We Need the Public's Help to Fix Sorrento Road---Here's How YOU can Help Us! Part I

There is an upcoming project priorities public workshop online at which time the public can press the state to move the project to 4-lane Sorrento Road forward.  But we need the public's help to make this happen.  Will you attend and lend your voice to this effort? 5-11-2022 at 2:00 PM Online......

Because I have served on the Florida Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) for more than 5 years- once year as Chairman,  I know all too well the issues and challenges of Sorrento Road.  I have driven it many, many times over the years---going all the way back to when I got my first car in 1984.

Others know it's dangerous, too.

After my first blog post on this topic on April 18th, local news outlets investigated.  In a series of published media reports that followed-----the issues with Sorrento were spotlighted. Sorrento Road is such a dangerous roadway--it has tallied up an incredible 85 traffic collissions over the last 15 months according to the PNJ's report.  Including multiple fatalities.

It is a narrow, dark road where folks speed between Perdido Key and West Pensacola/Pensacola--and sadly this roadway has seen far too many fatalities.  White crosses signifying the loss of loved ones dot the side of this roadway.

Something has to get done, this has to be fixed.  But why has this not happened sooner?

The state had a plan to 4-lane this roadway--as a part of a larger plan to 4-lane Perdido Key Drive, Sorrento, portions of Blue Angel Parkway and other roadways to create an alternate West to East 4-lane hurricane evacuation route out of Escambia County. but the inertia to make it happen evanesced in 2014-2015 after the departure of Assistant County Administrator Larry Newsome and the former commissioner in D2.  Sorrento got lost in the death of that project and subsequently  languished far down the list of TPO priorities.

Since that time,  the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organizations has prioritized other projects ahead of Sorrento.  

But now is the time for the citizens that drive this road to make their voices heard.  The TPO will be holding a series of public input sessions to receive citizen suggestions as to what the prioritization of Sorrento Road should be.  This is where YOU, the citizen, comes in.  We need,  no,   I NEED--your voice to be heard on Sorrento Road if you feel the state need to make it a higher priority than number 18 on the list.  Without a higher prioritization this road will not be 4-laned.

So those that are passionate about Sorrento road can attend one or all of the following workshops and speak on the topic of Sorrento Road.  Next Week's meeting will be online.  Scroll to the bottom of this

So How the Heck Do these Transportation Projects Happen Anyway?

These 9 Questions are not only applicable to transportation projects:  I think I'll start asking these of EVERYONE who approaches me for funding of any sort for any project.  Thanks TPO for this!

That's what I learned a lot more about in an intense deep-dive this weekend in Orlando.

Money doesn't just fall out of the sky to fund these projects, after all.  We all know this but it is extremely helpful to have experts tell you exactly how the process (supposedly) works.

And there are some tremendously intricate laws that govern these expenditures, how they get funded, the politics of the process, who pays what, who truly has the power,  and most importantly--how long it takes to get these things done.

That's what I spent my whole weekend learning about in Orlando.  And I am not saying I am now officially an expert. But I was given a TON of information in a SHORT weekend seminar--and most dangerously--I was given links to the data sources and contact information for FLC staff that are standing by to help.

The greatest part of this is that I now have enough knowledge to know exactly what I did not know before, where to get the information I need, and contact information for the officials and professionals that live and breathe this issue 24-7, 365.  And, again,  these folks want to help us going forward.

So it was  INCREDIBLY beneficial for me (and for my constituents in Escambia County) to be able to attend this conference:  I met fellow TPO and  MPO members from around the state, found out WHO to call for real answers, and what we need to do to move legitimately needed and necessary projects forward in Escambia County. 

I'm looking forward, now more than ever, to becoming the chairman of the TPO later this  summer--now I feel like I have the additional information I need to be as effective as I can possibly be in this new position for the people that pay my salary.

Stay tuned and look out!