Department of Transportation panel cites broadband in pitch to build new toll road between Orlando and Naples

State transportation planners touted bringing broadband to rural communities between Orlando and Naples at its latest online toll road meeting Thursday, but heard more criticism that the road is not needed and could hurt the environment.

The meeting consisted of a presentation, a discussion by task force members and public comment, which has largely been against three new toll roads pushed last year by the Florida Legislature and some business groups. 

Some have criticized the plans because, well, there really isn't a plan other than to build three massive toll roads through vast swaths of the Sunshine State. 

The roadways aren't marked on a map, and the idea for them didn't come from state Department of Transportation planners and engineers. 

These roadways were forced through late in the 2019 legislative session.

Will Watts, chief DOT engineer, said the toll roads are needed because they will help bring modern technology to lacking areas. 

"We’ve also seen the challenges that many Florida business and citizens are facing in rural areas that do not have broadband today," Watts said. 

Dive deeper:Florida transportation planners pitch toll roads for third straight day

He said the need for broadband is primarily a private sector function and ultimately is driven by the market.

Watts said about 98% of Floridians in urban areas have access to broadband while about 80% of residents in rural Florida have access to the technology.

That mark drops to 60% in Glades and Hendry counties, both of which are in the Southwest toll road boundary. 

Watts said the state will set aside $5 million annually beginning in fiscal year 2022-23 for broadband expansion within or adjacent to the roadway expansions. 

Related coverage:Public tells state to slow down on controversial toll roads

The Southwest toll road would connect Naples to the Orlando area and cut through prime Florida panther habitat, possibly following the Highway 29 route in rural eastern Collier. 

Two other roads are being pushed at the same time. 

The Suncoast Parkway will travel from the Tampa area north to Georgia. This route could be built along the existing portion of Highway 19 or run parallel to it while the Northern Turnpike Connector will connect the future Suncoast Parkway with the existing Florida Turnpike. 

More than 150 peopled participated in the online meeting. 

All three task forces must have their recommendations to the House of Representatives by Nov. 15. 

Opponents argue that the roads will cut through some of the most pristine lands left in Florida while increasing urban sprawl. 

Read More:Skepticism over proposed toll road between Orlando, Naples dominates webinar

But backers like the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Trucking Association say the roads will boost local economies, bring broadband to new areas and help with hurricane evacuation times. 

Jason Lauritsen, a task force member with Florida Wildlife Corridor, said he doesn't want to see new roads impacting wildlife areas in Southwest Florida.

"I’m coming to the conversation with the hopes of finding out ways we can provide broadband without further impacting natural resources, particularly wildlife corridors," he said. 

DOT says fewer than 6% of Floridians don't have access to broadband. 

Bill Lambert, a task force member with the Hardee County Economic Development Council, said the meeting was not the time or place to talk about whether the roads have been justified or not. 

"I don’t think this is a right forum to discuss whether the corridor should be built," Lambert said. "And) farmers, they’ve got to be competitive and they can’t be competitive if we can effectively connect them to the internet to run their business." 

Shannon Estenoz, a task force member with the Everglades Foundation, said new roads in environmentally sensitive areas simply aren't needed. 

"The need for expanding broadband is pretty easy to understand, particularly in the context of COVID," Estenoz said. "(But) use existing corridors. That’s been our mantra for the last eight months. I have not yet seen a justification compelling enough for corridors at this point." 

Lindsay Cross with Florida Conservation Voters said the road in Southwest Florida should not be built because there's been no identified need. 

"The only urgency is an artificial one last year, where politicians, not planners or the people, decided what the people need," Cross said. "This has represented bad government from the beginning." 

Michael McGrath, with the Sierra Club in Fort Myers, said during the public comment portion that broadband will be needed in these communities well before the roads are done. 

"There are alternatives that are both cheaper, less environmentally damaging, and accomplish the same connectivity goals much sooner than building toll roads that likely will not be completed until 2030 or later," McGrath said. "The communities that are currently without broadband access simply do not need to wait for new roads to be completed to get connectivity."

Alison Kelly, an attorney representing Natural Resource Defense Council, said a road is not needed to bring new technologies to far-flung areas. 

"For various environmental, water, public health, and economic reasons, we oppose the Southwest-Central Corridor toll road," she told the task force. "One of the panelists described this project as a 'giant new corridor.' This road should not be touted as a prerequisite for providing broadband to the general public. Alternatives such as existing roadways and corridors could be utilized." 

Elizabeth Fleming, with Defenders of Wildlife, said she's not sure the roadway has been justified either, and that planners and engineers can find other ways to get broadband services to the Floridians who don't have it. 

"I don’t wish to deny anybody access to broadband or anything like that," Fleming said. "I’m more interested in the method of delivery. It’s been really emphasized throughout this process how important broadband is and how these toll roads can facilitate this.(But) I want to know, do we need roads, asphalt, pavement to provide communities with broadband?"

Connect with this reporter: @ChadGillisNP on Twitter.