Dear Ms. Vu,

1) Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise receives no annual appropriation from state gas taxes or federal tax revenues, as does the rest of the Florida Department of Transportation. The Turnpike System is self-supporting, from toll and non-toll revenues, to maintain and operate our system. The Turnpike System asset is leveraged for bonding to fund new improvements and projects. With regard to Turnpike projects, however, Section 338.2275, Florida Statutes authorizes the Turnpike’s use of federal funds, in addition to turnpike revenues, State Transportation Trust Fund moneys, and bond proceeds, and directs the Department to use the most cost-efficient combination of such funds, in developing a financial plan for funding Turnpike projects. Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is a part of the Florida Department of Transportation, and the needs of Turnpike projects (for Federal funding) are considered for regionally significant projects and are assessed along with the overall needs of the entire Florida Department of Transportation.

Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise has not requested any federal funds for the proposed extension of the Suncoast Parkway. As you are aware, the Turnpike has submitted to the State Clearinghouse, an Advanced Notification Package. We previously provided a copy of that Advanced Notification Package to you. As we have stated before, this submittal provides notice of the Department’s intent to apply for federal aid on a project, and is not a request for federal funds. The final decision to request federal funds for the proposed extension of the Suncoast Parkway has not yet been made. The submittal was made to maintain the Turnpike’s eligibility for federal funds for the project. Also in order to maintain eligibility for federal funds, the Turnpike is complying with all the additional procedures and documentation required of the federal environmental regulatory agencies, in addition to the state requirements, throughout the course of this project. We understand that while we are following all of these requirements, there is no guarantee that we will receive Federal funds for this proposed project. And, as you know, since we have not completed our study for the extension of the Suncoast Parkway, it is premature to say if this project will be constructed.

2) The complexity of project issues, impacts and controversy have caused extended review and response times as well as delays in expected deliverables of project information.

3) Suncoast 2 was identified as a need in the Florida Intrastate Highway Program as approved by the Florida Legislature. Additional information can be found by contacting Mr. Ed Hutchinson at (850) 414-4926. You are incorrect in your statement "There was an assumption that the Suncoast 1 would dump massive amounts of traffic onto US-98". As has been attempted to be explained to you in the past, because of the amount of time required to plan, design and construct, roads are designed and built to address capacity concerns 15 to 20 years in the future, not to be at capacity on opening day.

5) I can not validate your statement regarding relief to US 19 or other roadways because I have not yet received traffic projections. Following the receipt of traffic projections in September of this year, these issues can be investigated.

6) At the present time there are 10 Build alternatives identified. Following the reduction of these alternatives to a reasonable number and the receipt of traffic projections , the "No-Build" analysis will begin and not before. Any potential detriments to Citrus County if this roadway is not constructed will be identified as part of the "No-Build" analysis.