1. Future Transportation Projects within the Loxahatchee River Basin Florida Department of Transportation District IV 3400 W. Commercial Blvd. 3400 W. Commercial Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 Photo by Jeff Ripple

2. FDOT District 4 Work Program Loxahatchee River Basin 1.I-95 – widening, add HOV lanes a) from Don Ross Rd to SR 706 - Oct. 2007 b)From SR 706 to St. Lucie Co. – Year 2011 c)I-95 resurfacing – SR 76 to St. Lucie Co. – Oct. 2007 2.SR 706 from the Turnpike to Chasewood Plaza – Aug. 2007 3.I-95 ITS installation - June 2007

3. Current Activities  ETDM Screening  Wildlife Crossing Survey  Collect Traffic Data

4. WHAT IS ETDM?  A GIS based software program that allows agencies the opportunity to post comments regarding the proposed transportation improvement project.

5. Current Activities- ETDM SFWMD – coordinate with LRCC,SFWMD – coordinate with LRCC, coordinate with CERP, coordinate with CERP, coordinate with Park coordinate with Park FDEP – coordinate with LRCC,FDEP – coordinate with LRCC, coordinate with CERP, coordinate with CERP, coordinate with Park coordinate with Park No comments from Department of Interior regarding W&S

6. Culvert/Bridge Crossing Usage Survey Culvert/Bridge Crossing Usage Survey

7.  nongame species  Vehicle/pedestrian activities

8. Preliminary Traffic Study  Initial Analysis indicates need for additional capacity – one additional lane in each direction (This was determined by developing a long term Average Annual Daily Traffic forecast based on current and planned future developments)

9. Purpose  Start data collection early to identify issues up front to allow input from stakeholders that will be useful during the PD&E study Does the bridge profile need to be studied?

10. Agency Coordination Agency coordination required for transportation projects within the Loxahatchee River Basin: Loxahatchee River Wild and Scenic RiverWild and Scenic River Section 4(f) propertySection 4(f) property Jonathan Dickinson State Park Section 4(f) property Section 4(f) property

11. Wild and Scenic Rivers Wild and Scenic Rivers: Designated by the Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of the InteriorDesignated by the Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior Only two Wild and Scenic Rivers in FL:Only two Wild and Scenic Rivers in FL:  Loxahatchee River  Wekiva River Wild River Areas: Generally inaccessible except by trail with primitive and/or unpolluted shorelines and watersheds Scenic River Areas: Shorelines and watershed are still largely primitive and shorelines are largely undeveloped, but accessible in places by roads

12. FDOT Coordination for Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordination with National Park Service (NPS): Coordination letter describing the proposed activities is submitted to NPS for review and commentCoordination letter describing the proposed activities is submitted to NPS for review and comment NPS must respond within 30 daysNPS must respond within 30 days NPScomments should be incorporated into the appropriate PD&E DocumentNPScomments should be incorporated into the appropriate PD&E Document

13. Section 4(f) Properties Section 4(f) properties include: Publicly owned parks, recreation lands, and wildlife/waterfowl refuges (includes Wild and Scenic Rivers)Publicly owned parks, recreation lands, and wildlife/waterfowl refuges (includes Wild and Scenic Rivers) Historic and archaeological sitesHistoric and archaeological sites Public multiple-use land holdings (e.g. State forests)Public multiple-use land holdings (e.g. State forests)

14. Why was Section 4(f) Enacted?  Agencies are directed to avoid using these lands for transportation projects unless: –All possible planning has been attempted to minimize harm to these properties; and –There is no prudent or feasible alternative to the use of these properties.

15. When Does Section 4(f) Apply?  The Federal Highway Administration is charged with making determinations of applicability.  Consideration of “use” is key to the determination.  If use is determined, a Section 4(f) Evaluation is prepared.

16. When Does Section 4(f) Apply?  The use is determined on a case by case basis.  Use can be direct or indirect.  The evaluation can be individual or one of four programmatic evaluations that have already been negotiated with various agencies.

17. FDOT Coordination for Section 4(f) Properties Use of a Section 4(f) property requires coordination with: Parks, recreation lands, refuges The agency that owns or administers the landThe agency that owns or administers the land  Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection - Jonathan Dickinson State Park  National Park Service - Loxahatchee River  Martin and/or Palm Beach Counties  Local Municipalities Historic and archaeological sites The State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the local public official having jurisdiction over the propertyThe State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the local public official having jurisdiction over the property Multiple-use land holdings The officials having jurisdiction over the landThe officials having jurisdiction over the land PD&E CHAPTER 13

18. Compensation for Unavoidable Impacts Mitigation for impacts to wetlands and/or park land would be required for unavoidable impacts from FDOT projectsMitigation for impacts to wetlands and/or park land would be required for unavoidable impacts from FDOT projects Agencies (South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) prefer mitigation to be:Agencies (South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) prefer mitigation to be:  In kind  Within the same drainage basin as the impact FDOT will need potential mitigation areas/projects within the basinFDOT will need potential mitigation areas/projects within the basin

19. Questions?