Help Protect Wild Florida From Harmful Roads And Sprawl
Ill planned highways harm wildlife by destroying, degrading and
fragmenting their habitat. And now, the Florida Legislature is
about to vote on two bad pieces of transportation legislation that
would give too much power to road-building authorities. The bills
would allow agencies to build unjustified toll roads in Florida
potentially without approval from local governments or the public.
One of the bills actually would allow the Florida Department of
Transportation to use land to build hotels, conference centers, and
other "business opportunities" instead of focusing on real
transportation needs.
Species of imperiled wildlife affected by these ill planned highway
proposals include the Florida
black bear, Florida manatee and
red-cockaded woodpecker. What's more, toll roads bring intense
development and growth to the land around them. That's why it's
crucial to locate new toll roads away from environmentally-sensitive
lands. Help protect our wildlife and rural communities from
uncontrolled development.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Send an e-mail or fax to your Florida state Representative and
Senator, with a copy to the Governor, urging them to oppose these
bad bills (HB261/SB502, HB35/SB1458). The votes may occur ANY DAY
NOW, so please send your e-mail, fax or call today. Thank you for
protecting what is left of wild Florida.
If you don't have access to the Internet, call 850-488-7146, send
or fax your letter to: Gov. Jeb Bush, The Capitol, Tallahassee,
FL 32399-0001, fax: 850-487-0801 or e-mail:
jeb@myflorida.com
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to the web, simply click on the link below which
will take you to the DEN Action Center web site:
http://www.denaction.org
Sample Letter:
Dear Senator and Representative:
cc: Governor Bush
As a concerned Florida resident, I am writing to urge you to vote
against two harmful transportation bills, the Turnpike Enterprise
bill (SB502/HB261), and the Expressway Authority bill (SB1458/HB35).
I oppose these two because:
-- the Turnpike Enterprise bill will invite the construction of
unjustified toll roads in rural and ecologically-sensitie areas,
where they are least needed, and where they will wreak te greatest
environmental damage by causing intense, new growth and evelopment.
Let's keep DOT focused on building transportation infrastructure
where it is most needed, will be compatible with environmental
protection, and will provide the greatest benefit to Florida
citizens. The bill is unacceptable because it would no longer
require new sections of the turnpike to pay for themselves, it
delays environmental permitting until after the road building
contracts are bid, and directs DOT to pursue non-transportation
related "business opportunities" just to make money and
- the Expressway Authority bill would allow the Orlando-Orange
County Expressway Authority to pursue road projects not supported,
or even opposed, by the local government or the public. It also
would enable the authority to promote urban sprawl through
speculative toll-road projects.
Ill planned highways negatively impact wildlife by destroying,
degrading and fragmenting habitat. Transportation planning should
include strong protections for wildlife and significant wildlife
habitat, as well as protecting rural areas of Florida from urban
sprawl. I strongly urge you to vote against these bills when they
reach the floor. Please protect Florida's citizens, rural areas
and ecologically-significant conservation lands from these
ill-conceived transportation bills.
Sincerely,
