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Dear County Commissioners. Thank you for hearing the pleas of the school, church, and residential communities along Davis Blvd. We noted in the State Transportation Department presentation that there would be major costs and time delays in curbing and landscaping the small section of Davis Blvd between the Falling Waters/Countryside entrance and County Barn Road for several reasons, which were as follows: DOT stated that they would require the road to be regraded to cause the rainwater runoff to go to the outside of the roadway instead of the center median. However, the attached photo (IMG_0936_1), taken today, indicates that water on the left lanes of the roadway already flow toward the outside edge of the road, not toward the center median. Thus, DOT was wrong in their statement. DOT also stated that they would most likely require an alternative water retention area to that now in the existing center median and that they at least would have to tear up the roadway to provide the necessary drains. However, the attached photos (IMG_0939_1 and IMG_0940_1) show a water collection drain and a storm sewer pipe that allows water from the median not to collect in the median, but instead to flow directly under the westbound lanes into the existing canal on the north side of Davis Blvd. There are two such drains on this section of roadway. Again, the DOT was wrong in their statement. Also, photo IMG_0938_1 shows there are already "drive over" curbs in that section of the roadway between roadway wherever there is a left turn lane or crossover. Also, DOT indicated that the center median in question was too narrow to provide landscaping. It should be noted that the median in that section of the roadway is just as wide as the median already landscaped on the west side of County Barn. And, the median on the West of Country Barn to Heritage Way, does not have streetside gutters. This median is at the same level as the neglected roadway of SR 84 has a curbed landscaped median with no evidence of roadway flooding in 14 years! Also, DOT indicated that the existing street lighting and sidewalk on the south side of Davis ended at Heritage Trail, when in fact the street lighting goes at least 100 yards further east to Florida Club Circle, and the existing sidewalk extends all the way to County Barn Road! It appears that FDOT presented a overly pessimistic, worst case scenario not based on fact. And that they should be asked to come up with more realistic time and cost to do the job. Also, because they apparently are refusing to modify their existing request for proposal for the portion of the Davis Blvd east of Santa Barbara, and instead are saying that a whole new contract is needed, even though the supplies and equipment would be available as part of that effort, they might be in danger of being charged with waste and abuse of taxpayer funds. It just looks to me like they just don't want to put out the effort to expedite the work that both the County Commissioners and the citizens of the area are judiciously requesting. I respectively request that this situation be pursued at the State level. And that corrective action be taken. Marlene Sherman Respectively request an agenda item be added to the June 8, 2012, MPO/County Commissioners Meeting to give FDOT the opportunity to correct their mis-statements made at the May 11, 2012 meeting. Additonally, respectively request you to ask FDOT to present a 4th option for roadway improvement on SR -84, from the entrances Countryside/Fall Waters communities to County Bar Road. Respectively, the 4th option should state costs for median curbing only, median non-potable water connection, street lights, and a sidewalk (only) on the Southside of SR-84.
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