HomeMy WebLinkAboutG. Proposal To Do A Joint Funding Effort Between FDOT And Ocoee To Construct An Interconnection Of Various Major Traffic Arterials On And Around The Florida Turnpike, Expressway, And Reliever For Highway 50 (Ocoee)TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
"CENTER OF GOOD LIVING - PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE"
CITY OF OCOEE
150 N. LAKESHORE DRIVE
OCOEE, FLORIDA 34761-2258
(407) 656-2322
MEMORANDUM
City of Apopka, Ocoee, & Winter Garden
Ellis Shapiro, City Manager
November 5, 1997
TURNPIKE, EXPRESSWAY, BELTWAY CONNECTOR
MAYOR • COMMISSIONER
S. SCOTT VANDERGRIFT
COMMISSIONERS
DANNY HOWELL
SCOTT ANDERSON
SCOTT A. GLASS
NANCY J. PARKER
CITY MANAGER
ELLIS SHAPIRO
One of the most important Traffic concerns facing West Orange is how to connect the
major roadways in our area without further closing up SR 50.
Attached is a proposal currently under discussion with the Expressway Authority,
Turnpike Authority, and FDOT. If accepted, the funding would be required from the
State to complete these projects.
Respectively Su
ES3w:sm:21
Attachment
Executive Summary
The City of Ocoee is located approximately 12 miles west of Orlando, and with a population of 20,500,
is the third largest city in Orange County. As the fastest growing city in Central Florida, Ocoee is within
commuting distance to all the major employers including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and the
many firms located in downtown Orlando. Ocoee's own business community boasts several large
employers. The West Oaks Mall, Health Central Hospital, Sysco Foods, Inc., one of the nation's largest
food distributors, and Florida Auto Auction, the "World's Largest" are all within two miles from the
proposed interchange.
Ocoee is, quite literally, at the crossroads of development. Florida's Turnpike has an existing
interchange in Ocoee at State Road 50. State Road 50 is the major east -west road through the central
part of the state, and provides a direct route from coast to coast. The East-West Expressway, a limited -
access tollway, is part of the planned Orlando beltway system. This system will include the proposed
Western Beltway which will enhance north -south travel through the West Orange County area. The
East-West Expressway's current western terminus is in Ocoee where it connects to the Turnpike and S.R.
50. Discussions regarding the Western Beltway and its potential connections with the Turnpike, S.R. 50,
the East-West Expressway, and the local roadway network resulted in this proposed interconnection plan.
The interconnection of these major traffic arteries will provide both travelers and area residents with
improved access to the tollways and will help to relieve traffic on S.R. 50. The construction of all
elements of the proposed interconnection could be completed concurrent with the construction of the
Western Beltway, or could be phased such that the Beltway construction could precede some of the
modifications to the Turnpike and S.R. 50.
Due to traffic volume and access concerns regarding the many major roadways in this area, the Turnpike
Authority, the Florida Department of Transportation, the Orlando -Orange County Expressway Authority
(OOCEA), the cities of Ocoee and Winter Garden, and Orange County have met several times in an
attempt to coordinate current and future roadway plans to ensure the most effective future roadway
network for West Orange County. This interconnection plan is the result of the combined efforts of this
group and would avoid many of the future conflicts that would occur if these agencies were to proceed
with plans and designs for their own roadways without regard for the overall network.
For example, the proposed Western Beltway design would significantly limit future modification of the
existing Turnpike interchange at State Road 50 by effectively "boxing in" the loop ramp used °ly
southbound Turnpike traffic. Tile Turnpike's interchange at S.R. 50 already suffers from several
problems, among which are the tight loop ramp radii, the interference with these loops that widening of
S.R. 50 will cause, and the continued degradation of traffic flow to and from the Turnpike caused by the
increasing traffic on S.R. 50. Originally designed as free-flowing entrance and exit ramps to S.R. 50, the
existing Turnpike ramps conflict with Marshall Farms Road, a local, but major traffic carrying road, and
the configuration of the ramps and the S.R. 50 ramp overpass makes it nearly impossible to signalize the
Marshall Farms / State Road 50 intersection.
With the construction of the Western Beltway, the continued development along S.R. 50 associated with
the West Oaks Mall, a second Development of Regional Impact adjacent to the Mall, a planned multi -
phased expansion of the hospital as well as several other commercial developments just in the Ocoee
corridor alone, it is anticipated that S.R. 50 will need to be widened to six lanes within 10 years or less.
At that time, the existing Turnpike interchange bridge over S.R. 50 will need to be demolished and
rebuilt to accommodate the extra lanes. The proposed interconnection plan will accommodate the future
widening of S.R. 50 with minimal additional work, and may result in surplus right-of-way for the
Turnpike Authority which could be sold to adjacent businesses.
The proposed interconnection will enhance access to the Turnpike, Western Beltway and East-West
Expressway from the rapidly developing portions of Winter Garden, Ocoee, and Orange County which
lie south of the Turnpike. Attached is a map providing an overview of the current roadway network with
the proposed alignment of the Western Beltway. Also attached is an aerial photograph with an overlay
of the proposed interconnection components. These include ramps to and from S.R. 50 from the Western
Beltway, connecting ramps between the Western Beltway and the Turnpike and a proposed local road
which would provide direct local access from Winter Garden and Ocoee to the Turnpike and thence to
the East-West Expressway. This proposed local road will also provide quick access to the Western
Beltway, Turnpike and East-West Expressway from the southern Ocoee / Winter Garden / Orange
County area with minimal travel length on S.R. 50.
On behalf of the contributing agencies, the City of Ocoee requests that the state appropriate $7 million to
fund the Turnpike diamond interchange and local connecting road portion of this overall interconnection
project. This work is shown in pink on the aerial photograph. The City of Ocoee has pledged $2 million
of currently available funds toward this interconnection plan. Because of the Western Beltway's
construction schedule, funding for this project is needed immediately in order to accommodate the
Turnpike diamond interchange and local access road into the Western Beltway design.
The West Oaks Mall opened October 2, 1996 with 1.1 million square feet of retail space
including Dillard's, Gayfers, JC Penney, and Sears as well as 125 specialty shops. A 14 -
screen movie theater opened in March 1997. The mall is conveniently located at the
corner of State Road 50 and Clarke Road, at the junction of the western terminus of
the East-West Expressway and just over a mile east of the Florida Turnpike
interchange on State Road 50. (State Road 50 is in the foreground.)
The Central Florida Auto Auction, the "World's Largest Auto Auction" and one of'
Ocoee's largest employers, serves wholesale auto dealers who cone to Ocoee From
around the state and southeastern part of' the country to purchase vehicles. Many other
businesses in Ocoee also benefit From the Auto Auction including automobile repair
shops, auto detailers, restaurants, and hotels. The Auto Auction is located on State
Road 50 at its junction with the Florida Turnpike. (State Road 50 an.d the Turnpike
interchange are in the foreground.)
The newest and one of the most advanced medical facilities in Orange County is Health
Central Hospital, a 141 -bed facility, which provides a full range of medical services and
includes private physician office space with immediate access to the hospital and patients.
Health Central recently unveiled a master plan for its campus including additional
hospital space. medical office buildings, and assisted living facilities. The hospital is
located on State Road 50 just west of the on-ramp for the East-West Expressway
and about a mile cast of the Florida Turnpike interchange on State Road 50. (State
Road 50 is in the foreground.)
�l\OCOEE TRANSPORTATION VICINITY MAP
glop
> I
N�>'
�\\,:
\\.. cora-O Rd f
Clay toes %
IN
c \ a \ ✓'
IN.,.,._ 1
MINN,�\> _ 4
�,tiii{ •:
Clarcona-ocpeeHackney-Prairie
. ,; :: r,„,,,-_..-„_,......,•....,...n.<.ern ,..,..,,_ ;�_ Rd
-'
LA F 312
i•4. •...: .9.. ..n.m.,.,..v..,,.,.._.... ..� ., .....f.. Yu '._QIKs`�QARIr(f T ��,,,f.'ry,^
)�._ L i }}``—.�..;..._.' `�,.:a-'r• U - ��'PRAIRIE � `.- �..5 f ¢ lJ'-•
VIGr ETTI P,(RK u
_
,.,.,.-., ..-
f t
.... .._ i
i
vl
ms Rd
•i :. n r , ,
as
LAKIFi
t S o i .r�•' �' cwEhr�Y
•.i 3 SPRR4G
e `
..; d • � � •r',:. _.. ��<:.,..w <._,,.: c.._:. IAKE•-' S ..._ i -'S[AtiLtY .2
CENTTiAIARK
JOH4J -.
FAKE
.. %�
-ii •:
,.
.o
436 1,
... .....
E'
.M
:I
� ......,., .l.,, ., - . �... .� . . ............,. ..... ...--_ t .,-.::� . rhe.
e
�.,. ......,L...:,.< . .S.R 138.
«,.,.....,..,..... N:,:r,. ...
, > �SCLIOOt.. .. , .
:
•SCHOOL::,..
:
lA
VjSYtL . � ..... __ :.^t...
>.-.. .
p "�<„ i7hde�Rd':
GER ywoar” •': i `•
Story Rd :> !:..... ....:.....: PARK7 -.
i
!
-
•-K
...... West .
/ear
� seatth • Oaks bF-,• ! .:-u E: Central Mall
==
S.R. 60 s I fSf1{RET .:
:.
LAKE
i
,
,
Hos ital •:ir«Esi+aiwooi
(lorida's dd later •
-'7
y
s Turnpcice Tomyn Rd ;' . "(AiCE ,--A.�4@�, East-`N
_r ..
-:W
.-.,.. .. .. - x
`t1t4.Y t
SHERWOO
mow•... ,.., .,a: .
:
¢ LAKE .._.. - 0
i
-. •+ � PEAR: - ,
3.1
j
• _.:- ..
' -
• To Orlando
.->
¢ •
x,
E
i
,_... ..y
i
:
i
;: a°