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STATE ROAD DEPARTMENT or FLORIDA
TALLAHAMI
W11 15. 1953
mm mm m
a the mm STAB ROAD mm
One of the item of unfiniehed bueineee tecinz the Btete
need Department in Jemnry, 1953, vee the rem-nation of the preview
Board to build e self liquidating limited ecceee toll turnpike fro:- the
vicinity of Jukeonville to Mini, end to build a connection tro- thin
reed to the Nut Cont. It we quickly epperent thet the propoeed sweeter-n
leg at thie propoeel m wand finencielly. The emineerin tin of
Commie & Colpitte in Deceaber, 1952, tomd that the veetem leg wee
not only uneouad, but if tied to the north-mutt: mute, both would be un-
eaund. This web we inedietely epperent after I: study at the two 1952
reports by Pal-eons, Brinckerhofr, Rell In Needeneld end the cue report by
Covet-dale a. Colpitte. Investigation proved these to be two of the out-
standing engineering fir- od' the United States. Yet the (our: "coended
utinmcnllymdthemuteumdedbythenoridewnoerdin
1952, while the letter town! the two together to be unecund while the north-
eouth route wee found to be feasible. Thie difference of opinion among two
of the recognized experte in their field cemed the preeent Road Bond to
be extreeely eeutioue. It as our feeling, Isa-lever, thet the letter nu
Start and Xieni at this time, beceuee thie it the eree of greeteet trefiic
congeetim. There an be no doubt thet thie eree needs tretiic relief at
the eerlieet poeeihle mt.
For the new reeeone we hereby offer the following recom-
nendetione in recerd to the rloride turnpike:
l. 'i'het e tollpile be constructed ee econ ee preeticel with
its northern extremity in the vicinity 0! Stuart, end its eonthern extremity
in the vicinity of him. Thet the turnpike he of lieited eccm, end thet
comrciel eetnbliehnente on the right or we: be united to the lamet
mmber or vendor: of food end 1131 neceeeery for the contort end conven-
ience at the traveling yuhlic. Experience in the operation of this turn-
pike will determine the advisability of extending it northward.
2. Financing. He nuggeet tvo elternete plane 01 tinencing.
e. Through the sale of non recouree revenue certificates,
with no liability to the State or State Bond Department. Before inning the
revenue certificate: the neth of financing should be improved by the
Mike Authority, the State Road Deyertment, and the State hard of M-
ninietretion, cat-posed of the Com-nor, the Comptroller end the 'rreeeurer.
While there in n reluctance nt thin ti. to cmider t1. pay-eats for pub-
lic benefits, still we muet rewaber that private enterprise me this
method to advantage. Railroads, eir linee, pwer coqpeniee, large hotele,
sever eyetene and other capital undertakings are largely financed by the
sale of heads or revenue certificates.
b. Through e pay-ee-yon-go plea. Beceuee or the large
number of bridge structures it will take two to three yum to build. this
tmpikeunderenyplen. mmwmourdutyiruedidnotcell
-m-
attention to a pay-as-you-gp possibility. The money from the sale of auto-
Iohile license teas, (other than that 30188 to schools by constitutional
amendment) is now being diverted to the General Fund. 1: this mat of
money were appropriated to this turnpike for a little over three years,
the highway could be built without interest charges. This would save 50$
of the total, and we would set twice as much highway for the loony spent.
The tolls could then either cone hack to the General Fund or so to the
State Road Department for use on the primary system. Us must look ahead
to our hishuay needs. The present revenue is admitedly inadequate. Revenue
from a successful toll turnpike could solVe the financial problems of future
rlorida road builders.
3. Mt it he built by the Florida Turnpike Authority if
such an authority is authorized by the Ilorida Legislature. That this method
be followed in preference to financing through the Iqrovement Couiasioo.
After careful study we recounend the Mike Authority rather than the pri-
vate system or building. It is our further recommendation that Ilorida
business leaders be drafted to serve on the Authority, and that their terms
he staggered to take politics out of the management of this iaportant state
agency.
Our reason for recommending against building the turnpike by
a private corporation cen be summarized into three statements. First, if
it is good for private industry, it is good for the State. Second, it
would be necessary to have State control of a private corporation through
membere on the Beard of Directors in order to control costs so that the road
could be turned over to the State with all billa paid in the shortest
-11-
possible time. Third, a private corporation mm have to pey corporation
incoae tomes, edvslorem tax on the highvay, and my other taxes which
would materially increase the total cost.
mr reason for suggesting ugulatin approval hinges around
two points. First, many lawyers have considerable doubt oonoemim the
legal authority of the Imovement Omission to undertake a project of this
kind. Msecondreaeonietlntuefeeimeproject istoolargeand too
innortant to rim-ids to be determined by nine m. (m Rood Board is
cowoeed of five members, and its chairman is a usher or the rive-man
Improvement Couiseion) m a legs]. standpoint it would be better to
have direct legislative directive. Prom s democratic standpoint it mid
be more desirable that the responsibility for the decision include the
people's elected representation in the legislature.
h. Thst e continuing study he made of the route to be follow-
ednortbottuart, andthat thebalanceocthenorthendwuthroutebe
built it it is determined to be financially sand by the Turnpike Authority
and euch determination approved by the Legislature.
5. It is our recommendstion thst the mmpike Authority be
separate and distinct from the State Rood Department, but that overlapping
number-ship would be desirable in order tint the Authority might avail itself
of the facilities sud personnel of the Road Department organisation.
'1
of great enough importance to the State to require us to make a that-mash
and complete investigation or all possibilities for solving the proqu or
travel from the Georgia line to the southern end of Florida.
It was apparent that the spectacular Mb 01' Florida in
recent years and the desire of tourists to visit all sections of Florida
makes some new through llorth and South highway desirable. There can be
no doubt that a free State financed highway would be soot desirable. A
thorongh study was made of this possibility. The coat of such a highway
would be between $175,000,000 and $200,000,000, depending on the route and
the type of construction. tour cents of the seven cent gasoline tax is
used by the Road Department to nintain and construct the primary highways
in Florida. (he cent of the gasoline tax brings in between nine and ten
sillion dollars annually. Taking the high figure, we might expect 3%,,000
of State runds each year. his can be ntched by available aunts from
the Federal Bureau of Roads to raise the total to close to $50,000,000 per
year for primary road purposes. Regular nintenancs and administration
must be deducted, leaving about $36,000,000 available for primary construct-
ion and rehabilitation. 'Ibe other three cents of the gasoline tax are
going at the present ties to construction and mintenance of the secondary
system of roads. In order to deal in smaller figures, let's break this
down. There are five Districts in Florida. It is not always customary to
divide the money evenly, but for couparison let's break it down that way.
Then each District might expect to spend about seven million dollars each
year on primary highways. for the extreme example let us look at the Second
District more closely. This District includes Hassau County on the north,
the City of Jacksonville, end south to the St. Johns County line. It ex-
tends vest to the west boundary of Madison County, end thence beck eouth
including Geineeville. Let us keep in mind that in en this territory we
have approximately seven nillion dollars to spend eech year. He now know
the size 0! this District end the elount of my snilnhle for it. Let
us look et some or the inediete needs. He cemot look et en of then he-
ceueeottheneedtokeepthiereportbriet,buthereereeooeofthen:
1. The Jacksonville Expressway. A firm counitment by the
former Board to caught. the job. .xnomt needed . $36,000,000, 00' approxi-
mately e11 of the income of the District for five yeers.
2. max-1:1 improvement to 0. 3. Eighnys #1, [17 end #301
in the District. These ere very hsdly needed move-eats end $15,000,000
\Iould not be a high estimate.
3. Improvement to U. 8. Bighuey #9) for e distance a: at
leeet fifty milee et e cost of $3,000,000.
Is. moving 0. a. Highway in, shout $5,000,000.
5. Your-lane and rebuild u. 8.1!iahwsy 19 free Ceppe to
Chieflend. This is one of the met dnngeroue end most eeriouely ever-
loeded roeds in all Flor-ids. Ten million dollars could be spent to Want-
ace here.
6. Other needed ilprovements in this District will total
et leest $20,000,000.
The ohm figures are Just romd nubers end the estimates
are not preeu-ed to be accurate, but they do point out thet in this one
Dietrict today there is need for hetveen ninety end one mmdred minions
or dollers tobe ezqaendedonprinryhidwey inprovenent. This, oicourse,
is twelve to fourteen times the stunt of nosey curmtly sveilebls sech
year in the District. At the current rate of incon for roed building it
is easy to see that we ere at least twelve yeere behind in this District.
The other Districts ens not too different, eltboush the problem of the
Jacksonville Expressway lakes the needs in the Sound District extraordi-
nary.
withthesboveneedsinninditmnottoodifricultto
decide that there we ebsolutely no use to seriously consider the building
of a north to south highway with State men to rent the present day needs.
One elternetive considered VII the tour-lemma of U. 8.
Highway #1. While this is essentiel end hiahly desireble, it will not fill
the need for a north end south turnpike unless last of the cities and toms
on its route ere by-pessed. This by-pessina would be very expensive and
would mterislly lengthen the highway. It is our belief thst this highway
is used by sufficient nunbens of local people end tourists, with headquerters
at sons city on the highway, together with looal truck hauling, to mite the
four-lening of this road necessary at this time. This project hes been
comenced by this Boerd.
The only other elternetive seems to be e limited access high-
way to be psid for by those who use it. For shut the some reasons listed
show, other states have turned to this type of highway for relief from
treitic congestion csused by the lersest masher of cers ever on Our high-
ways and by the spperent desire of our people to see ears of their native
lend. 11w five dey week in the industriel ereas is an ectuelity. Retire-
tent eyeteue and planned vocation ti-ee ore taking our people to the high-
vaye or thin country by the aillione. The Stet of Penneylvanie, Maine,
Gannon, (hie, Indiana, Virginie, Rev York, lev Jemy and Georgia have
written turnpike enabling Ante into their etatutee. may other etetee are
now considering similar action.
The following are extracts from 1953 neeeegee of Governors
to State legislature
GOV. DenlhorntonotColorado: "HymandI, eeleedera
of Colorndo, have the vision and courage, ue can eeaure Colorado and ite
future generations the great benefits that vill accrue from a mdern trans-
continental highway by planning am for an adequate tunnel under the Contin-
ental divide. (Be emanated tolls as one nthod of construction of the
tunnel.)
Gov. 311.111 0. stratton of Illinoie: "I eusgeet that the
Legislature give indinte and eerioue consideration to the poeeihility of .
euper or epecialized traffic hichme to be financed through tolls."
Gov. Hillim 8. Beardsley of 1m: "Ion etenda athnrt a nin
eeet-veet artery of highway commerce or our nation. I! ve do not mrnieh
the omen-cmth link, it is probable that other etatee will do so. with
the rapid develnpunt of toll road system: in the various atatea of the
nation, we should be prepared to deal with any and all emtunlitiee."
Gov. toward 1. Arn oi Kaueae: A few genre hence will un-
doubtedly aee a turnpike constructed out to vest acroee the nation. Kenna
aheuld he prepared to have ouch a route peee within ite hordere . I he-
lieve the turnpike ie the anewer to may of our highway problem."
Gov. Phil u. Donnelly or msouri: m 66th General
Assembly . appointed s Joint turnpike ce-ittee to study the generel
subject or turnpiwend toll roede . I call your attention to the re-
port or this coenittee end as thet it be given oer-em consideretion."
Gov. Alfred B. Driecoll of lei: Jersey: '1 en pleased to
be eble to report thet the pleas for extension at the lev Jersey 'mrnpike
have been substantially completed end that work on severel of these exten-
sions will be begun in the near future.
Gov. Dennis J. Roberts of Rhode Island: We heve may ed-
vocetee or e limited eccess highvey to . run through the southern part
or the etete . Itneybethet smheprojectvouldeemereelneed
end increase our tourist end recreetiom income . We might consider :1-
nsncing it by e toll system"
00v. Allen mum of knee: "Create e toll reed euthority,
in the hope that properly sponsored end supervised toll med- sre the ene-
uer to come of our gravest problem in traffic congestion and construction
costs.
Gov. welter- J. Bohler, Jr.. of 'Jieconein: "I urge that you
give your vbolehesrted support to the legislative council propose]. for the
eetsbliehnent of turnpike euthority for Wisconsin."
It is interesting to note thet the turnpike ides is not new
in Florih. In 19% e prapoeel for e super mm on the Best Coeet was
considered. The brochure on this subject estimates thet the reed could
heve been built at that time for around $36,000,000. In or ebout 19% e
private camern considered king for mxthority to build the road es s
private venture. A survey use ends at this tins that tolloved a central
Florida route. The Road Depart-est had tun studies aade in 1952, and the
Capital Engineering Company of Dilsburu, Ps., has Just completed another.
The route proposed by the Capital Incineering Company begins near Jackson-
ville, and proceeds slmet due south to the vicinity of Orlando, and then
bears southeast to seet the coast near Stuart. The advantage of the in-
land route is that it would serve the great agricultural areas of the
Everglades and Central Florida. In addition, it would he traveled by
those coins to and iron the Tampa Bay area.
This Road Board thought it important for its hemhers to
visit sons of the successful turnpihes. Consequently, a delegation from
the Board, with our Chief Engineer, visited the Pennsylvania Turnpike,
the New Jersey Turnpile and the Garden State Parkway. The latter is still
under construction. There can be no doubt that the Pennsylvania and ew
Jersey turnpihea are serving s useful purpose in the areas which they serve.
Both are extremely successful from a financial standpoint. We had long
conferences vith the Pennsylvania Turnpike Authority and with those in
charge at the New Jersey Turnpike. He discussed the problems or construction
and operation with then. Among other things, we asked to see the "Ghost
Towns" that the turnpihes were supposed to have created. We were shovn
thriving cities, both large and small, on or near the turnpikes, and all
see-ed to be prosperous. There were neu motels and saall industry to show
that there was even more travel in these towns than before the building of
the tnrnpikes. He attach as part of this report a detailed study or several
Pennsylvania. mm; by a Pennsylvania newspaper to support this observation.
.7-
In order to oheerve the volume on! traffic on perellel high-
veye, we left the turnpike et new nrunevick, I. J., end traveled north on
0.3. money #1. we found this free reed tour-ma end in good condition.
It wee lined with elm moving truffle. We vere told that elthoxuh it ie
not over a. mile {mm the turnpike, it carries much more traffic then doee
the turnpike. we fmmdtheperellelroede inhothetetee insoodrepeir
end cerryins heavy tretfic leede.
Our group returned to noride feeling that the turnpikee
were precticel, thet they did not tend to hem by-peeeed call-mitiee, end
thet they had good public ecceptence. The lest wee euphuieed in Pennsyl-
venie by til eutemnt thet the Penneylvenie legislature ie practical:
unenieoue in each requeet to edd to the tm'npihe there.
The one thing thet we did not heve the never to wee vill
it pay in Floride? It met be quickly admitted that we do not bum, in this
State, the large centers of nonction, the industry found in the etetee
mited, or the vast number of vehicles operating in these ereee. It is
true that we lave more people coming into our state for purely recreetionel
mpoeeethendotheothere. Itieeleoefectthetelergepercentegeof
our economy is agriculturel end is dependent upan feet loving treneportetion
for ite very existence.
The outside engineere' studies on thie problem of the reed
peying its way uere not too convincing to us. Their etudiee indicated to
ue thet the nut Coeet Routevmzldnotpdyi-Iedietely,huthyepplyingthe
experience of the other etetee the induced trefiic would nuke it e eucceee-
tul venture. The teeeibility rested on thie induced or incremd trettic.
.8-
I! ve could be em it would nterieliee, the venture would he eucoeeerul
end the increased trmic would. neon minim of additional donm to
our people. Most of thoee in e position to know seen to think that the
121mm. vouldhemhnoreprofitehle. nu Board a inclinedto
agree with this position, elm no official. detailed etndy he: been
nde of the inland route.
At thie eteaeoimetudyveceuedtmonouromengineere
mtbestetekoedbepertnuttonkeecoet eetineteofeturnpihefrom
Stuart to Milli. Those engineers put in several day! of coastent Itudy
on the project. They have given us some very useful end hem infor-
netion. Their ti-tee of coete ere higher end
revenue lower then estimated by the outside engineers. Their studies
convince us that every precaution met be taken to avoid the disastrom
mietekee ado in the planning of the Buccaneer mu and the Jecl'eocwiue
Expressway. A further eurvey is needed by recognized experts in this
field in order to detenine the length of tine needed to m for such e
highway.
Our engineer-e the pointed out to no the very etertling
fact that the highway could be built for Just M1! the totel my on I
pey-eeoyou-ao basis. Comtruction coats are higher in this eree then in
my othere heceuee lore bridgee are needed here. 01' $50,000,000 eeti-
nted u the totel cub coat, $10,W,000 muld be spent for bridge-o. 0n
e thirty yeer time been $96,000,000 would he required to retire the debt.
We will canent further on the pey-ee-you-ao pun later.
Our engineer-e were uked to etudy only the are between
PAGE 1
STATE ROAD DE-ARTMEN ,OF FI.3D9 3 ., MM=N -iv
PAGE 2
Stuart and Miami et this time, beco.use this is the area of greatest traffic congestion. There een le to doubt that this area needs traffic relief at the earliest pussible moment For the above reasone ue hereby offer the following recommendstions in regard to the Florida "L'urnpike: 1. That a to).lpiLe be constructed se agon as practical with its northern extrettity in the vicinity of Stuart, and its southern extremity in the vicinity of Miami. That the turnpike lie of 1.imited access, and that commercial establishments on the right of voy be liniited to the lowest number of veridors of food and fuel necessary for the comfort and convendence of the traveling public .Experience in the operation of this turnpike will determine the advisability of extending it riorthwerd, 2. Financing. Ue su;;sest tuo alternate plane of financing. e. Throu!!h the sale of non recourse revenue certificates with no liability to the State or State Read Departaient. Before issuing the revenue certificates the piethai of financing ebauld be approved by the Turnpike Authority, the State Hoed Department, and the State 110erd of Administration, camposed of the [lowernor, the comptroller and the Treasurer. Mile there is a reluctance at this time to consider time paymerits for pubhe benefits, still ne must reminber that private enterprise uses this metbad to advantage .lbtilroads air lines, pouer companies, large hotele, seuer systems and other capital undertatirigs are largely finsuced oy the sale of bands or revenue certificates, b. Through a pay-as-you-go plan .11eeause of the large nuraher of bridr;e structures it vill take tuo to three years to build this turnpike under any plan. Ue vauld fail in our duty if ue did not call
PAGE 3
attention to a pay-as..yau.6p possibility, The omney frelm the sale of automab ile lice12ae tage (other then that going to echoole by constitutional amenacient) is r.ov being diverted. to the General Fund. If this aallaunt of money were appropriated to this turnpike for a little over three years, the highuay could be built uithout interest chargen. This would save 50% of the total, and ue would get tulee as much highuey for the mioney spent The tolls could then either come beel-. to the General Fund or go to the State Read Department for use on the prilliary system. Ue must look ahead to our higlway needs .The present revenue la admitedly inadeetiste .Revenue from a successfu.. toll turnpi'm could solve the financial proble:ns of future Florida road builders 3. That it be built by the Florida Turppike Authority if such an authority is authorized 11y the Florida Legislature .That this illethod 11e followed. in preference to fIner.chu throw;h the Ilaprovement Comission. After careful study ue recommend the Turnpi::e Authority rather than the private system of b'aildig .It is our further reconnuendation that Florida business leaders be drafted to serve en the Authority, and that their terine be sta;;gered to take polities out of the smagealent of this floportant state agency. Our reason for recons;1ending against building the turnpike by a private corporation call be anninarized into three statement. First, if it is gopa for private industry, it is gaoa for the State. Seeana, it would be necessary to have State cor.trol of a private corporation through members on the Imrd of Wroctors in order ta control costa ao that tbe road could be turned over to the State with al l bi 1.10 paa in the shortest
PAGE 4
posaltle time. Third, a private corporation would have to pay earporation income taxes, advalorem tax on the highway, and many other taxes which usuld miiterially increase the total cent Our reason for suggestirai; Legislative approval hinges around two pointa .First, many lawyers have considerable doubt concerping the legal authority of the Improvenient Ceciplission to undertake a project of this kind. 01.r second reason is that ue feel the project is taa large and too 11portant to Florida to be determined by nine men .('he Road floard is camposed of five members, and its ebairman is a ember of the five-elen Improvemnt Conilission). From a legal standpoint it '.ould be better to have direct Legislative directive .From a deplocratie steadpoint it would be more desirable that the responsibility for the decision include the people 's elected representation in the 1-acialature. 4. That a continuing study be made of the route to be followed morth of Stuart, and that the talance of the north alul sauta route be built if it is determined to be financially sound by the Turnpile Authority and such determination approved by the Legislature. It is our recoillniendation that the Turr.pike Authority be separate and distinct trola the State Reed Department, but that overlapping mobership vold be desirable 10 order that the Authority edght avail itself of the facilities and personnel of the aced Department organization.
PAGE 5
of great enough 211portance to the State to require as to ma'ae a thorou6h and complete invest igation of all possibilities for solving the problem of travel frop'. the Georgia line to the southern end of Florida It was s.pparent that the spectacular grouth of Florida in recent years and the desire of tOorists to viott all sections of Florida rJahes solne new through North and South highway desirableThere can be no doubt that n free Ste.te firainced highway wou)d be niast desirable .A thoz'ough study was made of this possib(11 ty. The coat of such a highway 1roulst be between $175,C00,000 und $200,000,030, depending an the route and the type of construction, Four cents of the seven cent gasoline t11x is used by the Food Department to maintain and construct the primary highways 1:1 Floride.. One cent of the gasoline tax brings in bet\reen nine und ten million dollars annually .Taking the high figure ue might expect $40 ,000 ,00C of State fods caeb year, This enn be :11stched. 'ay available .amounta front the Federal Bureau of Fonds to raise the total to close to $50,000,000 per year for pril:lary road purposes .Begular citintenance and ad11tinistration must be deducted, leavirig about $36,CKO,000 available for prirary cor.struction and rehabilitation .The other three cents of the gasoline tax are going at the prescut tin:e to constructior. and maintenance of the secondary systent of roade .In order to dea', a smaller figures, let 's break this down. There are five Districts in Floridu. It is not always customary to divide the money evenly, but for co''iparisar. let s break it dowr. that way. Then each District alight expect to spend about acven million dal Mrs each p:er on pr1mary h1Ehuays, For the extreme example let us -ook at the second District more e~osely. This DistrIct inelades flessan County on the nor6h,
PAGE 6
t11e City of Jacksonville, and south to the St. Johns County line. It extends taist to the west boundary of Madison County, and thence back south including Gainesville .Let us keep in alind that in all this territory ve has approxicately seven inillion dollars to apend each year. We now know the size of this District and the 5L11Dunt of Dioney available for it. IA:t us look at some of the impiediate neede .He calmot looR at all of them tecause of the need to keep this report brief, but berg are saille of them: 1. The Jacksanville Expressuuy. A firm conmitmenv. by the foriner Board to complete the job. Alaount rieeded ..$36,000,000, or approxi. 111ately all of the income of the District for five yeare. 2. Material] iuprovenent to U. S. Highways fl, #17 e.11d #301 in the District i These are very badly needed improvements end $15,000,000 ield not 11e a high estimate. ~, Improvement to U .S, Eighway #9 for a distance of at least fifty miles at a cost of $4,01"0 ,000 4. Impraying U. S. [[ighvey #41, about $5,000,000. 5. Four-lane and rebuild U. S. Highway #19 froin Callpa to Chiefland. This is one of the ost dangerous and most seriously overloaded roads 111 all Florida. Ten million dollare could be spent to advanta-e here 6. Other needed improveillenta in this District will total at least $E'0,000,000. The above figures are 311st roimd enlibers and the estilaates are not presul:111d to be accurate but they de Iloint out that in this one District today there is need for between n111ety and one hundred ,nillions
PAGE 7
of dollare to be eqlended on priulary highway floprovemnt .This, of courr.e, is twelve to fourteen tillies the amiant af alopey currently available each year in the District .At the current rate of income for road building it is easy to see that ue are at least twelve yeare behind in this Distriet. The other Estricts are not too different, although the probleilt af the Jacksonville ExDrenaway lilskes the needs in the Second Dietrict extraordins.ry. With the above friend in -liind it was not too difficult to decide the.t there was absolutely no use to seriously consider the building of a north to south highway with State ftmde to ineet the present day needs. One alternative eensidered uns the four-1sning of U. S. Highway fl. While this is essential end highly desirable, it will not fill the need for a north and south turnpike unless wat of the cities and toima on its route are by-passed. This by-passing uould be very expensive und voilld insterially lengther. the highway. It in our belief that this highway is used by sufficient numbers of local people and totirista, with head']uarter at noche e ity on the highway, together Vith locui trucis hauling, to linte the four..lening of this road necessary at this tille. This project has been co-Innenced by this liaard. The only other alternative seems to be a liinited necess highuay to be paid for by those who use it. Far alilmlet the esine rensana listed above, other states have ttirned to this type of hi;-hvay for relief from traffic congestion caused by the largest nulitter of cars ever en our high.. unya and by the apparent desire of our people to see ore of their native lanr1.. T11e five day wee]in the in&ietrial areas is en actuality. Retire
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ment systems and planned vacation times are taking our people to tile bigli.. vays af this country by the millions, The States of Pennsylvania, Maine, Galaham, Obla, Indiana, Virginia, llev York, Rev Jersey and Georgia have written turnpiRe enabling Acts into their statutes, blany other states are now considering e 11:lilar act ion The foLlaving are extracts from 1953 niessages of cavernora to State I&gislatures: Gov, Dan Thornton of Colorado: ''If you and I, an leaders of Colorada, have the vision sad courage, ne can assure Colorado and its future generations the great benefits that will acerue from a medent transcant inental high-any by pleaning now for on ader!uate twine L under the Cantinental divide ." (He sugjested tolls as one 11mthod of construction of the tone 1.) Gov .William G .Stratton of 1111noia : ''I suS8eat that the ikigislature give 11mediate and serious carlaideration to the possibility of .. super or specialiard traffic hiGhanye to be financed through tolls." Gov. Uilliant S. Beardsley of Iowa: "Town stands ethwart a plairl east-weat artery of highway coneneree af our natlan. If we do not furnieb the cross-country link, it is probable tint other estate v511 de so. Uith the rapid development of toll road systema in the variaua states of the nation, we abould be prepared to deal with any and all aventualities Gov. Edward F. Arp of Kansas: "A few years hence will undoubtedly see a turnpike constructed east to West scrass the nation .Kansas should be prepared to have such a route poen within its borders ., .I be lieve the turnpil:e is the ar.swer to niary of our highway problems
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Cov. Phil M, Donnelly of Missauri: "The 66th General Annembly ..appoirsted a joint turnpike contaittee to atudy the general subject of turnpikesand to11 roads ...I ceLE your attention to the report of this coniirittee and ask that it be given care'ul considerattan. Gov. Alfred 2. Driscoll of Ziew Jersey: "I em pleased to be able to report that the plane for extension o' the lleir Jersey Turnpike have been suhetantially completed and that work on several of these extenstone will be begun in the near future.'' Gov. Dannis J. Roberts of Rhode Island: 'Ve have many ed. vocates of a limited access highway to ...m through the southern part of the state ...It may be that such a project would serve a real need and increase cur tourist end recreation income ...W might consider ficancing it by a toli system." Gov. Allan Shivers of Texas: ''Create a toll rosa authority, in the hope that properly sponsored and supervised toll roads are the ansver to some of our greveet probleela in traffic congestion and co.Struction coBis Gov. Walter J. Echler, Jr., of uisconsin: "I urge that you give your wholehearted support to the leaislative colmeil proposal for the establishment of turnpike authority for Uisconsin." It is interesting to note that the turnpike idea is not new in Florida .In 1961 a proposal for a super highway on the East Coast was considered. The brochore on this subject estimates that the road could have been built et that time for ero-.md $36,000,000. L-1 or about 1943 a pr-J vs.te eeneern cons U1ered asking for authortty to %314 the road as a
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pr1-Inte venture -A aurvey was mde at this til11e that followed a central Florida route. The Boad Department had two studies made in 1952, and the Capital Engineering Company of MIsourg, Pa., has just completed another. We route proposed by the Cs.pital. 21)gineerinig (og1pany begins near Jackson. ville, and proceeds allie2% due south to the vicinity of Orlando, and then tears southeast to meet the cuant near Stuart .The advantage of the inlalid 1"oute is t'.lat it Uould serve the great agricultural greeg of the Evei-glades and Central Florida .In addition it would be traveled by those Going to and I'ram the Tampa Ilay area. Wis Road BDard thought it 11aportant for its Members to visit soule of tbn successful turnpikea Consequently, a delegation from the Board, with our Chief Engineer, visited the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Neu Jersey Turnpr.e and the Garder. State Par'm/ay. The latter is still tinder construction. There call te no doubt that the l'ennsylvania and New Jersey turnpikes are serving a useful purpose til the areas which they serve. Both are extremely successful from a financial standpoint .We had long conferences with the Pennsylvania Ttirnpike Autharity and with those in charge of tiie ge-.I Jersey Turnpike. He discussed the problems of construction and operation with theel. Among other things, we asked to see the "Ghost Towns" that the turnpikes were supposed to have created. W were shoun thriving cities, both larse and small, on or near the turnplues, and all seemd to be prosperous .There uere ne\r motels arid 0111011 industry to show that there iras even more travel in these to'.ms than tiefere the buildirig af the turnpikes, 1-le attach as part of this report a detailed study of several Penr Dylvail i a t.mrr1F1 by e. I'ennsymrtirl. newspaper to s'apport this observation.
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I.re ... .... rv ...oueo tafco arle i
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If ne could be sure it vauld mterialize, the venture would be successful and the increased traffic mid ineen millions of additional dellera to our people, Most of thaae in a position to unor seent to thirk that the inland route would be jauch more profitable. This Board is inclined to agree with this position, although no official detailed study hea been :;iirde of the inland route At this stage of our etwly ue called upoa our oun engineers in the State Baad Departulent to i:nke a cost eatiniate of a turnpike frora Stuart to Miamii. These endizieers put in several daya of constant study on the project. They have given ne sovie very useful and helpful infarmation. Their estiniates of costs are higher aili revenue loijer than estimated by the outside engineer$4 Their studies convince ue that every precaution niust be taken to avoid the disastrous mistakes ende in the Illenning of the Bucanneer Trail end. the Jael sonville Expresavay. A further survey 15 needed by recognized experts in this field in order to determiue the length of time needed to pay for such a highuay. Our engineers also pointed out to us the very startling fact that the highway could be built for just half the total uriney on a pay-as-you-go basis. Construction costs are higher in this area than in many others because elore tridges are neeaed here. Of 450,000,000 estiu:ated as the total cash cost, $10,0DOCCO would be apent for bridges .Cn a thirty year time basis $516,000 ,003 would be reguimi to retire the debt We vill comment further on the pay-as--you-go plan later. Our engineera vere asked to etigly only the arena betueen
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