Toll road brings questions
CHIPLEY - Supporters of a proposed toll road from central Alabama to Panama City came to Chipley on Thursday to provide more information on the project, which would run through Washington County.
But for many present at the meeting and the members of the Washington County Commission, which hosted the meeting, supporters did not provide enough to make a decision.
For most in attendance, it was their first chance to hear anything about the limited-access toll road project, which would begin near Montgomery, Ala., bypass Dothan, Ala., to the west and enter Florida in Jackson County near the U.S. 231 corridor. From there, the proposed road would go through Washington County to Panama City, although the final route has not been determined.
The Florida toll road would be built by a private-public nonprofit organization similar to Focus 2000, an Alabama-based group coordinating construction of that state's portion of the road.
Proponents on Thursday offered several reasons to build the toll road. Retired Florida Department of Transportation District 3 Secretary Edward Prescott, who said he was there to support the toll road as a private citizen, said one reason to build the road was the lack of government funding to complete four-laning of State 77 and State 79 to Interstate 10.
"The DOT is required to maintain existing services, and their resources must be used for that," Prescott said. He said the State 77 and 79 widening projects might not be completed for another 15 years, and completing design and obtaining rights of way was not in the FDOT five-year plan.
That would not be the case with a private toll road. "We can do everything with private money," Prescott said.
But many locals expressed concerns. Byron Biddle, president of the Vernon Merchants Association and Three Oaks Winery, said VMA opposes the route because of danger to natural resources and potentially bypassing Vernon.
"We have a heck of a time pulling traffic off 79 as it is," Biddle said. "We see nothing presented here today that convinces us that this is the best thing to do."
Supporters said Washington County would have several interchanges, but they didn't say where.
Resident Ty Peel, among others, said the possible use of eminent domain to obtain property also was a concern. Commissioners said they needed more information before considering a resolution supporting the private-public corporation for the Florida toll road. They also said they are opposed to using eminent domain.
Supporters said several more meetings would be scheduled.