Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs controversial 'Billionaire Boulevard' toll roads legislation
Gov. Ron DeSantis' status as a "green" governor is officially up for debate.
On Friday, DeSantis signed a bill – the Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance, or M-CORES – that requires the state to build two new toll roads and extend a third toll road through rural parts of Florida, according to a press release from Senate President Bill Galvano's office.
"Infrastructure is more than traditional transportation elements including roads, bridges, seaports and airports," says Galvano, R-Bradenton. "Infrastructure also includes utility and communication resources that provide access to clean water and reliable broadband connectivity. I am grateful to Gov. DeSantis for partnering with the Florida Legislature to embrace an innovative approach to infrastructure that will enable Florida to strategically plan for future population growth."
Galvano, who defied environmentalists' immediate, swift condemnation of the proposal when it first bubbled to the surface early last month, also claims the project will protect "our unique natural resources" (our emphasis, not his), as well as address the Sunshine State's growth and need for added infrastructure, provide new hurricane-evacuation routes, expand bicycle and pedestrian trails, lay the groundwork for new water and sewer lines, and provide added access to broadband internet in rural areas.
Read more: https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/05/17/florida-gov-ron-desantis-signs-controversial-billionaire-boulevard-toll-roads-legislation
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