ETDM - EST Project Details (2024)

The purpose of this project is to increase the capacity of US 92 from County Line Road to Wabash Avenue in order to achieve an acceptable Level of Service (LOS) on the facility in the future condition. While the roadway currently operates at an acceptable LOS, conditions will deteriorate below standards if no improvement occurs by 2035 as the roadway will have insufficient capacity to accommodate the projected travel demand. The need for the project is based on the following primary and secondary criteria:

PRIMARY CRITERIA

CAPACITY/TRANSPORTATION DEMAND: Improve Level of Service

This project is anticipated to improve traffic operations along US 92 by increasing operational capacity to address future travel demand and congestion projected as a result of both population and employment growth and increased regional travel within the project corridor and Polk County.

Based on Zdata derived from the Polk County Transportation Model for Traffic Analysis Zones encompassing the project corridor:

- Population is projected to grow from 10,967 in 2007 to 23,019 in 2035 (3.9% annual growth rate).

- Employment is projected to grow from 6,771 in 2007 to 16,260 in 2035 (5.0% annual growth rate).

This growth may be attributed to the number of active and proposed Developments of Regional Impact and Planned Unit Developments present in western Polk County and eastern Hillsborough County.

Likewise, according to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data and projections developed for Polk County as part of the Polk Transportation Planning Organization's (TPO) 2035 Mobility Vision Plan [the Polk TPO's Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)]:

- Population is projected to grow from 602,095 in 2010 to 1,032,274 in 2035 (2.9% annual growth rate).

- Employment is projected to grow from 243,351 in 2010 to 472,710 in 2035 (3.8% annual growth rate).

The existing and future traffic conditions for the US 92 project corridor are as follows:

-Existing Conditions-

See Also

The Georgia Courthouse Manual

Airport Road to Wabash Avenue [4 Lanes Divided] / 37,100 / 4,007 (10.8%) / C

Sources:

(1) 2012 AADT volumes and 2012 Truck AADT volumes (calculated from 2012 Truck Percentages) derived from 2012 FDOT Florida Transportation Information.

(2) LOS derived from the FDOT 2012 Quality/Level of Service Handbook: Generalized Annual Average Daily Volumes - Table 1 State Signalized Arterials - Class I.

(3) 2035 AADT volumes derived from the 2035 Cost Feasible Network of the Polk County Transportation Model.

(4) 2035 Truck AADT volumes are based on the assumption that future truck traffic percentages are consistent with the 2012 existing percentages.

Without the proposed widening, the volume-to-capacity ratio for the project segment will exceed 1.25. It is important to note that a roadway is deemed deficient if the volume-to-capacity ratio exceeds 0.9 as it has surpassed its designated service volume and LOS standard. As such, conditions along the roadway will continue to deteriorate resulting in LOS F by year 2035; in turn, this will contribute to high levels of congestion and delays. The proposed improvement is anticipated to meet the mobility needs of the area by alleviating future congestion on the corridor and maintaining important east-west access between Hillsborough County and Polk County.

SECONDARY CRITERIA

AREA WIDE NETWORK/SYSTEM LINKAGE: Improve Traffic Mobility and Transportation Network Access

Classified as an urban other principal arterial, the US 92 corridor provides access between the downtown Lakeland area and industrial developments/freight activity centers concentrated in western Polk County (such as the West Lakeland Industrial Area) and eastern Hillsborough County. Given the presence of the City of Lakeland Enterprise Zone immediately east of the project, the area surrounding the corridor is composed primarily of industrial and commercial activities (including the Publix Industrial/Regional Distribution Center, Rooms To Go, Advance Auto Parts, and Ruthven Commerce Center). In addition, three Planned Unit Developments and two Developments of Regional Impact (Flagler/Lakeland Central Park and Publix Corporate Headquarters) are located to the west and south of the project. The Lakeland Linder Airport is also located to the south. Further, a CSX rail line runs parallel to the US 92 corridor.

As this roadway connects to other regional transportation network facilities (such as County Line Road, SR 570, Airport Road, and eventually I-4), it is critical in facilitating the east-west movement of local and regional traffic (including truck traffic as a designated truck route of Polk County and regional freight mobility corridor of Central Florida); it also provides parallel east-west service to I-4 in northern Polk County. Overall, the widening is anticipated to:

- Enhance east-west access and regional mobility between Downtown Lakeland and areas targeted for development, particularly accommodating traffic of the West Lakeland Industrial Area;

- Improve the viability of US 92 as a parallel east-west alternative to I-4 by reducing travel delay;

- Complement other area transportation improvements (including the extension of Wabash Avenue and intersection enhancements at County Line Road and Wabash Avenue); and

- Enhance freight mobility and access as US 92 links to other recognized freight facilities.

SAFETY: Enhance Safety Conditions

The actual five-year average crash rate (i.e., crashes per million vehicle miles traveled) for this project corridor, along with the statewide five-year average crash rate for similar facilities (Suburban 2-3 Lanes 2-Way Divided Paved), was obtained from the Florida Department of Transportation Safety Office. During the five-year period from 2008 through 2012, the actual crash rate was equal to 3.047 while the statewide crash rate was equal to 1.711. This data reveals that the average crash rate for the US 92 project corridor exceeds the statewide average crash rate for similar facilities by 78.1%. By expanding vehicular capacity, a reduction in crash rates is anticipated due to dispersion of traffic

US 92 is additionally part of the emergency evacuation route network designated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, as well as the network established by Polk County. As this roadway connects to other major arterials designated on the state evacuation route network (including SR 570, Airport Road, and I-4), as well as existing and future areas of development, the widening of US 92 to four lanes will be critical in:

- Facilitating east-west traffic movement and the number of residents that can be evacuated during an emergency event in northern Polk County and eastern Hillsborough County;

- Improving access for emergency responders; and

- Enhancing access to facilities of the state evacuation route network.

MODAL INTERRELATIONSHIPS: Enhance Mobility Options and Multi-Modal Access

Notable pedestrian and bicycle traffic was observed in the field as facilities accommodating pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users exist in the area; a transit dependent population is also present. While paved shoulders occur on both sides of US 92, no sidewalks are present. Citrus Connection Route 45 currently operates along US 92 connecting industrial and commercial activities in western Polk County to Downtown Lakeland. It should be noted that US 92 is a designated transit-oriented corridor as commuter rail is planned to operate along the parallel CSX rail line; in addition, a park-n-ride lot is proposed at I-4 and County Line Road. The widening of US 92 is anticipated to enhance pedestrian/bicycle/transit access and circulation as it will account for and incorporate sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and future transit improvements.

Summary of Public Comments is not available at this time.

Date of Determination: 06/12/2014 by Lauren P. Milligan
FDEP Clearinghouse Determination: CONSISTENT with Coastal Zone Management Program.

No Participating Agencies have been identified.

There are no eliminated alternatives for this project.