Florida Lawmakers Repeal Disputed State Highway Extension Plan

摘要

Florida lawmakers have canceled much of a massive highway expansion approved in 2019 but unpopular with environmental advocates and the public. Plans for a toll road stretching south from central Florida along the Gulf Coast and a northern extension of the Florida Turnpike will be repealed if Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signs the bill (S.B. 100). An extension of the Suncoast Parkway north to the Georgia state line would remain in the works. 1.The Florida House approved the bill Tuesday by a 115-0 vote. The Senate passed it 39-1 last month. 2.Tens of millions of dollars allocated for the highway projects would remain in the state's transportation trust for improvements to existing infrastructure. 3.The U.S. Public Interest Research Group included the 2019 plan in its 2020 "Highway Boondoggles" report, calling it "one of the most expensive, damaging and wasteful highway-building sprees in the country."