“Credit rests with the many local residents and elected officials who clearly understand the many negative impacts of the proposed Turnpike Extension — and associated sprawling development — on their rural economies, water quality, environment and quality of life,” explains 1000 Friends of Florida Communications Director Vivian Young, who has led the organization’s advocacy on this issue since proposals first surfaced in 2019.
Credit also goes to the advocacy groups that make up the No Roads to Ruin Coalition. “Thanks to their leadership, residents were empowered to take a firm stand for their right to play a major role in planning for their communities’ futures,” says Young. She notes that, as major transportation projects never seem to completely die, “1000 Friends stands ready to support these and other communities across Florida in better codifying their local visions for the future. This is what planning is all about.”
The Northern Turnpike Extension is a remnant of the 2019 Legislature’s ill-fated M-CORES (Multi-Use Corridor of Regional Economic Significance) project to create a 330-mile toll road network from Collier County to the Panhandle. 1000 Friends engaged throughout the process, advocating that expansion of the I-75 Corridor was a more effective, less expensive and less damaging way to address transportation needs.
Among other things, 1000 Friends served on the task forces for each of the three initial M-CORES segments — the Northern Turnpike, Suncoast and Southwest-Central connectors — but refused to endorse the final reports. We also developed robust webpages (at
www.1000fof.org/mcores) with links to our special reports, maps and other resources to promote active citizen engagement. 1000 Friends helped persuade the Legislature to curtail planning and funding for M-CORES in 2021, but scaled-back versions of the Northern Turnpike and Suncoast connectors remained.
Currently, 1000 Friends of Florida intern Meghan Gilmore, Policy and Planning Director Jane West and Outreach Director Haley Busch are partnering with Community of Royal activist Beverly Steele to offer planning guidance to this historic rural African-American community in Sumter County. All four proposed corridors for the Northern Turnpike Extension would have bisected Royal. “We look forward to continuing to work with Beverly Steele and other community advocates across Florida to promote sound planning,” says Young.
