Central Polk Parkway
Encyclopedia
The Central Polk Parkway is a proposed toll road in Polk County
, Florida
. The proposed road is actually two separate roads—called "legs" by the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT). The western segment would connect the Polk Parkway with Florida State Road 60 between Bartow
& Lake Wales
. The eastern leg would start a few miles east of State Road 60 and run north, paralleling US 27 terminating at Interstate 4
west of Davenport
. The most recent, and viable, proposed routing would connect the two "legs" together, with the legs meeting near the CSX
Intermodal Facility south of Wahneta
. The route is in its early stages and at the earliest, the road would not be completed before 2020.
. The Heartland Parkway was a proposed road to connect the Lakeland
area with Fort Myers
running 150 miles through undeveloped land in the Florida Heartland
. This proposal was enthusiastically supported by former governor Jeb Bush
, but his successor Charlie Crist
has been cool to the idea due primarily to environmental concerns. For the time being, the Heartland Parkway is on hold. The one segment of the Heartland Parkway which was not on hold was the segment in Polk County north of State Road 60, what some called "the fishhook." According to feasibility studies on various east-west and north-south routes throughout the state by the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
, the route from State Road 60 to the Polk Parkway was the only feasible route, meaning it would be supported by tolls alone. Further studies have been funded and the project is currently past the initial planning stages.
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The proposed road is actually two separate roads—called "legs" by the Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
(FDOT). The western segment would connect the Polk Parkway with Florida State Road 60 between Bartow
Bartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
& Lake Wales
Lake Wales, Florida
Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,194 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 11,802 . It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. The eastern leg would start a few miles east of State Road 60 and run north, paralleling US 27 terminating at Interstate 4
Interstate 4
Interstate 4 is a intrastate Highway located entirely within the state of Florida, United States. It goes from Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida to Interstate 95 at Daytona Beach, Florida . It also has the Florida Department of Transportation designation of State Road 400, but only a small...
west of Davenport
Davenport, Florida
Davenport is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,925 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,994. While the city of Davenport itself is very small, the area north of the city close to Interstate 4 and US 27 is...
. The most recent, and viable, proposed routing would connect the two "legs" together, with the legs meeting near the CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
Intermodal Facility south of Wahneta
Wahneta, Florida
Wahneta is a census-designated place in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,731 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. The route is in its early stages and at the earliest, the road would not be completed before 2020.
Beginnings
The Central Florida Parkway has its beginnings in another proposed road project the controversial Heartland ParkwayHeartland Parkway
The Heartland Parkway is a proposed toll road running from Polk County in central Florida to the Fort Myers–Naples area of southwest Florida, to be operated by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise. The proposed toll road would run approximately through rural portions of Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto,...
. The Heartland Parkway was a proposed road to connect the Lakeland
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
area with Fort Myers
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
running 150 miles through undeveloped land in the Florida Heartland
Florida Heartland
The Florida Heartland is a region of Florida located to the north and west of Lake Okeechobee, composed of six inland, non-metropolitan counties — DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee. In 2000, The US Census Bureau recorded the population of the region at 229,509...
. This proposal was enthusiastically supported by former governor Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
, but his successor Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
has been cool to the idea due primarily to environmental concerns. For the time being, the Heartland Parkway is on hold. The one segment of the Heartland Parkway which was not on hold was the segment in Polk County north of State Road 60, what some called "the fishhook." According to feasibility studies on various east-west and north-south routes throughout the state by the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
Florida's Turnpike Enterprise is a business unit of the Florida Department of Transportation , employing private sector business practices to operate its 460-mile system of limited-access toll highways for the benefit of Florida's traveling public...
, the route from State Road 60 to the Polk Parkway was the only feasible route, meaning it would be supported by tolls alone. Further studies have been funded and the project is currently past the initial planning stages.
Needs
The Central Florida Parkway would fulfill a number of needs in Polk County, according to the FDOT and the road's proponents:- It would act as a beltway around the City of Winter HavenWinter Haven, FloridaWinter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
, providing easy freeway access to the Polk Parkway and Interstate 4. - The planned CSXCSX TransportationCSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
freight terminal off of US 27 in Winter Haven is supposed to create substantial truck traffic, and the proposed road would help keep these trucks off of local roads. - The Clear Springs development in Bartow will double or triple Bartow's population in the next 20 years, increasing traffic substantially on State Road 60 and US 17.
- The construction of Legoland FloridaLegoland FloridaLegoland Florida is a theme park in Winter Haven, Florida. It opened on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Merlin Entertainments Group operates the park which encompasses of the former Cypress Gardens amusement park, making Legoland Florida the world's largest Legoland park.-Announcement:A press release...
on the site of the old Cypress GardensCypress GardensCypress Gardens was an American theme park near Winter Haven, Florida, that operated from 1936 to 2009.-History:Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936 as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope Sr. and his wife Julie...
will bring added traffic to the area. - The road would reduce traffic on State Road 60, US 17 and US 27.
Criticism
Many residents of the area are fearful that the quiet lifestyle they enjoy will be disrupted or even that they themselves may be forced to move because they are in the path of the proposed road. Others see the road as one which will ultimately encourage urban sprawl in an area which is currently mostly undeveloped.External links
- FDOT'sFlorida Department of TransportationThe Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
Project Development & Environment study website http://www.centralpolkparkway.com/ - Handout with map & analysis of proposed routes http://www.centralpolkparkway.com/CPP_handout_insert.pdf
- Complete PD&E study ("corridor report") http://www.centralpolkparkway.com/Corridor_Report.pdf