FDOT District One

Conference Center

Polk County TPO Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

801 N. Broadway

Bartow, FL 33830

Meeting Minutes

May 22, 2025 TPO TAC

FDOT District One Conference Center

801 N. Broadway

Bartow, FL 33830

Introduction

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

Bob Wiegers

Jeffrey Ball

Raymond Perez

Don Stephenson

Richard Ranck

Jay Jarvis

City of Lakeland

City of Winter Haven

City of Auburndale

City of Bartow

Town of Lake Hamilton

City of Davenport

Polk County School Board

CFRPC

Polk County Roads & Drainage

Polk County Land Development

Ben Ziskal

Others Present:

Ryan Kordek

Julia Davis

Angela Kaufman

Isai Chavez

Representing:

Polk TPO Staff

Kimley-Horn

FDOT

William Roll

Rohan Sadai

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

Approval of Meeting Minutes

AI3-A1 Draft TAC minutes 3.27.25

Attachments:

Minutes: Motion to approve March 27, 2025, meeting minutes.

Motion: Motioned to approve made by James Philips, seconded by Jeffry Ball. 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 Amendments to FY 2024/25 - 2028/29 TIP, Draft TIP for FY 2025/26 -

2029/30, and the 2025 Priority Transportation Projects. Presentations and Status

Reports included FDOT’s Advanced Air Mobility and Congestion Management

Multimodal Planning and the Envision 2050 needs assessment. Communication and

Reports included the project status of Safe Streets for All.

Action Items

Review/Approve Amendments to FY 2024/25 - 2028/29 Transportation

Improvement Program (TIP)

AI5-A1_Polk TPO Amendment for TIP FY25-29 June 12,

2025 TPO

Attachments:

Minutes: Angela Kaufman, Polk TPO Staff, presented the single amendment we

received from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The amendment is

minor in nature and consists of an increase in the project limits for a resurfacing project

on I-4 between Galloway Road and US 98 in Lakeland.

Motion: Motioned to approve was made by Julie Womble, seconded by James Philips.

Motion carried unanimously.

Review/Approve Draft FY 2025/26 - 2029/30 Transportation Improvement

Program (TIP)

AI6-A1_TIP_2025_26_to 2029_30_Draft version

Minutes: Angela Kaufman, Polk TPO Staff, presented the overview of Draft FY

Attachments:

2025/26 -2029/30 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Her presentation

covered the different types of projects included in TIP and the amount of funding

allocated to the projects. The Draft TIP consists of nearly $2B worth of transportation

investment in Polk County. The majority of this funding is provided by FDOT. She

discussed the public comment period that was established for the Draft TIP and stated

the TPO received 508 public comment surveys, 177 of those were related to US 27.

Motion: Motion to approve was made by Chuck Barmby, seconded by Jay Jarvis.

Motion carried unanimously.

Review/Approve Draft 2025 Priority Transportation Projects

AI7_A1_Draft_2025_Priority_Transportation_Projects

Attachments:

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, Polk TPO Staff, provided a presentation and overview of the

Draft priority transportation projects for 2025. He discussed the key themes going into

this year’s priorities. He emphasized the amount of investment by FDOT in resurfacing

the state highways. The top priority road project this year is US 98 between Edgewood

Drive and Main Street in Lakeland. State Road 60 in eastern Polk County is a freight

priority and the TPO has submitted a grant application through the National Highway

Freight Program in support of the project requesting funding for design and right-of-way

funding. Staff is proposing to match the grant with $2M in TMA-SU funds. He noted

there was an additional SUN Trail project in Lakeland that was not included in the

attachment that was distributed in the packet.

Motion: Motion to approve was made by Julie Womble, seconded by Ben Ziskal.

Motion carried unanimously.

Presentations and Status Reports

FDOT Presentations on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Presentation and

Congestion Management Multimodal Planning (C3MP)

AI8-A1_fdot_aam_fact_sheet_final.pdf

Attachments:

AI8-A2_FDOT AAM_Polk TACpresentation 05.2025

AI8-A3_C3MP Overview Presentation_Polk TPO

Minutes: Rohan Sadai, FDOT, presented and explained what Advanced Air Mobility

(AAM) is and the covered some of the different technologies being utilized. AAM will

use the existing airport, heliports and vertiports but will need electricity for charging. Mr.

Sadai also mentioned several upcoming workshops for planning staff and

elected/appointed officials.

Members of the committee asked about where AAM airports may be located.

Mr. Sadai also discussed FDOT District One’s Congestion Management Multimodal

Planning (C3MP) initiative to relieve congestion on the state highway system.

Envision 2050 Needs Assessment

Minutes: William Roll, Kimley-Horn, provided a presentation of the goals for the LRTP,

informing about the population growth, revenue forecast, and volume congestion now

to 2050. Along with the committed and planned project for NE Polk improvements.

Ryan Kordek, TPO Staff, discussed key multimodal projects included in the Draft LRTP

which consist of multi-use trails, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and complete street

needs.

Julia Davis, Polk TPO Staff, covered the major transit needs being considered as part

of the Plan.

Mr. Kordek, concluded the presentation by discussing regional transit services included

in the Plan such as the extension of the SunRail and the Brightline high speed rail

between Orlando and Tampa in the I-4 corridor.

Communications and Reports

10.

Safe Streets for All - Project Status

Minutes: Isai Chavez, Polk TPO Staff, provided an update on the stakeholder

committee kick-off meeting that had 30 participants. He also mentioned FDOT’s Best

Foot Forward program had its first crosswalk enforcement which issued seven (7)

warnings and 17 citations.

11.

Board Member Comments

Minutes: There were no comments.

12.

Adjournment

Minutes: The meeting adjourned at 11:08 a.m. The next TAC Meeting is scheduled for

July 24, 2025, and will also be held at the Polk County Administration Building Room

413.

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 Polk 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 Polk TPO’s Title VI

Specialist at (863) 534-6486, or by writing Ms. Julia Davis at Post Office Box 9005,

Bartow, Florida 33831-9005.