The below letter was sent by email to Senate President Wilton Simpson and members of the Senate Transportation Committee, including Senators Gayle Harrell, Keith Perry, Lori Berman, Randolph Bracy, George B. Gainer, Shevrin Jones, Ana Maria Rodriguez, and Tom A. Wright.
Dear Senate Transportation Committee Members,
The M-CORES toll roads program is a destructive, budget-busting project. As Senator Harrell has noted, there are “major problems,” and during this legislative session it is imperative to do things differently and protect taxpayer dollars. Thousands of Floridians have spoken in opposition to these disastrous toll roads and 108 businesses and organizations have joined the No Roads to Ruin Coalition.
The No Roads to Ruin Coalition Steering Committee offers the following in response to SB 100:
The No Roads to Ruin Coalition Steering Committee cannot support SB100 in its current form because of the potential for new toll roads through important natural and rural areas. We will oppose SB 100 until the possibility of a Northern Turnpike Connector is removed from the bill.
Any expansion to existing roadways should depend upon the demonstration of need and fiscal feasibility while not negatively impacting our water and natural resources, rural communities, communities of color, and agricultural lands.
We support a full repeal of M-CORES and its funding of all programs associated with the Southwest-Central, Northern Turnpike, and Suncoast Corridors through the passage of SB 1030 and HB 763.
The No Roads to Ruin Coalition Steering Committee includes the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Florida Conservation Voters, Florida Springs Council, Progress Florida, Sierra Club Florida, and Save the Manatee Club.
We will be discussing our specific concerns in the bill with Senator Harrell as soon as possible. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to discuss the matter more fully.