The County Commission voted 4-1 last February directing staff to prepare a Comprehensive Plan amendment to give FDOT the right to decide what areas of US 1 in Unincorporated Monroe County, including the 18-mile stretch, should be 4-laned.  Last month the Planning Commission voted to recommend to the County Commission that they deny the change they requested.  

At a meeting with county officials, FDOT District 6 Secretary Stacy Miller indicated that before FDOT would take step 1, a feasibility study, they would require the right to decide on the widening issue for all areas of the Keys, including Islamorada. Four lanes through Islamorada would be especially devastating in business areas.

The members of the County Commission were inundated with emails and phone calls leading up to their Wed Sep 10 meeting.  The meeting room was full of residents and business owners against 4-laning.  Residents and business owners were united against giving up local control regarding such a critical issue.

One by one, the members of the commission who had requested the change, informed the public that they would now be voting against their requested amendment.

Vice Mayor Don Horton spoke against the amendment on behalf of the Islamorada Council. He suggested that instead of 4-laning, FDOT should provide the funding, needed for widening, to Islamorada so the Village could reduce congestion by providing a bus or trolley system within Islamorada for residents and visitors.

FDOT has been providing Islamorada funding through a “Transit Development Grant” which has been paying 50% of the $553,330 of the Village’s contract with Freebee to provide an on demand rideshare service.  Some would argue that the Freebee program, while beneficial to riders, is not decreasing congestion in Islamorada.