The Shrinking Toll Road

The Shrinking Toll Road

GOVERNMENT WATCH by Jean Gruss | Editor/Lee-Collier

Collier County's anti-growth movement, coupled with the economic downturn, has curtailed plans for 10 lanes on Interstate 75 from Fort Myers to Naples. What happens next will impact Southwest Florida's economy for years to come.

Just as motorists were rejoicing over the prospect of years of smooth driving from Fort Myers to Naples, Collier County's commissioners said no to tolling a portion of Interstate 75 in their back yard. The political setback was widely expected as the county's anti-growth stance hardens.

Meanwhile, the prolonged economic downturn sparked by the housing bust has some wondering whether population and traffic projections are as steep as once estimated. While few believe growth will slow significantly in the long term, it's another argument rolled out against toll roads.

Together, these two factors have put in doubt plans to add four toll lanes on I-75 from Colonial Boulevard in Lee County to Immokalee Road in Collier County. Doubts about the ambitious project threaten to curtail economic expansion in Southwest Florida and cast a shadow over the region's ability to handle the population growth that will be spurred by the retiring Baby Boom generation.

Instead, the Southwest Florida Expressway Authority that was formed to expand the interstate using tolls is now considering scaled-down options. The latest idea is a new single reversible lane that would switch directions depending on traffic patterns. To pay for that, tolls would have to be installed on two new lanes now under construction (the existing four lanes would remain free).

Everyone is waiting to see the results of an investment-grade study by the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise that will determine the feasibility of various scenarios. Most important, the study will determine whether the authority will be able to sell bonds to finance any project. The results are expected in August.

Whatever the outcome, it's likely to have a huge impact on Southwest Florida's prospects for future growth. Currently, the federal government is funding the construction of new fifth and sixth lanes that will be completed by 2010, but they're expected to reach full capacity by 2015. Adding another four lanes could cost as much as $1 billion and it's unlikely that even the most prominent politicians could land that kind of federal money.

In a recent speech in Bonita Springs, Robert Poole, a leading transportation expert and director of transportation studies at the Reason Foundation, says the evidence that traffic congestion strangles economic growth is undeniable. "This really hurts the economy," he says.

Southern California realized years ago that congestion was economically harmful and the federal government wasn't going to come to its rescue. Poole points to successful tolling efforts there that feature variable pricing depending on the time of day. Toll prices are highest when traffic is heaviest and lowest when it's not.

"We have 12 years with variable tolling in Southern California and people love them," he says.

Collier backs out of project

Collier County commissioners recently voted to cut all funding for the Southwest Florida Expressway Authority, effectively pulling out of any plan to further widen I-75.

Tom Henning, chairman of the Collier County commission, couldn't be reached. However, in the past, Collier commissioners have argued that highway building is the responsibility of the federal government.

Collier isn't alone. U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Cape Coral, has said he doesn't support tolls either. Mack was instrumental in obtaining financing for the current two-lane expansion of I-75, but won't say how he plans to get millions more for further expansion.

In a statement, Mack says: "When I was working with my colleagues in Congress to bring $81.1 million to Florida to expand I-75 in Southwest Florida, there was never any discussion that these new lanes would be tolled. I oppose tolls, and I do not believe they should be imposed on the hardworking families and businesses who travel on I-75 every day. Instead, we should be investigating every possible alternative to tolling, such as public-private partnerships, grants, and examining other spending priorities in order to find the resources we need to ensure I-75 has the capacity to support the growing needs of our community."

Barton says equating tolls with taxes is "a very shortsighted view." If that's the case, then airport parking fees, water bills, postage and other user fees should also be viewed in the same light.

By contrast, the Lee County commission voted unanimously to fund the investment-grade study that will determine the toll project's financial feasibility. The fact is, the authority can move ahead without Collier.

"I-75 can still be significantly upgraded," says Bill Barton, the chairman of the authority. Much of the project is scheduled for Lee County, where congestion is worse. Only three miles of the project would have been in Collier County.

Better for Collier to pull out of the project now than later, Barton says. "Sometimes a negative decision is better than indecision," he says. "We needed to know."

In any case, Collier's rejection isn't final. Commissioners may face a backlash over their anti-growth stance and lose reelection, especially if the local economy gets much worse. What's more, if Lee proceeds with new toll roads and Collier doesn't, I-75 will turn into a giant funnel at the Collier line when 10 lanes shrink to six.

Growth may slow

There is some concern now that a slowing economy will alter long-term projections for population and traffic growth. Estimates that six lanes would reach full capacity by 2015 may get pushed back, says Barton.

Barton says the investment-grade study now underway may show whether adding fewer toll lanes could still keep traffic moving on the highway until 2020. Adding four lanes could cost nearly $1 billion while adding only a seventh reversible lane could cost $350 million. The population and traffic numbers must support the project for the authority to successfully sell revenue bonds.

Because such bond studies are conservative, there's a likelihood of excess revenues that can be used to fund interchanges. "We're not talking peanuts here," says Barton. By opting out, Collier will lose out on those benefits, too.

Although it's impossible to say how much tolls would cost, Barton estimates they could cost motorists between 8 cents and 27 cents per mile, depending on the time of day.

The most current traffic projections were those made by the Florida Department of Transportation several years ago in preparation for the current two-lane expansion.

By 2030, the most heavily traveled area of I-75 from Bonita Beach Road to Corkscrew Road in South Lee County will have nearly double the annual average daily traffic count that it has today. Currently, that area's annual average daily traffic count is 84,000. By 2030, that count could surge to 155,400. And that's an annual average that doesn't take into account surging population during the busy tourist season from January to April, when 20% more cars clog the interstate highway.

Barton says an economic downturn will temporarily depress traffic, but a recovery will bring growth back and the region needs to be prepared. "We are likely to have a breather for two to three years, but we'll be back," he says.

REVIEW SUMMARY

Issue. Tolling portions of Interstate 75

Location. Lee and Collier counties

Key. The anti-growth movement in Collier County may slow plans for 10 lanes on I-75 in Southwest Florida.