Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension Corridor Study, Collier County, FL
Project # - 3911.001
Condemning Authority - State of Florida
The following project information is found on the Collier County Website. For additional information, please visit their website: http://www.colliergov.net/Index.aspx?page=579
Corridor Approved by the Board of County Commissioners on April 17, 2006
The Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension Corridor Study was a planning effort to evaluate the extension of Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension as a through road east of Collier Boulevard (CR 951). The study attempted to identify and quantify the impacts of such an extension to Collier County’s transportation network, the Golden Gate Estates community, and the natural environment. Determining the fiscal cost of various Vanderbilt Beach Road extension alternatives was another key component of the study.
An extension of Vanderbilt Beach Road between Collier Boulevard and Wilson Boulevard is part of the Collier Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The 2025 LRTP was developed in 2000 and adopted in early 2001. The Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension Corridor Study evaluated the viability of extending the roadway farther to the east, to DeSoto Boulevard. This potential eastern extension to DeSoto Boulevard has been included in the Collier MPO 2030 LRTP, which was adopted on January 12, 2006. A Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension is projected to provide significant relief to traffic congestion on Golden Gate Boulevard and Immokalee Road and serve the rapid growth in the Golden Gate Estates area.
This planning corridor study began in early 2005 and concluded in April 2006. An extensive public involvement effort was pursued, consisting of numerous neighborhood and civic association meetings and two major public workshops.
Over 2,000 newsletters were mailed to area property owners in August, 2005 to announce the study’s first major public involvement activity, the Initial Alternatives Public Workshop. The workshop was held on September 14, 2005 and had more than 200 attendees, who viewed the numerous graphics on display and discussed the study with county staff and planning consultant staff members. Graphics on display included aerial photographs showing preliminary alignment concepts, traffic data and projections, and a proposed ranking and evaluation criteria for the study’s next phase. Attendees were also able to view a slide presentation providing an overview of the study effort. All of these graphics and the slide presentation are available below.
Following the September 2005 workshop, the study team performed a detailed analysis of each alignment alternative, including the severity of impacts and number of properties affected. These findings were the focus of the study’s second public workshop, which was held on Monday, January 30, 2006, and had close to 300 attendees. At this second workshop viable alternatives were presented and the study team recommended that 10 of the original alignment alternative segments be removed from further consideration. The remaining alignments continued to be refined and analyzed, and detailed cost estimates were developed. These findings were completed in early April, and the study’s was determined. The preferred alternative consists of alignment segments A to BA to BC to C2A to D2 to E2 (see graphic below). This information was shared at smaller scale neighborhood meetings with the Citizens for Responsible Road Development group (April 6, 2006) and the Golden Gate Estates Area Civic Association (April 10, 2006).
The preferred alternative was determined using a ranking system similar to the criteria used in the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Project, Development, and Environment (PD&E) study process. Keeping the public’s most pressing issues in mind, highest weight was given to the number of existing homes impacted, with second highest weight given to project costs. The “viable alternatives” under final consideration were impacts on the number of existing homes ranging from 15 to 47, and estimated costs ranging from $167 million to $220 million.
The Collier County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) held a special meeting on Monday, April 17, 2006 at 5 p.m. in the Board of County Commissioners chambers. At this special meeting, pertaining to the Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension Corridor, the Board of County Commissioners were presented with detailed information on the alternative routes for the Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension, and received passionate input from county residents, particularly those in the Golden Gate Estates area. At the meeting’s conclusion, the BCC approved the Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension and adopted study’s preferred alternative as its alignment.
The roadway design process for the Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension began in spring 2007. Construction will be let to bid in two phases with the segment from Collier Blvd to Wilson Blvd. expected to be scheduled prior to the segment from Wilson Boulevard to DeSoto Boulevard. Collier County is committed to working closely with affected property owners during the right of way acquisition and roadway design phases of this project. If you have questions or comments regarding the Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension, please contact Transportation Division staff via e-mail or phone at (239) 252-8192.
Property acquisition is anticipated to begin immediately and Construction is currently not scheduled. For information regarding this project and your rights as a property owners, please call our office at 866.339.7242