WC Connector meeting set for May 15, Tampa area tollway may not be built

The decades-old “I-10 connector” project will be discussed publicly at 9 a.m. on May 15 at the Washington County Annex on South Boulevard. The project was subject of a Monday, May 5 press conference at the Dothan (AL) Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Dothan Eagle reported that Alabama attorney Luther Strange, who was the 2006 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Alabama, told of plans for a public and private partnership called Focus 2000 of the Wiregrass, Inc., to develop a toll road in Alabama. A similar partnership would be formed for the Florida part of the route.

Strange said that, “we have spent a lot of time working behind the scenes,” and that while it was premature to announce the project, plans were moving ahead. Strange also said that without private investment the project could not be completed.

The Alabama route would follow the route on the map at www.chipleypaper.com and www.bonifaynow.com. The Florida route shown is just conjecture, but there is reliable information that the Washington County route shown is generally the one favored. See “Houston County toll road to be discussed May 22 and May 27 in Dothan.”

Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said that the Houston County Commission has changed the date for announcement of the Alabama end of the proposed I-10 connector. The announcement was originally scheduled for Thursday, May 8.

Culver said that "lawyer issues" have forced the issue to be delayed. The Commission's regular administrative meeting is still set for May 22 at the Houston County Courthouse in Dothan, and final approval is scheduled for May 27, the day after Memorial Day.

Culver said he wants everyone involved with the issue to "be comfortable with it," and believes the proposed toll road would be "of great benefit to the entire area."

The project would be paid for with 30-year bonds paid off with tolls. After 30 years ownership of the road would revert to the counties involved.

Eminent domain

According to The Dothan Eagle, officials hope eminent domain will not be needed. Under eminent domain, private property is condemned and the property owner is paid “fair market value” for their property.

In 2006, Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed into law House Bill 1567, which provides home and business owners across the state with meaningful protection against eminent domain abuse.

The bill, which passed the legislature with overwhelming support, prohibits localities from transferring land from one owner to another through the use of eminent domain for 10 years - effectively eliminating condemnations for private commercial development. HB 1567 also forbids the use of eminent domain to eliminate so-called "blight," instead requiring municipalities to use their police powers to address properties that actually pose a danger to public health or safety.

In the Supreme Court's June 2005 Kelo decision, the nation's highest court permitted the use of eminent domain for private economic development. A Florida court was the first to rely on Kelo in upholding a municipality's plan to take land from one person and give it to another private party.

Florida also passed a 2006 ballot measure amending the Florida Constitution to restrict use of eminent domain. The amendment says in part that private property taken by eminent domain may not be conveyed to a natural person or private entity except as provided by general law passed by a three-fifths vote of the membership of each house of the Legislature.

Other toll proposal in trouble

The Tampa Tribune reported on May 5 that a proposed east-west toll road linking New Tampa to Interstate 275 could be roadkill by July.

The Tribune reported that the City of Tampa has spent more than $6 million on studies for the toll road and local officials have balked at proposed tolls to fund the $155 million project, as well as extending the proposed 40-year lease to 60 years. Loss of the toll road could also end a $23 million bridge project contingent on building the toll road.