Major Road Plan Public Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The draft or a proposed final Transportation Plan for Lakeland will be discussed at a Special Meeting at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at Lakeland City Hall, 10001 Highway 70. Residents are encouraged to attend and comment on the draft plan. After considering residents comments and suggestions, the draft Plan will be finalized and submitted for approval to the Lakeland Municipal Planning Commission and the Lakeland Board of Commissioners later this year.

The City of Lakeland adopted a final Transportation Improvement Study (Major Road Plan) in 2004. The Report, prepared by Kimley Horn and Associates, evaluated the ability of the existing and planned roadway system to accommodate future traffic volumes upon ultimate build out of the City of Lakeland in accordance with the existing Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The Plan also identified existing and predicted traffic congestion areas resulting from current and future development.

Philip Stuckert, City Engineer, commented that “A new study (the 2007 revision and update) will expand on the 2004 report and give us a more accurate picture of our transportation needs here in Lakeland, both current and for the near future. A lot has changed since the first report was completed in 2004. We have new residential and commercial development, as well as new land annexations and a new landuse plan that was adopted in March 2006.” In December 2007, Lakeland held a public meeting to ascertain transportation issues here in Lakeland. This information was compiled by the consultant to assist us in identifying critical transportation concerns for the near future.

Lakeland residents are encouraged to attend this meeting and comment on the draft Transportation Improvement Study. Representatives of Kimley Horn and Associations and the City Engineer, Philip Stuckert, will be present to review the Plan and discuss any aspect of the plan.