New highway 331 bridge in Walton County

The county just needs to provide their routing and account numbers so the company can deposit the funds. :funn:

Didn't Jay Odom have some campaign issues with a member of the current BCC? :scratch:

Also something to think about, what if this private entity starts the bridge and then goes belly up prior to completion?

That's what performance bonds are for.

That's what performance bonds are for.

Yeah, and how are they working with all the deserted housing developments around here?

Yeah, and how are they working with all the deserted housing developments around here?

They worked perfectly. The County let them expire without cashing them in. Some good ole boys should lose their jobs over that.

This all does sound shovel ready...use that shovel to keep digging for the dirt!

This all does sound shovel ready...use that shovel to keep digging for the dirt!

I think it is a multi-purpose shovel.

Reply from county Board of Commissioners

Since I drive from SRB to Freeport and back each workday and am not up to pay a toll twice a day, I e-mailed Sara Commander and Ronnie Bell of the county board of Commissioners to find out more info and let them know of my concerns. They both expressed similar concerns about this LLC and Sara even stated the following:

Please let others know they can email me on this. I am keeping a record of my emails on the concerns our people have.

So I encourage you all to do just that. I hope that these e-mails will make a difference and help to inform the board and others of our thoughts on this.

The Defuniak Herald ? OFFICIALS CALL FOR MORE TIME ON BRIDGE PROPOSAL

By DOTTY NIST
Few people in Walton County would disagree that widening the Choctwhatchee bay bridge is a good idea, but some, including the county commission, appear to have qualms about a recent proposal by a private company that would have that result.
At a current estimated cost of $280 million, the bridge expansion has represented the most difficult part of the ongoing effort to get U.S. 331 widened to four lanes from north Walton County to the beaches area. Accomplishing the widening of U.S. 331, the county’s evacuation route, has been a priority for local officials and community members for decades. In recent years county officials have enlisted lobbyists to seek state and federal funds to expand the overloaded two-lane road. They have also made a number of trips to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., to ask for project funding.
In 2005, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) met with representatives of Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, part of the state Department of Transportation (DOT) that constructs road and bridges that are primarily user- funded through tolls. Expanding the bay bridge through the turnpike enterprise had been suggested by DOT officials as a way to accomplish bridge widening more quickly. However, the idea of a toll bridge was not a popular one, and the commissioners did not pursue action on this possibility.
Last week, at the Feb. 24 BCC regular meeting, the commissioners were presented with information on a recent proposal in connection with U.S. 331 and the bay bridge. The information included a letter from attorney Michael B. Duncan on behalf of the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority (NFTCA). Duncan stated that the organization had received an unsolicited proposal for a public/private partnership to expand to four lanes the road section between the south end of the Clyde B. Wells Bridge (the bay bridge) and SR-20 in Freeport, including construction of a parallel bay bridge, to result in a four-lane bridge facility.
Proposing to “design, build, operate and finance” the project was a private entity, “Moving US 331 Forward, L.L.C.” Information to the NFTCA on the proposal was provided by Denver Stutler, the L.L.C.’s “managing member,” and a former DOT transportation secretary under the Jeb Bush administration. The Florida Department of State Division of Corporations lists Robert S. Hightower, a Tallahassee attorney, as registered agent for Moving US 331 Forward, L.L.C.
The L.L.C. had provided few details on the proposal but had included mention of the use of “stimulus funds” and “tolling” in the event those funds proved inadequate. The company anticipated later providing “a detailed funding plan.”
Among the many powers of the NFTCA, an agency of the state created by the 2005 Florida Legislature, are the ability to request proposals for public/private transportation projects and to review, approve or reject, and to negotiate such proposals, whether requested or unsolicited.
“The NFTCA has no position yet regarding the proposed partnership and project,” Duncan stated in his letter to the BCC. “Instead, the NFTCA is prepared to commence its statutorily provided process for handling an unsolicited proposal for a public private partnership,” he wrote.
Duncan explained that there would be a 60-day public notification period during which “it is expected” that all parties interested in doing the project, including Moving US 331 Forward, L.L.C., and any competing proposers, would submit their detailed proposals near the end of those 60 days.
He further explained that review and ranking of proposals by NFTCA would follow, in consideration of “the interests and input of Walton County and its citizens.” Then, Duncan concluded, the NFTCA’s options would include negotiating with the highest-ranked proposer, or with Moving US 331 Forward, L.L.C., if that had been the only proposal, or rejecting all proposals.
At the Feb. 24 BCC meeting, County Administrator Ronnie Bell told the commissioners that the NFTCA was not asking them for a recommendation but was just providing information. “They will seek your input,” he noted, ” and input from the public.”
One concern brought forward by M.C. Davis, Walton County businessman and conservationist, was that the proposal could apparently be accepted and negotiated by the NFTCA without the approval of the BCC. “Who gave them this unique power?” he asked.
Davis said he would be completely for the project if the citizens were in favor of it, but he objected to both the scarcity of the information being provided and the short time frame proposed for consideration of this $300-$400 million project.
“What is the urgency for 60 days?” he asked, calling for a much longer notification period to allow for the public to get informed and to encourage competing proposals.
Davis said he had not previously heard the word “toll” in connection with the proposal, an indication that the public has not been provided with “the total picture.” He expressed strong opposition to a private company from outside the area “coming in and owning” this important part of the county’s transportation network.
“That time line is ridiculous!” weighed in Driftwood Estates resident Alan Osborne.
County Commission Chair Sara Comander contrasted the situation with the Mid-Bay Bridge in Okaloosa County, a toll bridge, with Walton County’s situation. She pointed out that taking the toll bridge is not the only option in the neighboring county, that there are other north-south routes. This would not be the case in Walton County if the bay bridge became a toll facility, since it is on the county’s only north-south route, she remarked.
Comander encouraged citizens to contact the commissioners with their input on this proposal.
District 3 Commissioner Larry Jones made a motion to send a letter to the NFTCA asking the organization to lengthen the public notification process for the Moving US 331 Forward proposal to a six-month time frame. His motion was approved unanimously.

Good Gravy! My BS/skullduggery meter is pinging like crazy!

Proposing to “design, build, operate and finance” the project was a private entity, “Moving US 331 Forward, L.L.C.” Information to the NFTCA on the proposal was provided by Denver Stutler, the L.L.C.’s “managing member,” and a former DOT transportation secretary under the Jeb Bush administration. The Florida Department of State Division of Corporations lists Robert S. Hightower, a Tallahassee attorney, as registered agent for Moving US 331 Forward, L.L.C.

The L.L.C. had provided few details on the proposal but had included mention of the use of “stimulus funds” and “tolling” in the event those funds proved inadequate. The company anticipated later providing “a detailed funding plan.”

PORK in a POKE:



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If this goes through we can just call it Walton County's most expensive fishing pier.

It is mostly four lane from SoWal to Atlanta, except through beautiful Eufala and a few other spots. Somehow the traffic makes it through, certainly quite backed up on the busiest holidays. With more four lane on both sides of the 331 bridge, there will at least be a safer means of passing problem and slow vehicles. There is no rush, especially if we can avoid a toll. Still want to know all the names. At least get the names of their lawyers and lobbyists at the next meeting. The lobbyist should have to register with the state. Then, we can perhaps at least look up their clients and see who they are taking to lunch.

It is mostly four lane from SoWal to Atlanta, except through beautiful Eufala and a few other spots. Somehow the traffic makes it through, certainly quite backed up on the busiest holidays. With more four lane on both sides of the 331 bridge, there will at least be a safer means of passing problem and slow vehicles. There is no rush, especially if we can avoid a toll. Still want to know all the names. At least get the names of their lawyers and lobbyists at the next meeting. The lobbyist should have to register with the state. Then, we can perhaps at least look up their clients and see who they are taking to lunch.

...ditto...and add to that how they're going to finance it; where the financing is coming from; and who is backing up the financing. Somehow, with such a short timeline on requesting approval of the project, I can't see them extracting Economic Stimulus money unless it's already been "prearranged" to come from the money the state governors are getting from Obama. <I can be wrong, but I smell JOE in the room>

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...ditto...and add to that how they're going to finance it; where the financing is coming from; and who is backing up the financing. <I can be wrong, but I smell JOE>

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I tend to doubt JOE, they've developed this area and are basically done. They'd much rather route you through Hwy 79 and CR 388.

What bothers me is the talk of using stimulus money to build a toll bridge.

Since I drive from SRB to Freeport and back each workday and am not up to pay a toll twice a day, I e-mailed Sara Commander and Ronnie Bell of the county board of Commissioners to find out more info and let them know of my concerns. They both expressed similar concerns about this LLC and Sara even stated the following:

Please let others know they can email me on this. I am keeping a record of my emails on the concerns our people have.

So I encourage you all to do just that. I hope that these e-mails will make a difference and help to inform the board and others of our thoughts on this.

Do you have those email addresses handy??

Do you have those email addresses handy??

You can go to Walton County's website and click on her name/page to send an email.

Stimulus money has to be spent in two years (roughly) for project completion. This would be an amazing longshot to get it done and if it doesn't get done by the Administration's timetables the money will go to another state. Does Florida really want to gamble on this type of a project with these dollar amounts when they have other ones that are more likely to get done quickly. I stand by my earlier statement that while 331 bridge may have been deemed "shovel ready" and put on a list, but getting it done as a stimulus project is a longer longshot than the DOW rebounding quickly.

The dollars and cents don't add up and they are not paying for "partial projects." Just remember shovel ready does not mean stimulus eligible....

You can go to Walton County's website and click on her name/page to send an email.

FYI-received a response from Sara Comander on the email I sent and she also has major concerns with the toll on the bridge. Nice to know a commissioner is listening AND commenting on our concerns.

Here is Sara Comander's email address.... comsara@co.walton.fl.us

Private road is no answer for the public | private, proposal, money - Opinion - WaltonSun.com

News that a private company wants to "help" Walton County by widening U.S. 331 and the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge should give citizens pause.
This private company wants to turn U.S. 331 into a widened private toll road. That means motorists would be at the mercy of largely unregulated price increases to use a road and bay bridge they now drive on for free.
The proposal comes from a company founded by Denver Stutler, who served as Gov. Jeb Bush's chief of staff and then as Bush's Department of Transportation secretary. Stutler's company approached the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority Feb. 17 with an "unsolicited proposal" to "design, build, operate, and finance transportation facilities which will provide additional capacity for U.S. 331 in Walton County."
It is curious how this proposal just popped up out of nowhere. Developer Jay Odom, whose 3,000-acre Hammock Bay development in Freeport would benefit from a pricey new road, was quoted in the Northwest Daily News as saying "In my book, this is a stimulus package. It's a half-billion-dollar stimulus that's not reliant on federal dollars."......

Private road is no answer for the public | private, proposal, money - Opinion - WaltonSun.com

Is it true that the Mid Bay Bridge has collected enough revenue from tolls to pay off the costs of designing and building that bridge?

Little bit on the Mid Bay Bridge's finances as of March 2008. (original article appeared in the Destin Log)

Libertarian Party of Okaloosa County Florida

Little bit on the Mid Bay Bridge's finances as of March 2008. (original article appeared in the Destin Log)

Libertarian Party of Okaloosa County Florida

This is about priorities. I read the latest articles about the expansion of the 331 bridge being funded by private individuals and one thing reads to me as if it were in bold print. Every time there is news of the private expansion the writer goes out of their way to point out the names of some of the individuals involved. That is not a part of the math equation and is 100% irrelevant for budget discussion purposes.

Private development of that infrastructure is better for taxpayers than government run.

I think who the players are is a VERY important part of the story!

Especially when they rushing something through to get $$$ from the government and potentially screwing up an important traffic artery and emergency route that we have been going through the proper channels to expand for years!

We keep calling for more transparency in government, so I applaud the reporter for naming names!

Though I'm not fond of privitization of existing public infrastructure since that seems to always result in higher costs and frequently in a lower level of service for users.

And the private infrastructure companies go for the bloat just as much as the public ones do. The Mid Bay Bridge Authority is spending a crazy amount of money to build a bypass around Niceville that really isn't necessary and that's not going to be used by the majority of daily users for the current bridge. And then when revenues for the bypass aren't All That, we're going to be stuck paying more in bridge fare to pay off the bypass road that's not being used as expected.