County requests US 17 corridor study after FDOT response letters; public commenter says FDOT did not concur

During a late agenda addition, Public Works Director John Elias told the board staff requested a corridor study from the Florida Department of Transportation for the US 17 corridor because a large proposed development abuts the state road. Elias said FDOT responded in January with letters that do not yet commit to a corridor study and that FDOT staff will escalate the county’s request for higher‑level review.

At the start of public comment resident David Northcutt told commissioners he had prepared a written comparison of the two FDOT response letters and submitted copies for the record. Northcutt said the letters are ‘‘substantively the same,’’ that FDOT had not reviewed a revised traffic analysis or recalculated impacts, and that FDOT had not issued concurrence for the developer’s study. "FDOT did not review a revised traffic analysis, did not recalculate impacts, and...has not issued a concurrence for either version," Northcutt said.

Elias told the board staff and the MPO previously requested a thorough FDOT review and that FDOT is waiting on additional information from the development consultant. No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff said they will continue coordination with FDOT and follow up as more information becomes available.