Santa Rosa County Commissioners during their December 9 meeting approved submittal of a Transportation Regional Incentive Program (TRIP) grant for the Navarre Community Access Road Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) study. Additionally, the board approved applying for a grant for a bike path on Panhandle Trail.
According to a December 9 memo from SRC Planning and Zoning Director Shawn Ward, there has been a need for “many years” to create an East-West connector to get traffic off of US 98.
“The next step would be to conduct a Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) study in order to determine social, economic, natural and physical environmental impacts associated with a proposed transportation improvement project. The PD&E would also have to include a major public outreach component,” Ward stated.
Per Ward, the project limits are from Edgewood Drive to Whispering Pines. The proposed corridor would connect collector roads, improve them with paved shoulders, sidewalks, and medians, so that pedestrians are removed from the traffic.
“A well designed collector road with sidewalks and paved shoulders/bike lanes could give residents another mobility option and improve safety,” stated Ward.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s application deadline is December 30. Projects are competitive across FDOT District 3 which is 16 counties
In July 2019, the Navarre Community Access Road Feasibility Study was completed, and the next phase is the PD&E Study to keep this project moving forward, per county documents.
Santa Rosa County was previously awarded $500,000 in FY 2017 TRIP funds for the Navarre Community Access Road Feasibility Study.
A minimum of 50% local match of $600,000 will be required if the grant is funded.
For the Panhandle Trail project, the cost estimate is just over $1.5 million, and a local match has been identified.
