Agenda 09/24/2019 Item #10B (Appointment to the M-CORES Task Force09/24/2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to appoint a member to represent M-CORES (Multi-Use Corridors of Regional
Economic Significance) Task Force.
OBJECTIVE: To appoint an additional member of the local government to serve on the task force.
CONSIDERATIONS: On May 17, 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 7068 officially
adopting the M-CORES legislation. The legislation creates a program within FDOT designed to advance
three regional corridors that will accommodate multiple modes of transportation and various
infrastructure improvements including broadband and sewer access, among others. SB 7068 identifies the
following three corridors comprising the M-CORES Program:
• Southwest-Central Florida Connector (Collier County to Polk County);
• Suncoast Connector (Citrus County to Jefferson County);
• Northern Turnpike Connector (northern terminus of the Florida Turnpike northwest to the
Suncoast Parkway)
The law requires the department to convene a Southwest-Central Connector Task Force (SCCTF) to
evaluate the preliminary feasibility and need of an expressway corridor extending from Collier County to
Polk County. The SCCTF shall be composed of appropriate representatives from the following entities:
a. The Department of Environmental Protection
b. The Department of Economic Opportunity
c. The Department of Education
d. The Department of Health
e. Th Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
f. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
g. The local water management district(s)
h. A local government official from each local government within a proposed corridor;
i. Metropolitan planning organizations
ii. Regional planning counsels
iii. The community, who may be an individual or member of a nonprofit community
organization, as determined by the department; and;
i. Appropriate environmental groups.
The mission of the SCCTF is to evaluate the Southwest-Central Florida Connector corridor, which
extends from Collier County to Polk County. The task force will work in coordination with the Florida
Department of Transportation to address the need for the corridor and its potential economic and
environmental impacts.
The task force may consider and recommend innovative ways to combine right-of-way acquisition with
the acquisition of lands or easements to facilitate environmental mitigation or ecosystem, wildlife habitat
or water quality protection or restoration. The task force will specifically address the impacts of
construction on panther and other critical wildlife habitat. It will also evaluate wildlife crossing design
features. The task force will summarize the results of its analysis in a final report by October 1, 2020.
The first M-CORES task force meeting was held in Tampa, Florida on August 27, 2019. Thaddeus
Cohen, Department Head, Growth Management Department was in attendance and served as an interim
representative as the Board was on summer recess at that time. Commissioner McDaniel currently serves
10.B
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09/24/2019
as a representative of the Regional Planning Council on the M-CORES task force.
Additional task force meetings will be held in the future. The M-CORES presentation provided by FDOT
is attached for reference.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no Fiscal Impact associated with this item.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, raises no legal
issues, and requires majority vote for Board action. -JAK
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no Growth Management Impact associated with this
item.
RECOMMENDATION: To appoint another local government representative to the M-CORES task
force.
Prepared By: Thaddeus Cohen, Growth Management Department Head
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. FDOT Letter to Thaddeus Cohen 8-1-2019 (PDF)
2. Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-Session (PDF)
3. M-CORES Overview 090619 (PPTX)
10.B
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09/24/2019
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 10.B
Doc ID: 10141
Item Summary: Recommendation to appoint a member to represent M-CORES (Multi-Use
Corridors of Regional Economic Significance) Task Force.
Meeting Date: 09/24/2019
Prepared by:
Title: Executive Secretary – Growth Management Operations & Regulatory Management
Name: Jeanne Marcella
09/12/2019 4:37 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Division Director - Operations Support – Growth Management Operations & Regulatory
Management
Name: Kenneth Kovensky
09/12/2019 4:37 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Growth Management Department Jeanne Marcella Level 1 Reviewer Completed 09/12/2019 4:37 PM
Growth Management Department Jeanne Marcella Deputy Department Head Review Skipped 09/12/2019 4:23 PM
Growth Management Department Jeanne Marcella Department Head Review Completed 09/12/2019 4:38 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 09/13/2019 9:52 AM
Office of Management and Budget Valerie Fleming Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 09/13/2019 11:20 AM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Zautcke Additional Reviewer Completed 09/13/2019 2:47 PM
County Manager's Office Leo E. Ochs Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 09/17/2019 2:19 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 09/24/2019 9:00 AM
10.B
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10.B.1
Packet Pg. 377 Attachment: FDOT Letter to Thaddeus Cohen 8-1-2019 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
10.B.1
Packet Pg. 378 Attachment: FDOT Letter to Thaddeus Cohen 8-1-2019 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Task Force Products, Work
Plan, Roles & Responsibilities
Tampa, Florida
August 27, 2019
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 379 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Task Force Products
Product Contents
Corridor Development
Goals
Transportation and broader community, environmental, economic
development and other goals corridor planning should consider (why?)
Potential Avoidance,
Minimization, Mitigation,
and Enhancement
Considerations
Significant environmental or community resources where impacts from
transportation improvements should be avoided, minimized, mitigated, or
enhanced to the extent feasible (what should we do or not do?)
Corridor Opportunities High-level approaches for accomplishing corridor development goals:
existing and new facilities, multiple modes and uses (what could we do?)
Criteria and Process for
Evaluating Corridor
Opportunities
Considerations for evaluating how corridor opportunities may accomplish
corridor development goals (how do we decide?)
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 380 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Task Force Products
Product Contents
Guiding Principles Recommendations for implementation including potential actions by FDOT
and other state, regional, and local agencies and partners
Recommendations on potential approaches to avoid, minimize, mitigate,
and/or enhance environmental and community concerns during Project
Development (what’s next?)
Public Communication
Summary
Documentation of public comments and how the Task Force considered
public feedback in its recommendations (what did we hear?)
Final Report Summary report submitted to Governor and Legislature by
October 1, 2020 (what do we recommend?)
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 381 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Potential Corridor Opportunities
•Operational improvements to existing facilities
•Capacity improvements to existing facilities
•Reconstruction and modernization of existing facilities
•Transformation of existing facilities and right of way such as introducing or expanding modal options or other infrastructure
•Development of new facilities (represent as broad swaths)
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 382 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Task Force Work Plan
•Organizational Flow
•Work Plan
Organize
Aug -Sept 2019
(Meeting 1)
•Corridor Development Goals
•Potential Avoidance, Minimization, Mitigation, Enhancement Considerations
•Potential Corridor Opportunities
Explore
Oct 2019 -Feb 2020
(Meetings 2, 3)
•Criteria & Process for Evaluating Corridor Opportunities
•Draft Guiding Principles
Evaluate
March -June 2020
(Meetings 4, 5)
•Final Report
Recommend
July -Sept 2020
(Meetings 6, 7)
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 383 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Public Engagement Opportunities
•Public Comment Period at every Task Force meeting
•Specific events
•Community Open Houses in each corridor (October, December, March,
June)
•Community Workshops in each corridor (January/February & April/May)
•Public Comment Period on draft recommendations (July)
•Briefings to regional and local partner organizations, as requested
•Communication 24/7 through website, email, telephone
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 384 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Southwest-Central Connector
Task Force Schedule
Month Task Force Meeting Community Open House
October October 30. 2019 –Polk County October 31, 2019 –Hardee
County
December December 9, 2019 –Collier
County
December 10, 2019 –Hendry
County
March Lee County Glades County
June Charlotte County DeSoto County
August Highlands County
September Lee County
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 385 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Task Force Member Roles & Responsibilities
•Assist in development of final report recommendations
•Proactively seek public and partner engagement
•Make recommendations based on a consensus building process
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 386 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Consensus Building Process
•Task Forces will seek consensus on recommendations
•Consensus is striving for agreements members can support,
accept, live with, or agree not to oppose
•Task Forces will develop recommendations using consensus
building techniques with the assistance of facilitators
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 387 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Rules of Engagement
•Establish common understanding
•Seek commitment to reaching consensus
•Support a process that is open, trusting, and respectful
•Establish communication protocols
•Understand and work to address differences
•Identify clear process for reaching recommendations
•Participate consistently and actively
•Monitor progress and celebrate accomplishments
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 388 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Typical Recommendation Process
•Introduce and clarify the opportunity/issue
•Explore the opportunity/issue, collect and discuss ideas for
problem solving
•Look for emerging proposals that address the issues of as many
stakeholders (inclusive of public comments) as possible
•Make initial recommendations
•Discuss, clarify, and amend as needed
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 389 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Typical Acceptability Scale for Testing Ideas
•Wholehearted support –this is what I would do
•Support –this may not be what I would do, but it is good, and I
can support it (or live with it)
•Minor reservations –I may be able to live with it or even support
it, but I need clarification or refinement first
•Major reservations –I cannot support as currently drafted
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 390 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Adopting Final Recommendations
•Recommendations will be adopted at the final meeting
•The Task Force will strive for consensus on the
recommendations as a package to be included in the final
report
•Consensus will be defined and documented as members being
able to support, accept, live with, or agree not to oppose the
package of recommendations for the final report
•The final report will be submitted at the conclusion of the last
Task Force meeting
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 391 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Task Force Meeting Structure
•Meeting agenda with specific desired outcomes
•Facilitated discussion; no formal parliamentary procedures
•Collaborative recommendations
•Documentation of action items and assignments
•“Parking lot” for issues needing more information, further
discussion, or resolution in a later process
•Summary of each Task Force meeting
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 392 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
Discussion Guidelines
•Share responsibility for the process and the outcome
•Encourage honest and free policy discussion
•Direct comments to the facilitator
•Be courteous
•Speak one at a time
•Keep comments concise
•Speak to be understood
•Ask to understand
•Listen actively
•Use tent card to indicate desire to comment
10.B.2
Packet Pg. 393 Attachment: Southwest-Central-Florida-Connector-Products-Work-Plan-Roles-Afternoon-
M-CORES Program Overview
s. 338.2278, F.S.
September 18, 2019
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 394 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Purpose & Objective
Purpose
Revitalize rural communities
Encourage job creation
Provide regional connectivity while
leveraging technology
Enhance quality of life and public safety
Protect the environment and
natural resources
Objective
Advance construction of
regional corridors intended to
accommodate multiple modes
of transportation and multiple
types of infrastructure
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 395 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Goals & Potential Benefits
•Hurricane evacuation
•Congestion mitigation
•Tr ade and logistics
•Broadband, water, sewer connectivity
•Energy distribution
•Autonomous, connected, shared, electric vehicle technology
•Other transportation modes, such as shared-use nonmotorized trails, freight and passenger
rail, public transit
•Mobility as a service
•Availability of a trained workforce skilled in traditional and emerging technologies
•Protection or enhancement of wildlife corridors or environmentally sensitive areas
•Protection or enhancement of primary springs protection zones and farmland preservation areas
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 396 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Study Area Overview
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 397 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Suncoast Connector
from Citrus to Jefferson Counties
150 miles
Study Focus Areas
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 398 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Study Focus Areas
Northern Turnpike Connector
from northern terminus to Suncoast Parkway
40 miles
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 399 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Study Focus Areas
Southwest-Central Florida Connector
from Collier County to Polk County
140 miles
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 400 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
FDOT M-CORES Team
Co -Chair
Jason Peters
District 3
Director Ops
Co -Chair
Tr acy Hood
District 7
Design
Production Lead
Ryan Asmus Production Lead
Marlon Bizerra
Erik Fenniman
General Counsel
Stacy Miller
Assistant Secretary
Finance and Administration
Kevin Thibault
SecretaryCourtney Drummond
Assistant Secretary
Engineering and Operations
To rey Alston
Chief of Staff
Huiwei Shen
Chief Planner
April Blackburn
Chief Technology Officer
Suncoast Chair
Greg Evans
District 2 Secretary
Southwest Connector Chair
L.K. Nandam
District 1 Secretary
Co -Chair
Christina Colon
Tu rnpike
Director Production
Production Lead
Jennifer Stults
Amy Tootle
Corridor Programs
Wendy Parrish
Corridor PM
Northern Turnpike Ext. Chair
To m Byron
Assistant Secretary Strategic
Development
Will Watts
Chief Engineer
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 401 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Inclusive, Consensus-Building Task Force for Each Study Area
Ta sk Force Process
Secretary of Tr ansportation
Appointed Members on
August 1, 2019
Final Report to the
Governor, the President of
the Senate, and the
Speaker of the House of
Representatives by
October 1, 2020
FDOT shall provide affected
local governments with a
copy of the applicable task
force report and project
alignments by
December 31, 2023
Membership
§State agencies/commissions/partnerships
§Department of Environmental Protection
§Department of Economic Opportunity
§Department of Education
§Department of Health
§Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
§Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
§Public Service Commission
§Enterprise Florida
§Department of Business and Professional Regulation
§CareerSource Florida
§Water management district(s)
§County governments
§Metropolitan planning organization(s)
§Regional planning council(s)
§Community-based organizations
§Environmental groups
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 402 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Public Engagement Opportunities
•Public Comment Period at every Task Force meeting
•Specific events
•Community Open Houses in each corridor (October, December, March,
June)
•Community Workshops in each corridor (January/February &
April/May)
•Public Comment Period on draft recommendations (July)
•Briefings to regional and local partner organizations
•Communication 24/7 through website, email, telephone
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 403 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Ta sk Force Meetings
•Joint kickoff, all 3 Task Forces –August 27, Tampa
•Upcoming meetings
Corridor Task Force Meeting Community Open House
Northern Turnpike
Connector
October 22, Citrus County October 24, Citrus County
Suncoast Connector October 23, Citrus County October 24, Dixie County
Southwest-Central Florida
Connector
October 30, Polk County October 31, Hardee County
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 404 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Planning Process
Explore
Existing/Future
Conditions
Goals
Evaluate
Po tential
Opportunities
Evaluation
Criteria
Re commend
Opportunities for
Project
Development
Opportunities for
Future Study
Public Input
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 405 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Building on Existing Visions & Plans
REGIONAL AND
COMMUNITY VISIONS
COMPREHENSIVE
PLANS
CONSERVATION AND
RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT PLANS
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PLANS
WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PLANS
EMERGENCY
RESPONSE PLANS
RESILIENCY PLANS LONG RANGE
TRANSPORTAT ION
PLANS
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 406 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
What’s Changing?
Typical Planning Process Enhancements
Mobility Moving vehicles Moving people and freight
Connectivity Individual facilities or modes Multiple modes and types of infrastructure including
emerging technologies
Opportunity Reacting to growth and
development
Supporting regional and community visions, job growth,
workforce development
Resiliency Responding to system failures Preparing for future risks and potential disrupters
Environment Avoiding, minimizing,
mitigating impacts Enhancing communities and the environment
Safety Reducing safety risks Safety and security for all users; enhanced emergency
evacuation and response
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 407 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Environmental Sustainability Requirements
•M-CORES projects are subject to FDOT’s delegated responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other action required under any applicable federal environmental law
•Fo r projects that do not receive federal aid or do not require federal action, FDOT must perform a project evaluation consideringcomparable issues
•Decisions on corridor configuration, project alignment, and interchange locations must be determined in accordance with applicable FDOT rules, policies, and procedures
•To the greatest extent practical, corridor configuration, project alignment, and interchange locations must be designed so project rights-of-way are not located within conservation lands acquired under the Florida Preservation 2000 Act and the Florida Forever program
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 408 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Southwest-Central Florida Connector task force shall:
a.Address the impacts of project construction on panther and
other critical wildlife habitat and evaluate the need for
acquisition of lands for state conservation or as mitigation for
project construction
b.Evaluate wildlife crossing design features to protect panther
and other critical wildlife habitat corridor connections
Suncoast Connector task force and Northern
Turnpike Connector task force shall evaluate design
features and the need for acquisition of state conservation
lands that mitigate the impact of project construction on:
a.Wa ter quality and quantity of springs, rivers, and
aquifer recharge areas
b.Agricultural land uses
c.Wildlife habitat
Conservation Considerations
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 409 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
§FDOT,in consultation with the Department of
Environmental Protection, may incorporate those
features into each corridor during the project
development phase
§FDOT may accept donations of land for use as
transportation rights-of-way or to secure or use
transportation rights-of-way for such projects
Innovative Right-of-Way
§Ta sk Forces may consider and recommend innovative concepts to
combine right-of-way acquisition with the acquisition of
lands or easements to facilitate environmental mitigation
or ecosystem, wildlife habitat, or water quality protection
or restoration
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 410 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Program Schedule
Approved by
Governor
5/17/2019
7/1/2019
Effective
Task Force
Members
Appointed by
FDOT
Secretary
8/1/2019
10/1/2020
Final Report
Submitted to
Governor and
Legislature
Construction
by
12/31/2022
12/31/2023
FDOT Provides
Affected Local
Governments with
Copy of the
Applicable Task
Force Report &
Project Alignments
Constructed
by
12/31/2030
Project construction in any corridor is not eligible for funding until submission of the final report of the corridor task force for that
corridor and completion of 30 percent of the design phase of any project within a corridor, except for project phases that are under
construction or for which project alignment has been determined.
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 411 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Workforce Development
•FDOT is authorized to provide a
road and bridge construction
workforce development program
•Benefit communities in which FDOT
is constructing infrastructure
projects
•Promote employment opportunities,
including within areas of low income
and high unemployment
•Address construction labor shortage
by recruiting and developing skilled
workers for infrastructure projects
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 412 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
Projected Funding
Allocation of Amounts Retained in the State Transportation Trust Fund
Fiscal Year M-CORES SCRAP SCOP TDTF Workforce
Development
2019-2020 $12.5 million $10
million
$10
million
$10
million
$2.5 million
2020-2021 $57.5 million $10
million
$10
million
$10
million
$2.5 million
2021-2022 $101.7 million (estimated)$10
million
$10
million
$10
million
$2.5 million
2022-2023 &
thereafter
$105.9 million (estimated)$10
million
$10
million
$10
million
$0
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 413 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)
floridamcores.com
10.B.3
Packet Pg. 414 Attachment: M-CORES Overview 090619 (10141 : MCORES Commission Appointment)