Parkway issue heats up

Citrus County Chronicle, August 30, 2001
By Mike Wright

About 120 people packed into the Crystal Oaks community hall to hear consultant Carl Gibilaro explain the three-year process to study whether the tollroad should continue through Citrus.

Gibilaro, project manager for what is known as Suncoast 2, promised public involvement will be key to the process.

“We hear what people are telling us every day,” he said.

“We’re not here to tell you we’re going to slam it down your throat. You’ll have to live with it every day.”

The 43-mile Suncoast Parkway 1 stretches from the Veterans Expressway in Tampa to U.S. 98 just south of the Citrus County line. A proposed corridor set in 1998 that moved the parkway through Citrus was scrapped for several reasons, including because the state bought environmental uplands in the corridor’s path.

“We’re going to go back and look at the project from scratch,” Gibilaro said.

Gibilaro said Wednesday was his first opportunity to address a public group on the project. Officially, public meetings and citizen advisory groups will begin meeting later this year.

Gibilaro said he’s heard from both sides of the issue, but the crowd at Crystal Oaks was clearly one-sided against the parkway.

The audience questioned the state’s commitment to a “no build” option, criticized traffic projections, suggested the road isn’t needed in Citrus County and said the road will not pay for itself.

Some anger was directed at Citrus County commissioners, who have refused requests for a public referendum on the issue.

Commissioners have said the parkway is needed to alleviate traffic from growth and public sentiment won’t change that need.

“We bought a home here for our families, not for the tourists,” Theresa Waldron, Lecanto, said.

“All the profit seekers, we don’t care about them. Put it on a referendum and ask the people who live here if they want it.”

Gibilaro said he had nothing to do with the referendum, but he said public support was critical to getting the road built.

To that, Carl Simpson said he doubted the turnpike district would value opinion from citizens over that of the county commission.

“You don’t listen to us. The only one you listened to is the county commission,” said Simpson, a Pine Ridge resident.

“What is community support? What exactly is that?”

Gibilaro tried to assure the crowd. “As we go through the study, we’ll listen to you,” he said.

As the meeting wound down, Vincent Mace, Floral City, rose to make his point.

“My question is, is there anything groups like this can do to stop the whole thing?”

Hearing approval from the crowd, Mace bellowed: “Do we need it? Can we afford it? Do we like it?”

Each question was met with a resounding “No!”

Gibilaro promised to make himself available to any group wanting to learn about the study process. He can be reached at (407) 532-3999, Ext. 3412.

See August 30, 2001 issue of Citrus County Chronicle for original article.