PUBLIC HEARING SUMMARY

The Department conducted a Public Hearing on November 6, 2003 at Hidden Oaks Middle School in Palm City. Over 1000 individual invitations were mailed out to elected officials, property owners within 300’ of the project corridor, and people in the projects Community Assessment Task Team database. The Hearing was advertised in the Stuart News and Variable Message Signs were placed at either end of the existing Palm City Bridge. The Hearing had a fantastic turnout with over 870 people attending, according to the sign in sheets. The purpose of this Hearing was to present the revised alternatives and to afford all interested persons the opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design, social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements.

The format consisted of an open house forum from 5:30 to 6:45 pm with Department and Consultant personnel on hand to answer questions on a one-on-one basis. The Environmental Documents, supporting technical documents, and conceptual design plans developed were available for review at the Hearing. After the open house portion of the Hearing a formal presentation began at 7:00 pm in which a short video presentation depicting the project alternatives and associated potential impacts was shown. The video was followed by a public testimony period during which 23 people spoke for the public record. A court reporter transcribed the entire Hearing and was also available to record any public comment during the open house period. The Hearing officially ended at 8:27 pm.

In addition to the verbal statements obtained at the Hearing, comment forms were provided for the citizens to express their opinions concerning the project. Five hundred and thirteen written comments were received at the Hearing. Out of these comments 386, or 75.2%, advocated the “Build” alternative, twenty three (23), or 4.5% supported the “No Build” option, and eighty three (83), or 16.2% expressed the opinion that a new bridge was needed but in another location. Twenty one comments representing 4.1% of the total comments received expressed concerns with other issues such as drainage, lighting, access management, and landscaping.

The Public Hearing was followed by a 10 day public comment period. All statements received by the Department within the comment period will be included as part of the official Hearing Transcript. Numerous letters, petitions, e-mails and statements have been received and are being tabulated and entered into a database. Final results will not be available until all statements have been entered.

So what is the next step for the project? Currently the Department is in the process of preparing the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). This process entails responding to agency and public comments and revising the project documents and plans as needed. Further coordination between the Department, Martin County and other cooperating agencies is on-going throughout this time. After all comments are addressed, the Department will submit the FEIS to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for a final review and approval. Approval by the FHWA is expected in the Fall of 2004. Once the FHWA approves the document the project is granted Location Design Concept Acceptance and moves to the next phases, Final Design and Right of Way Acquisition. Currently the project is funded for Design, and partially funded for Right of Way Acquisition but unfunded for Construction.