Mr. Gibilaro,

1. The FAQ on FTE's web site at http://www.dot.state.fl.us/turnpikepio/NewWebPages/faq.html#1 (note: FTE has since taken down this web page) explains:

"Why do I have to pay to use the road when I already pay taxes? Taxes do not fund the Florida's Turnpike System. The Turnpike receives no state gas tax or federal tax revenue. ... Toll roads are self-supporting, freeing highway tax money for other needed road projects."

Can you please explain the apparent discrepancy between that statement and the intention FTE "may have" of requesting for $160+ million from the FHWA? If this is true of FTE's toll system, why should FHWA consider any request from FTE at all to fund Suncoast2?

2. You noted in your Feb 20 email that "The [PD&E] schedule is being pushed back because of the additional time required to address all issues and concerns that have been raised". Can you please clarify what those issues are and who raised them?

3. What data did FTE use to justify the need for the Suncoast 2? There was an assumption that the Suncoast 1 would dump massive amounts of traffic onto US-98. This did not turn out to be true. However, based on that contention, our County Commissioners chose to support the Suncoast 2 (per the BOCC letter of July 28, 1999). Going forward, it is only prudent to separate the wheat from the chaff, fact from fiction in order to make informed decisions. Any data validating the need for this road would be invaluable in that respect.

5. The FAQ on http://www.suncoastparkway2.com noted: "Project 2 would provide needed relief to the local roadway network". Is it not true that the other N-S corridor, US-19, handles only roughly 5% of through traffic? What other local roadway would the Suncoast 2 alleviate if not US-19? Please forward me to the data or study which validates that statement.

6. The FAQ reads: "While requests can be made at any time to select the "No-Build" alternative, the analysis will not begin until these 'Build" options are identified". Since the alignments ('Build' options) have been identified, why is the "No Build" not yet under analysis?

I would like to understand what real detriment would occur if the road is not built? Will Citrus quagmire into a ghetto of traffic jam? How much suffering and loss will the people of Florida undergo if the Suncoast Parkway ends where it is now instead of at Red Level? In other words, what is the real benefit this road provide that is not possible without it, and how many people will it benefit?

If this is not a thought that FTE has ever considered, then why not? It seems a requisite for any project during the most preliminary of phases.

Thank you for your explanation.