Three Important Aspects Conveniently, Conspicuously Absent from PNJ Editorial on NFCU's 9-Mile Road Overpass...

One does not need a windsock to see which way the winds are blowing as it relates to the NFCU 9-Mile Road overpass project...

I don’t disagree that a traffic solution for 9-mile road is desperately needed. Everyone knows this. And everyone also knows that NFCU is the greatest thing to happen in DECADES for the Pensacola area and Escambia in terms of economic development and jobs diversification.  And now that the vote has happened at the BCC, the process to construct this solution will invariably move forward through the TPO and into the design and PD&E phase.  However, I do find it interesting that three important issues were left out of this editorial.  

Number 1—the current project to double the capacity of 9-mile road by going from a 2-lane to a 4-lane road (the project that has been under construction out here for the past two years) will be completed next year.  This, in and of itself, will be massively beneficial at easing congestion in the near term in this area.  

Number 2-The Beulah interchange project is moving rapidly and has the potential to be completed before this overpass is completed (the southbound portion of the interchange at a minimum)—and the Beulah interchange, if not “back-burnered” will spread the Beulah-area traffic load between two I-10 freeway exits whereas this NFCU overpass simply funnels all Beulah and NFCU traffic into one exit—which I do not believe is the optimal solution.  

And finally, number 3- I notice the price-tag for this 9- Mile Road, NFCU overpass is also conspicuously left out of the discussion in this editorial—but a $70 Million-dollar project ought to be scrutinized heavily—particularly if it will leap-frog (or has the potential preempt) many other very necessary and worthwhile regional projects on the TPO list.  These were three important data-points conveniently absent from the editorial.  

Now, I can read the tea leaves, I don't need a windsock to tell me which way the hurricane-force winds are blowing, I know there is huge gravity behind this project, and I know it will be funded and will move forward regardless what my constituents or anyone else thinks...

But I want to ---and I will ---set the record straight right here, right now on two things.  

First--the number one project for the region is the Beulah interchange, and whatever happens with this NFCU overpass, it is not more important than the Beulah interchange --which is truly a regional project.  

Secondly-- my no vote on this issue was neither anti-NFCU nor anti-solution.  I agree we need a solution, but I simply wanted time to hear from constituents that live in the area that will be impacted by whatever solution we eventually implement.  I do not think it was unreasonable to request a brief delay of less than 30 days so that more input could be gathered from District 1 constituents—most whom I heard from did not support this overpass.  We all know the way that very reasonable request was handled at the meeting-- and so for principle’s sake I voted NO.  

But now we move forward and I recognize the need to move forward.  My goal from here on out is to be actively engaged with the community during the PD&E phases to ensure this project is the least onerous on residents, most efficient for the commuters, and the most beneficial for the significant taxpayer dollars that will be invested to build this overpass.