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NEWS Meeting 11.30.2007 By Steven J. Smith River Road needs $130 millionEveryone's help is needed to raise $130 million for the widening of River Road from Interstate 75 to Dearborn Street in Englewood. That was the message from officials Friday. Sarasota County Commissioner Shannon Staub, North Port City Commissioner Fred Tower III, Metropolitan Planning Organization Director Michael Howe, Public Works Director Jim Harriott and Englewood activist Tom Minnich made up a panel at the Venetian Golf & River Club organized by the South County Tiger Bay Club to answer questions and fire up the crowd on River Road issues. Before the crowd of some 100 attendees could ask their questions, Harriott offered a picture of where things stand at the present time. "Currently the section between U.S. 41 and I-75 is under design," Harriott said. "We're about 90 percent designed right now." Harriott said although funding was in place for right-of-way acquisition this year and next year, no funding is currently available for actual construction. 'Do the math' A question arose about what the time frame would be for this two-lane road to expand to four. "We don't know when, because it's a matter of funding," Staub said, adding there is simply not enough money available to fund the project through conventional means. Staub said Minnich has assembled a 35-member task force to brainstorm innovative financing ideas to get the ball rolling. "We're looking at a private developer to perhaps fund it, build it or bond it," Staub said. "We also attended an innovative financing workshop put together by some Washington (D.C.) folks. We're looking at toll roads as well. We're going to have to get creative to make this happen." Howe chimed in that the MPO only receives about $20 million for projects such as this one, "in a good year." "Do the math," Howe said. "It's pretty daunting. That's why it's critical to implement innovative financing -- such as public private partnership, donations of right of way, toll roads, etc. -- to get our arms around this problem." Get ready Tower said that waiting for the state and federal governments to get involved isn't enough. "I have to give Tom Minnich credit," Tower said. "He's putting together a board of local people that are going to work on getting innovative financing for this road. It's the right way to go for our region." "This is not an Englewood project, this is a regional project," Minnich said. "The region includes Center Road in Venice to Boca Grande. We're talking about 130,000 people. As I see it, folks, River Road is key to the economic development of South County. And if we can establish a highway from Englewood to I-75, we have all kinds of opportunities -- not only for an evacuation route, but for employment centers as well." A member of the audience asked if bonding might work to raise capital for the road expansion more quickly. "The county commission has discussed this in the last month or so," Staub said. "Also (former Charlotte County Commissioner) Mac Horton suggested setting up taxing districts, where those who might benefit the most from the expansion (would pay into it). We're not taking anything off the table." Staub said everyone would have to "step up to the plate" to make this project happen. "You're probably sitting here thinking, 'What can I do?' " Staub said. "Well, there's going to come a time when we'll be calling on everybody in this room and everybody down in that area to help us lobby those areas we need to lobby or to pass a referendum for a bond. So get ready." |