County commissioners have voted unanimously to form an independent expressway authority to advocate for a new toll road in Polk County.
The toll road could connect to the Polk Parkway near Winter Haven, continue to the east side of Highway 27 and then north to Interstate 4. Supporters of the road said it would relieve traffic congestion and open up new parts of east Polk to development.
The road is currently known as the Central Polk Parkway. The Florida Department of Transportation has dropped plans for the project because of concerns it wouldn’t have enough traffic to pay for itself.
Haines City resident Dave Carter is a booster of the project. He argues that at least some segments of the road could be built.
“If the projected traffic is not there, the segments would not be feasible and those sections of the road would simply not be built," he said.
Polk resident Sharon Boozer Garrett is opposed to the road. She said the proposed route of the road might cut through rural land owned by her family for generations. She also doesn’t believe the road would result in a better economy for her part of the county, maybe just higher taxes.
"I’ve been told we need growth for this that and the other," she said. " 'Your taxes will go down.' I have yet to see my taxes go down."
The new expressway authority would include members appointed by Polk commissioners and the governor. It would likely have to come up with bond funds to pay for the project, which could cost $1.5 billion.