Call to Order - 9:00 a.m. (Trish Pfeiffer, Polk TPO Chairwomen)

Minutes: Chairwoman Trish Pfeiffer called the TPO Board meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Confirmation of Quorum

Minutes: KC Rivera, Polk TPO staff, confirmed a quorum. Council Member Greenway

represented the South County Bloc and Commissioner Willie Quarles represented the Central

County and Ridge Bloc. Advisory Council members present were Wayne Gaither, FDOT, Ryan

Kordek, Polk TPO, and Heather Bryan, Polk County Legal.

Opportunity for Public Comment

Minutes: Chairwoman Pfeiffer opened the floor for public comment.

Sharon Garrett voiced concerns about the possibility of losing her family land in association

with the planned Central Polk Parkway.

Chairwoman Pfeiffer closed public comment.

Agenda Review - Ryan Kordek, Polk TPO Executive Director

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, TPO Executive Director, provided an overview of the Board’s agenda

and highlighted the action items which included public hearings for the Draft Amendments to

FY 2025/26 - 2029/30 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Draft 2050 Long Range

Transportation Plan (Envision 2050 LRTP). Other action items include Florida Department of

Transportation (FDOT) and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) FY 2026/27 -2030/31 Draft

Work Programs for Polk County, and Board Appointments. The Board will also hear

presentations on Best Foot Forward and the recently adopted Transit Development Plan.

Special Presentation

5. Recognition of Service to the Polk TPO for Mayor Bill Mutz

Minutes: Chairwomen Pfeiffer presented a plaque to Mayor Bill Mutz for his service on the

Polk TPO Board.

CONSENT AGENDA (TAB 1)

These action items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion.

There will be no separate discussion on these items. A Board member may request an

item be moved to the regular agenda for discussion.

Approval of October 9, 2025, Meeting Minutes

AI6_A1 Draft TPO Board Meeting minutes 10.9.25

Minutes: Motion: Motion made by Commissioner Wilson, seconded by Commissioner

Attachments:

McCarley. Motion carried without dissent.

Draft RFP for the Master Services Agreement TPO 25-687 to Provide a

Three-Year contract for TPO planning activities.

AI7_A1_Draft RFP 25-687 Packet

Attachments:

Minutes: Motion: Motion made by Commissioner Wilson, seconded by Commissioner

McCarley. Motion carried without dissent.

Modification to Consultant Services Authorization (CSA) TPO-20-1009-02-05

with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to Prepare the 2050 Long Range

Transportation Plan Update (Part Two) increasing the Cost Not-to-Exceed

amount from $230,000.00 to $260,000.00

AI8_A1_CSA 20-1009-02-05 2050 LRTP Part

Two_Modification1

Attachments:

AI8_A2_Justification Memo

AI8_A3_Fully executed - Kimley-Horn CSA

TPO-20-1009-02-05 (part 2) with scope

Minutes: Motion: Motion made by Commissioner Wilson, seconded by Commissioner

McCarley. Motion carried without dissent.

OTHER ACTION ITEMS (TAB 2)

Draft Amendments to the FY 2025/26 - 2029/30 Transportation Improvement

Program (TIP)

AI9-A1_Amendments to FY25-29 TIP 12-9-2025 Polk TPO

Board Meeting

Attachments:

Minutes: Angela Kaufman, TPO Staff, presented the amendments for the FY 2025/26 -

2029/30 TIP which included Crown Avenue from West Polk Street to West Main Street to add

rail safety. Along with modifications with Lakeland Area Mass Transit District and

LAMTD/Winter Haven to add additional funding.

Chairwoman Pfeiffer opened the public hearing for public comments. Seeing none,

Chairwomen Pfeiffer closed the public hearing.

Motion: Motion made by Mayor Mutz, seconded by Commissioner Roberts McCarley. Motion

carried without dissent.

Roll Call vote was taken and approved without dissent.

10.

Draft Long Range Transportation Plan - Envision 2050

AI10_A1_LRTP

Attachments:

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, TPO staff introduced the 2050 LRTP which included the major steps

and key actions taken in the development of the LRTP. Mr. Kordek gave an overview of the

public engagement methods which included the project website, public meetings, events,

workshops, and social media. On the website we have received approximately 600 comments

with the interactive map showing where the public’s concerns are. The top concerns from the

public are safety, roadways, intersections, and pedestrian needs. Mr. Kordek explained how we

identify the long-range needs and reflect the public’s concerns in the plan.

Chairwoman Pfeiffer opened the public hearing for public comment. Seeing none, Chairwomen

Pfeiffer closed the public hearing.

Motion: Motion made by Commissioner Roberts McCarley, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem

Musick. Motion carried without dissent.

Roll Call vote was taken and approved without dissent.

11.

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise

(FTE) FY 2026/27 - 2030/31 Draft Work Programs for Polk County

AI11-A1_Polk Draft Tentative WP FY27-31

Attachments:

AI11-A2_Polk Summary of Changes Report_FY27-31

AI11-A3_2025 WP Project Summary_Turnpike

AI11-A4_Adopted_2025_Priority_Transportation_Projects

AI11-A5_2025 Priority Projects vs Draft Tentative WP

Minutes: Katina Kavouklis, Florida Turnpike Enterprise, presented the Draft Work Program

for Polk County and the investments with toll dollars for the construction of Central Polk

Parkway from SR 570 to US 17 and US 17 to SR 60. As of today, the construction is 700 days

ahead of schedule for the section between SR 570 to US 17.

Ryan Kordek, TPO staff spoke of the priority transportation projects and how they were

addressed in the new draft work program. He noted that right-of-way (ROW) has been funded

for a large portion of State Road 60 in eastern Polk County. This has been a top priority of the

Polk TPO. However, the bridge project on State Road 60 at CSX’s S-Line between Bartow and

Lake Wales was removed from the Work Program. The TPO’s number one priority is US 98

between Edgewood Drive and Main Street in Lakeland. No additional funding was allocated for

this project. Mr. Kordek also covered the recommendations made at the Technical Advisory

Committee (TAC) held a week earlier. This included a request for FDOT to consider low cost

improvements that could improve safety and congestion along the corridor and be implemented

as part of an upcoming resurfacing project which is programmed for the corridor.

A long discussion ensued between the Board regarding priority transportation projects.

Mr. Kordek stated a letter will be prepared for the Chair to sign, conveying the comments to

FDOT on the Draft Work Program.

Motion: Motion made by Commissioner Roberts McCarley, seconded by Mayor Mutz. Motion

carried without dissent.

12.

Appointments to the Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory

Committee (MPOAC) and Central Florida MPO Alliance (CFMPOA)

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, TPO staff, presented information on the Metropolitan Planning

Organization Advisory Council and identified the current representatives. The Board discussed

whether to retain the existing representatives or appoint new ones.

Mayor Birdsong motioned to keep the current representatives.

Sara Roberts McCarley, Lakeland Member

Nat Birdsong, Winter Haven

Trish Pfeiffer. Bartow

Primary Alternate

Secondary Alternate

Motion: Motioned by Mayor Birdsong, seconded by Mayor Mutz. Motion carried without

dissent.

Mr. Kordek, presented information on the Central Florida MPO Alliance and identifies the

current representatives. The Board discussed whether to retain the existing representatives or

appoint new ones.

Mayor Birdsong motioned to keep the current representatives.

Brian Yates, Winter Haven Member (CFMPOA Vice Chair)

Nancy Daley, Lake Alfred Member

Omar Arroyo, Haines CityMember

Vernal Smith, Haines City

Alternate

Motion: Motioned by Mayor Birdsong, seconded by Mayor Mutz. Motion carried without

dissent.

13.

2026 TPO Board Meeting Calendar

AI13_A1_2026 Meeting Calendar DRAFT_RKEdits

Attachments:

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, TPO staff, presented the 2026 TPO Board Meeting calendar and

presented an option for the Board to consider holding future Board meetings at FDOT’s

Conference Center at District One Headquarters.

A lengthy discussion took place among the Board regarding the location of the 2026 meetings.

Staff will poll TPO members for their meeting time preference.

Approval of the meeting dates for the 2026 TPO Board Calendar

Motion: Motioned by Commissioner Wilson, seconded by Council Member Greenway. The

motion was approved.

Motion: A motion to table a decision to move the TPO Board meetings to FDOT and change

the meeting time to be determined at the next board meeting was made by Commissioner

Santiago, seconded by Commissioner Troutman. The motion carried, though not unanimously:

10 in favor, 7 opposed.

PRESENTATIONS AND STATUS REPORTS (TAB 3)

14.

Best Foot Forward (BFF) Campaign in Polk County Report

AI14-A1_BFF Polk TPO Presentation

Attachments:

Minutes: Jenna Mousseau, Best Foot Forward, presented a program wide overview of the

107 evaluated crosswalks including the crosswalks evaluated in Polk County. These locations

were in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, and Auburndale. The crosswalk improvement plan

focuses on engineering, enforcement, and education. Engineering treatments vary by location

and may include delineator posts, speed humps, or pedestrian beacons, depending on site

conditions and available funding.

Commissioner Roberts McCarley asked about pedestrian hybrid crosswalks.

Ms. Mousseau mentioned a current project being completed with FDOT funding.

Wayne Gaither states there are criteria for pedestrian hybrid crosswalks.

Commissioner Santiago asked whether the campaign addresses pedestrians crossing in the

middle of the street rather than using designated crosswalks.

Ms. Mousseau states they are educating all road users and not just drivers.

Commissioner Troutman inquired about the cost of pedestrian hybrid crosswalks.

Ms. Mousseau is unaware of the price.

15.

Adopted Transit Development Plan

AI15-A2_Draft Executive Summary Citrus Connection TDP

Attachments:

AI15-A1_Citrus Connection Transit Development Plan - Final

(1)

Minutes: Asela Silva of Benesch provided an overview of the Transit Development Plan

(TDP), including an explanation of its purpose. Mr. Silva covered the thirty‑two existing transit

routes and the five squeeze‑service routes, along with a summary of the public outreach

efforts, which included stakeholder interviews, workshops, surveys, the project website, and

social media engagement. Through these efforts, approximately 1,300 citizens were reached.

He also reviewed the public input survey results related to transit use, key destinations, and

service needs. The 2035 transit needs identified in the TDP include enhancements to the

existing network, new local services, new regional and rural services, and the introduction of

micro‑transit options.

Commissioner Madden asked whether there is a data source that compares transit ridership

with automobile use.

Mr. Silva noted that this TDP does not include that information.

Commissioner Madden asked whether artificial intelligence could be used to determine

ridership on each route.

Mr. Silva stated that they do have data on the number of citizens riding the bus.

Commissioner Roberts McCarley stated that the overlay is a great idea and requested

clarification that the public survey is not limited to ridership. She noted that transit also provides

essential access to work, grocery shopping, and other daily needs.

REPORTS (TAB 4)

16. Executive Director’s Report

AI16b-A1_2026 Transportation Projects Fact Sheet

Attachments:

Minutes: Mr. Kordek introduced new TPO staff member Tracy Mullins. Mr. Kordek also

highlighted the award presented to Polk County and the Polk TPO by Bike Walk Central Florida

for the Fort Fraser Trail Extension and showed a short video depicting the trail. He also

commented on the City of Lakeland’s role in helping make this project possible. He noted that

the 2026 Priority Transportation Project Cycle has opened and stated that the second segment

of the Central Polk Parkway has held its groundbreaking in October.

Chairwoman Pfeiffer stated that this segment is two years ahead of schedule and that the next

segment is planned for 2032.

Mr. Kordek also noted the upcoming meeting regarding the Central Polk Parkway East.

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Report

17.

Minutes: Wayne Gaither, FDOT, thanked the TPO Board and TPO staff for the LRTP and

Priority Projects.

Edith Perez, FDOT, thanked the TPO for the coordination efforts with the Work Program Cycle.

Ms. Perez shared the Transportation Alternative, Safety, TRIP and CMS project cycle is open

from January 5th until March 31st and the Safe Routes to School funding will open on January

31st. Lastly, Ms. Perez introduced DJ Sharma who is a new engineer at FDOT District One.

18.

Opportunity for Public Comment

Minutes: Chairwoman Pfeiffer opened the floor for public comment. Seeing none, closed the

floor.

19.

Board Member Comments

Minutes: Commissioner Mercer asked about the TPO voting blocs and why some of them are

not allowed a full voting seat.

Mr. Kordek stated Forida Statutes limits the size of the board and the two (2) voting seats for

the voting blocs are shared by seven (7) cities. The voting member is rotated annually. In the

past, this was seen a way to encourage and maximize participation in the TPO process from

some of the smaller cities in the county.

20.

Adjournment

Minutes: The meeting adjourned at 11:29 a.m.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities

needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding should contact the

Board of County Commissioners, Communications Office, at 330 W. Church Street,

Bartow. Telephone (863) 534-6090, not later than four days prior to the proceeding. If

hearing impaired call: (TDD) (863) 534-7777 or 1-800-955-8771, or Voice impaired call:

1-800-955-8770, via Florida Relay Service.

The TPO planning process is conducted in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964 and Related Statutes. Any person or beneficiary who believes they have

been discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin,

disability, or family status may file a complaint with Cindy Mitchell, the TPO’s Title VI

Specialist at (863) 534-6486, or by writing to her at Post Office Box 9005, Bartow,

Florida 33831-9005.

Presentation for TPO Board Members for 12/9/2025

TPO_Slides_12-9-2025

Attachments: