FDOT District One Conference Center

801 N. Broadway

Bartow, FL 33830

Introduction

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

Minutes: Vice Chair Carlie Flagler called the TAC Meeting to order at 9:30 am.

Confirmation of Quorum

Minutes: Roll call was taken, and a quorum was confirmed by KC Rivera, Polk TPO

Staff.

Approval of Meeting Minutes

AI3_A1_Minutes

Attachments:

Minutes: Motion to approve September 25, 2025, meeting minutes.

Motion: Motioned to approve made by Jay Jarvis, seconded by Julie Womble. Motion

carried without dissent.

Agenda Review - Ryan Kordek, Polk TPO Executive Director

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, TPO Executive Director, informed the board we will be in this

room next year and gave an overview of the TAC agenda. Action items included the

amendments to the TIP, LRTP update before adoption, and FDOT and Florida’s

Turnpike Enterprise Draft Work Program. Along with presentations and status reports

for Transit Development Plan, Best Foot Forward, and Priority Transportation Project

application cycle.

Action Items

Review/Approve Amendments to FY 2025/26 - 2029/30 Transportation

Improvement Program (TIP)

AI5-A1_Amendments to FY25-29 TIP 12-9-2025 Polk TPO

Board Meeting

Attachments:

Minutes: Angela Kaufman, Polk TPO Staff, presented the request amendment for

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.

Bob Wiegers asked for more information for the Crown Avenue project.

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

Motion carried unanimously.

Review/Approval of the Draft 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan - Envision 2050

AI6_A1_LRTP

Attachments:

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, TPO Executive Director, thanks everyone for their help with the

LRTP and advised the board the Draft LRTP was approved at our last meeting, but this

presentation is about public participation. The LRTP was opened to the public for

review for the last two months and was open all year for public comments. Mr. Kordek

presented the highlights that made up the LRTP along with the key themes guiding the

plan which included the population and employment growth, transportation with the

Transit Development Plan, the needs analysis for the cities in Northeast Polk, and the

funds/needs within the revenue forecast. Mr. Kordek explained what has changed from

the last LRTP for 2045 to the current 2050 as well as the changes from the approved

draft LRTP. Mr. Kordek informed the board how it was communicated to our citizens,

which included video series of four (4) projects, live public forms, meetings, and events.

He acknowledged Brittany Silva of PGTV, PGTV, and the consultant team at

Kimley-Horn for their contributions. With the community outreach we received 519

unique comments that focused on roadways, intersections, transit and funding.

Chuck Barmby provided the following comments to be included in the draft Long Range

Transportation Plan:

1) Transit: Regarding the northern limits of the US 98 or Florida Avenue Bus Rapid

Transit routes, the draft plan shows the limits as Downtown Lakeland, but the

northern limits should be Interstate 4 or Lakeland Square Mall. FDOT conducted

a feasibility study to get from the Intermodal Center to Lakeland Square Mall to

the north. He wanted to get this length correct in the draft LRTP.

2) Lakeland Park Drive extension: It shows that it is committed from Union Drive to

Carpenters Way. He wanted to get this into the cost feasible category. But

William Roll told Chuck that he would have to provide costs/dollar amount of

project in order to get it into this category. William Roll and Chuck Barmby were

to talk later about this. This will be relative to impact fees projected for beyond

FY 2030/31 according to Chuck Barmby.

Motion: Motioned to approve to include comments made by Chuck Barmby, seconded

by Jay Jarvis. Motion carried unanimously.

Review/Comment on Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida’s

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

County

AI7_A1_Polk Draft Tentative WP FY27-31

Attachments:

AI7_A2_2025 WP Project Summary_Turnpike

AI7_A3_Polk Summary of Changes Report_FY27-31

AI7_A4_Adopted_2025_Priority_Transportation_Projects

Minutes: Ryan Korkek, TPO Executive Director, introduced the Florida Turnpike

Enterprise and Victoria Williams who will be presenting the Tentative Five-Year Work

Program.

Victoria Williams, Florida Turnpike, presented construction workflow of the Central Polk

Parkway and informed citizens can see the weekly construction updates on their

website as well as signing up for emails. Ms. Williams explained the projects on the

tentative Five-Year Work Program handout.

Ryan Kordek explained in the future the priorities are going to be decreasing, three out

of twenty-seven are getting funded as well as TSMA funds being moved to later years.

Also, a majority of FDOT funds are going to resurfacing our roads.

1) Chuck Barmby spoke about the resurfacing projects on US 98, operational and

safety improvements were part of the repurposing of the project including car

line extensions larger crosswalks across New Jersey along North and South

Crystal Lake, and maybe another turn lane into the high school. As this

pavement is being resurface, it would be great to incorporate those types of

elements into the project. It could save money and will save shield impact to the

residents and drivers in the area.

2) New York Avenue overpass downtown (which included trails) that was part of

the Work Program and was scheduled for construction in March, but it got tied

up in the appropriations changes in Tallahassee and the lobbyists. Their hope is

to have the construction re-programmed back into the Work Program which was

around $11M to $13M.

3) Ryan Kordek added in the CSX S Line crossing at SR 60 grade separation was

removed from the Work Program. This should be reprogrammed into the Work

Program.

4) Chuck Barmby then requested FDOT re-evaluate all projects that were removed

from the Work Program in the last legislative cycle for reprogramming and to

include the operational and safety improvements along Bartow Road and

Sylvester.

Motion: Motioned to approve with relooking at the funding available for the rails and

highway mentioned was made by Chuck Barmby, seconded by Jay Jarvis. Motion

carried unanimously.

Presentations and Status Reports

Transit Development Plan

AI8_A1_TDP Presentation

Attachments:

Minutes: Kayla Huetten, Benesch, provided a brief description of a Transit

Development Plan as a plan that visions the next ten years and updated every five

years, identifies funded and unfunded needs, and helps Citrus Connection set transit

services and capital priorities. Ms. Huetten explained the public outreach which

included workshops, surveys, media outreach, and they spoke with 1,300 citizens. The

outcome of the surveys included the need for more services and Brightline and SunRail

in Polk County. Incorporating these inputs from the public, the 2035 Transit needs

include enhancements to the existing network, new local services, new regional and rail

services, and new micro transit. Ms. Huetten presented the list of priority projects and

the timeline in the plan along with the finance plan.

Julie Womble requested information about the definition of microtransit.

Kayla Huetten explained microtransit is an on-demand service which also includes an

app.

Richard Ranck asked if we would have queued jumps.

Kayla Huetten advised Polk County does not, but Orlando and Miami do.

Best Foot Forward

Minutes: Vince Dryer, Best Foot Forward Program, presented an overview of the 107

crosswalks across nine counties. In Polk County, eight crosswalks located within

Bartow, Winter Haven and Lakeland were evaluated. Next year they will be evaluating

twelve crosswalks, one being in Auburndale. Mr. Dryer explained the crosswalk

improvement plan which included educating with outreach and educational activities,

educational sign waving, enforcement, and engineering solutions with low cost but high

effectiveness for yielding. Examples include speed bumps before or at crosswalk or a

flashing beacon.

Ryan Kordek asked if he could get a some of the signs so they can be placed at

crosswalks and leave them there for a period of time.

Vince Dryer responded that the signs must be removed after the event.

Jay Jarvis asked if we could do a solar operated sign on the top of a crosswalk sign.

Raymond Perez mentioned other counties are implementing photo forced crosswalks,

he asked if it could be done. With a traffic analysis or study.

Vince Dryer stated it would have to be requested or recommended at the locations that

would be monitored.

10.

Priority Transportation Project Application Cycle

AI10_A1_2026 Transportation Projects Fact Sheet

Attachments:

Minutes: Angela Kaufman, Polk TPO Staff, stated the Transportation Priority Program

cycle is now open. We are in need of a sub-committee five with an alternate to look at

and score. Ms. Kaufman explained what the money can be used for, which there is 8.5

million dollars available in TSMU funds.

Ryan Kordek stated federal funds may have strings attached and this is a grant with no

requirements. Last year only three or four jurisdictions submitted for a grant.

A discussion between Angela Kaufman, Ryan Kordek, and the committee regarding the

Transportation Priority Program occurred.

Communications and Reports

11.

2026 TPO Meeting Schedule

AI11_A1_Meeting Calendar

Attachments:

Minutes: Ryan Korkek, TPO Executive Director, presented the meeting calendar for

2026.

12.

Central Polk Parkway Meeting

AI12_A1_CPP Letter

AI12_A2_CPPE_Newsletter

Attachments:

Minutes: Ryan Korkek, TPO Executive Director, provided information about the two

upcoming meetings for Central Polk Parkway.

13.

Board Member Comments

Minutes: James Philips mentioned through City of Lakeland’s Vision Zero, they are

making efforts to try to bring back bike-share which they are working on a draft bill. He

asked if they could bring bike-share to the TPO and have it adopted with Complete

Streets.

Ryan Kordek agreed with James.

Ryan Kordek stated Julia Davis is officially retired and the job is posted. He also

introduced Tracy Mullins, the new Safety Transportation Planner.

Jay Jarvis stated that South Connector CFX is going to the board next Thursday.

14.

Adjournment

Minutes: The meeting adjourned at 11:16 a.m.

The next TAC Meeting is scheduled for January 22, 2026, and will also be held at the

FDOT Conference Center, Bartow.

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) 534-6597, or by writing to her at Post Office Box 9005, Bartow,

Florida 33831-9005.