Jeff Bergosh Blog: NO--Beulah Interchange Project was NOT Skipped over for the #2 Project

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I am one member of a five person board. The opinions I express on this forum are mine only, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Escambia County Staff, Administrators, Employees, or anyone else associated with Escambia County Florida. I am interested in establishing this blog as a means of additional transparency to the public, outreach to the community, and information dissemination to all who choose to look. Feedback is welcome, but because public participation is equally encouraged, appropriate language and decorum is mandatory. Although this is not my campaign site for re-election--sometimes campaign related information will be discussed, therefore in an abundance of caution I add the following : Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Jeff Bergosh, Republican, for Escambia County Commissioner District 1

Thursday, February 2, 2023

NO--Beulah Interchange Project was NOT Skipped over for the #2 Project

The Governor's newly announced $7 Billion Legislative Initiative, "Moving Florida Forward," put forth to streamline and fund construction of badly needed, much anticipated infrastructure projects statewide----- includes a massive $162 Million in NEW funding for the regional Transportation Planning Organization's (TPO) #2 Priority and #1 unfunded priority. NO--the Beulah Interchange Project was NOT skipped over for the area TPO's #2 project

At first glance the recently announced slate of projects recommended for fast-track funding by the Governor in the upcoming legislative session may have appeared to skip the Beulah Interchange (#1 area project) in favor of the #2 ranked project. However, upon speaking with transportation planning organization staff--some clarification was provided which puts this huge initiative's impact locally into better context. This new funding will actually enhance things that are already funded in D1/D5 and portions of D3 in NW Escambia County. It will be a HUGE win if the legislature moves forward with this initiative from Governor Ron DeSantis. From the email:

"Beulah interchange is fully funded within the FDOT 10 year Transportation Improvement Program and appears to be on schedule for delivery (meaning right of way and construction commencing, if all goes right, within the next 6 years). The right-of-way will take a couple years for completion, thus there is very little room to advance this project beyond the current schedule. SIS priority #2 (I-10 widening and the interchange) is a logical choice because with Beulah being fully funded in the FDOT 10-year Transportation Improvement Program, this project was not. In fact, our documents projected constructed outwards of 2041 timeframe. So this Florida Forward proposal does, in fact, advance this project significantly. .. “We are very excited to learn of the “Moving Florida Forward” proposal by Governor DeSantis. If this proposal is adopted by the legislature, it will bring $162 million new dollars to Northwest Florida that would not have been available, to advance the TPO’s #1 unfunded project nearly 2 decades! Thanks to Governor DeSantis and Secretary Perdue for introducing this proposal.”

Yes, the wins are stacking up for the Escambia BCC, Escambia County, and NW Escambia County in particular. #Winning.