FDOT District One

Conference Center

Polk County TPO Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

801 N. Broadway

Bartow, FL 33830

Meeting Minutes

March 27, 2025 TPO TAC

FDOT District One Conference Center

801 North Broadway

Bartow, FL 33830

Call to Order - 9:30 a.m. (Tess Schwartz, Chairperson)

Minutes: Chair Tess Schwartz called the TAC Meeting to order at 9:30 am.

2. Confirmation of Quorum

Minutes: Members Present: Representing:

James Philips

Chuck Barmby

Tess Schwartz, Chair

Sean Byers

Julie Womble

Ted Adkins

City of Lakeland

City of Winter Haven

City of Auburndale

City of Haines City

City of Bartow

Bob Wiegers

Jeffrey Ball

Town of Lake Hamilton

Town of Dundee

City of Davenport

Polk County Roads & Drainage

Polk County Planning

Citrus Connection

Lorraine Peterson

Raymond Perez

Jay Jarvis

Ben Ziskal

Carlie Flagler, Vice-Chair

Others Present:

Ryan Kordek

Julia Davis

Angela Kaufman

William Roll

Representing:

Polk TPO Staff

Kimley-Horn

Roll call was taken, and a quorum was confirmed by KC Rivera, Polk TPO Staff.

Approval of Meeting Minutes

AI3_A1_Draft Meeting Minutes 1-23-2025

Attachments:

Minutes: Motion to approve January 23, 2025, meeting minutes.

Motion: Motioned by Julie Womble, seconded by James Phillips. Motion carried

without dissent.

Agenda Review - Ryan Kordek, Polk TPO Executive Director

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, TPO Director, gave an overview of the TAC agenda. Action

items included 2025 Transportation Priorities Subcommittee and the Draft TPO

Resolution 2025-02 Adopting Performance Targets. Presentations and Status Reports

included Envision 2050 LRP updates, Vision Zero Polk updates and the 2025 Roadway

Network Database. Communication and Reports included the Legislative updates. Mr.

Kordek stated it was staff’s intention that a majority of this mornings time could be

spent on the 2050 LRTP Update as there are a number of items to discuss.

Action Items

2025 Transportation Priorities Subcommittee

AI5_A1_2025 Transportation Projects Fact Sheet

Attachments:

Minutes: Angela Kaufman, Polk TPO Staff, asked for four volunteers with one being

an alternate for the transportation priorities project review committee. The committee

made the following nominations:

1.Carlie Flagler

2. Ben Ziskal

3. Bob Wiegers

Alt. Julie Womble

Motion: Motion to approve the nominations was made by Chuck Barmby, seconded by

Ted Adkins. Motion carried unanimously.

Envision 2050 - Long Range Transportation Plan Update

AI6_A1_Polk TPO Flyer_ENG_SPAN_FINAL

AI6_A2_PolkTPO_March-TAC_LRTPOverview

AI6_A3_TDP Major Update

Attachments:

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, Polk TPO Executive Director, provides a presentation on the

updated bridge and pavement and system performance targets and measures. He

provided an overview and comparison between Polk County and other nearby and

similar sized counties. FDOT recently updated a few of the targets so there is a need

for the Polk TPO to follow suit.

Motion: Motion to approve was made by Jay Jarvis, seconded by Jeffery Ball. Motion

carried unanimously.

Presentations and Status Reports

Vision Zero Polk Update

AI7_A1_Vision-Zero-Action-Plan_Infographic Brochure

AI7_A2_Best Foot Forward Fact Sheet

Attachments:

Minutes: A. Northeast Polk County Sub Area Study: William Roll, Kimley-Horn,

provided a presentation and overview of the Northeast Polk Sub Area Study. This

includes planned improvements along with the needed connector roads to help

enhance the grid network in the northeast portion of the county along with providing

connections to the planned Central Polk Parkway. Several corridors were emphasized

that will be important in this regard including Ernie Caldwell Blvd, Bates Road, Kokomo

Road and Lake Hatchineha Road (CR 542).

Ryan Kordek added the LRPT 2050 is forecasting two hundred and fifty thousand

people moving to the northeast portion of the county in the next 25 years so the new

LRTP will consider many new road improvements in the area. Also, there are several

transit improvements being considered as well including the extension of SunRail

commuter service which is currently being evaluated (PD&E Study) by FDOT District

One.

Updated Preliminary Revenue Estimates (Local Funding): William Roll,

Kimley-Horn, presented a summary of revenue that will be used to support

implementation of candidate projects identified in the LRTP. These are funds that are

reasonably expected to be made available to carry out the LRTP. In doing so, the Polk

TPO must demonstrate fiscal constraint and ensure the LRTP reflects realistic

assumptions and future revenues. Based on the preliminary revenue estimates, we

anticipate significantly less funding will be available to allocate towards the project

identified in the LRTP.

Public Outreach Strategy: Ryan Kordek provided information about the different

types and strategies of public engagement for Envision 2050.

Vice-Chair Carlie Flagler asked if we use other social media platforms. Mr. Kordek

replied we’re planning to use the TPO’s Facebook page which has a large number of

followers along with our Transportation Adviser Network.

Transit Development Plan (TDP) Update Status: Julia Davis, Polk TPO Staff,

provided a summary of what is involved in a TDP major update, the timeline schedule,

and the stats for the public outreach form last year.

Vice-Chair Carlie Flagler, Citrus Connection, presented the TDP Needs Plan which is

composed incorporating public input. Citrus Connection had 410 responses from the

public outreach. The top issues/needs are later service, shorter trips and more frequent

services.

Julia Davis asked the committee for an open discussion.

Polk TPO 2025 Roadway Network Database

AI8_A1_Roadway Network Database 2025 Summary

Presentation - labeled

Attachments:

Minutes: A. Vision Zero Action Plan: Isai Chavez, Polk TPO Staff, presented a

timeline for Vision Zero. The committee was asked who they think can be part of the

safety project as a stakeholder committee. Isai also informed the committee, City of

Lakeland just adopted their own Safety Vision Zero Plan.

B. Best Foot Forward: Isai Chavez, Polk TPO Staff, informed the committee a

committee was recently held to solicit input from stakeholders for dangerous road

crossings in need of evaluations. As a result, eight (8) crosswalks have been picked

for the Best Foot Forward project. The project consultant and FDOT are moving

forward with conducting evaluations of these locations. The list of sidewalks being

evaluated will be emailed to the committee. Additionally, the TPO will attempt to have

the Best Foot Forward staff provide a presentation at a future meeting.

Polk TPO 2025 Roadway Network Database

Minutes: Ryan Kordek provided a presentation on the new 2025 Roadway Network

Database that was recently updated. Based on the updated information in the

Roadway Network Database there are now six (6) road segments that have a failing

level-of-service (LOS) in Polk County. This is an increase from a year ago and

includes US 98 in Lakeland and portions of US 27 between Haines City and Interstate

4. Pine Tree Trail in northeast Polk County and Marigold Avenue in Poinciana are also

failing.

Communications and Reports

10.

Board Member Comments

Minutes: Mara Latorre, Citrus Connection, asked if the RND could include speed limits

and if the RND is downloadable. Mr. Kordek replied staff will look into the speed limits

and the RND can be downloaded from the TPO’s website. Staff also brought printed

copies of the document which are available for committee members.

11.

Legislative Update

Minutes: Julia Davis, Polk TPO Staff, presented a summary of the Florida Senate Bill

462 that proposes some new requirements for MPOs in Florida.

12.

Adjournment - Next TAC Meeting is scheduled for May 22, 2025, at the FDOT

District One Conference Center.

Minutes: The meeting adjourned at 11:21 a.m. The next TAC Meeting is scheduled for

May 22, 2025, and will also be held at FDOT’s Conference Center.

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 the TPO’s Title VI Specialist at (863)

534-6486, or by writing Ms. Julia Davis at Post Office Box 9005, Bartow, Florida

33831-9005.