Corridor			Date Submitted:		1/16/2002 10:56:18 AM
Sponsors:		Gayle Harrell
Statewide Interest:
This project promotes intermodal transportation linkages for passengers and freight by connecting Interstate 95 to U.S. 1 thereby facilitating freight delivery for a city of over 90,000 residents and growing. This connection also provides residents more direct access via U.S. 1 to intermodal facilities outside the city limits.
Recipient:		City of Port St. Lucie			Contact:		Donald B. Cooper
		121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd.			Contact Phone:		(561) 871-5163
		Port St. Lucie 34984-5099
Counties:		St. Lucie
Gov't Entity:		Yes	Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):
Project Description:
The City of Port St. Lucie proposes to develop a third east-west transportation corridor spanning approximately nine miles of the city from Interstate 95 to U.S. Highway 1. The corridor will be a four lane divided urban arterial that will bridge both the Florida Turnpike and the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. The project, which has received approval from the Florida Department of Transportation, the St. Lucie County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Port St. Lucie City Council, will be centrally located between the city's only two existing East-West arterials crossing the river, Port St. Lucie Boulevard and Prima Vista Boulevard. The project corridor runs from Interstate 95 through the center of the entire city and connects to U.S. 1. The project provides a third crossing over the North Fork of the St. Lucie River where only two already crowded East-West corridors currently exist. The project provides direct access to U.S. 1, which provides direct access to the Martin and St. Lucie County Airports. Inversely, this corridor provides the linkage to major transportation hubs such as Palm Beach County and Orlando International Airports and the Port of Palm Beach through its connection to Interstate 95.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
It is anticipated that the City of Port St. Lucie will experience "gridlock" on its current transportation network by 2007 without the construction of the third East-West Transportation Corridor. The project creats a third bridging of the St. Lucie River which splits the city in two. Hands down, the project not only significantly increases "through-put" of passengers and freight, it is vital to the survival of the city and its growth in this respect. The third East-West Transportation Corridor will be the gateway to the City of Port St. Lucie's Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), a revitalization program of a deteriorating section of the city, and is a direct link to the Martin County Treasure Coast Regional Mall and adjacent business district. As a gateway, the corridor connects Interstate 95 and points in between to the CRA, facilitating deliveries and operation, and allowing city residents economic opportunities as well as local shopping, dining, and entertainment. The return on investment will include the revitalization of a limited tax generating commercial and industrial area, and the creation of easily accessible "localized" shops and business to residents. Revitalization of the industrial and commercial areas will increase sales tax revenue.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:						$1,000,000
Identify items(s) in the FY 2002-03 Appropriations Bill to be reduced:
Specific Appropriation #:
Specific Appropriation Title:
Amount to be reduced:			$
Total cost of the project:			$2,000,000
Request has been made to fund:				Construction
What type of match exists for this project?					Local
	Cash Amount:		$1,000,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?							No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?							Unknown
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?							No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?							No
Is there a documented need for this project?							Yes
	Documentation:		This project conforms to St. Lucie County MPO Plan and is endorsed by City Council
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?							Yes
	Hearing Body:		St. Lucie County Legislative Delegation
	Meeting Date:		12/13/2001