The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) formed a task force to study the safety and reliability of I-75.
The FDOT task force is part of a larger planning process for the future of the state’s major transportation corridors over the next 50 years. It will examine all aspect of travel, economic opportunities and environmental concerns along the I-75 corridor.
A task force goal will be to provide recommendations for developing new high-capacity corridors from Tampa Bay to Jacksonville, including I-75.
“Florida is the third-largest state in the nation with almost 100 million visitors each year,” FDOT Secretary Jim Boxold said in a press release. “Interstate 75 is the primary gateway into Central Florida and Tampa Bay for visitors and commuters and one of the most traveled truck routes in the state, it’s critical to examine options to increase mobility and safety in this region.”
The task force has already begun installing cameras and sensors in Alachua County across Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in a major technology boost to try to prevent crashes. Large dynamic messaging signs will also be installed.
The Interstate 75 Relief Task Force will hold its first meeting in December. The group includes members from regional planning councils and county commissions along the route, as well as member from conservation and environmental groups.
