Seminole road proposal serves the wrong interests

Martin Comas’ remarkably well written article covering the proposed State Road 417 extension made me livid. (“Seminole residents fear proposed toll road to Sanford airport will destroy their area,”) As a Seminole County resident, this is the first I am hearing about the extension. I wanted to voice my opinion and ask some questions. I don’t like this project at all. The fact that it was found to be financially unfeasible in 2007, a time where credit/funding was much easier to come by, should be a clear sign that revisiting this project is a waste of time and money. The county seems to be beholden to the wealthiest shareholders when it comes to road improvements (in this case, Allegiant Air, the airport, as well as FDOT and its contracting buddies, always wanting to add more toll road miles).

This is a band-aid fix to the county’s perpetually deteriorating local road network. Lake Mary Boulevard is underequipped to support higher volumes of traffic, especially in the area of the proposed project. That road is also unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists along its entire length. Adding a new highway extension will not address these issues on our local roads, while at the same time inducing more car traffic to and from Seminole County, supposedly “Florida’s natural choice.” This project will tear up housing, wetlands, forest and natural quiet space, things we all enjoy. The fact that commissioners are moving forward, even with just looking into the project, is a slap in the face to anyone who believes that Seminole is Florida’s natural choice.

Alex Hockaday Lake Mary