Welcome to Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization
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Envisioning Better Communities
Wednesday, July 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Eustis Community Center, 601 Northshore Drive
Come join nationally acclaimed planner, Randall Arendt, and Vanasse Hangen Brustlin’s (VHB’s) Managing Director for Transportation (Florida), Billy Hattaway, for a discussion on updating zoning and applying techniques in order to transform unsightly, auto-dependent, unwelcoming and unsafe commercial strips into transit-friendly, mixed-use corridors that increase livability and benefit local economies!
American Recovery &
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)[Federal Economic Stimulus Package]
The Lake~Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Governing Board adopted its Federal Economic Stimulus Transportation Project Priority List on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, in anticipation of funds being made available for transportation infrastructure projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. As a result, ARRA funding was allocated to several transportation projects in our region, including the widening of a portion of US 27 in South Lake County to six lanes, several roadway resurfacing projects in Lake and Sumter Counties, a pedestrian improvement project in the Lake Panasoffkee area, as well as capital and maintenance for LakeXpress.
The MPO is currently preparing for an anticipated second round of Stimulus funding later in the Summer, to be made available, potentially, from unused allocations from the first round. The MPO adopted an updated Federal Economic Stimulus Transportation Project Priority List at its Governing Board Meeting on May 27, 2009. This list, in addition to providing our updated project prioritization for ARRA funding, also summarizes those projects that were funded in the first round, deemed ineligible, and newly requested since the first round.
With the purpose of encouraging and recognizing excellence in planning, partnership and public service, the Lake~Sumter MPO Horizon Awards were presented at the Citrus Tower on Jan. 28 as part of the MPO’s annual dinner and installation of officers. Local governments were invited to nominate projects for consideration. The following received awards:
Small Municipality
City of Fruitland Park – City Commission Elected Official Participation
Large Municipality
City of Mount Dora – Traffic Impact Study Methodology
Keep Lake Moving
Lake County - Road Project, Hammock Ridge Road
Keep Sumter Moving
Sumter County Transit - Innovative Rural Transit Provider
Regional Partner
Florida Department of Transportation District 5
Volunteer of the Year
Mary Link Bennett, Lake County Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Board Member
Susy Gibson, Citizens’ Advisory Committee Member
Leadership
Michael Francis, Sumter County Commissioner & Lake~Sumter MPO Chairman-Elect
Lake-Sumter MPO Recent News:
The public workshop is the first in a series of outreach efforts to be hosted by the Lake~Sumter MPO throughout 2009. Workshop attendees included members of the MPO governing board and its advisory committees, elected officials, city and county administrators and staff, state transportation agencies and other interested parties.
More than 100 residents packed the cafetorium of Lake Hills School last night to
gain information on the futures of the Little Lake Harris Bridge, State Road 19,
County Road 48 and CR 56.
The Lake-Sumter MPO provides a forum for cooperative decision making concerning transportation issues throughout the urbanized area of Lake and Sumter counties in Florida. As the lead agency for regional transportation planning, the MPO is responsible for the planning of several modes of transportation.
The Lake-Sumter MPO's regional planning allows for the allocation of millions of dollars in federal transportation funding annually. The MPO also helps citizens speak with one voice to their state and federal legislators on transportation-related issues. Most importantly, effective public involvement ensures scarce tax dollars are used in accordance with the greatest needs and desires of the community.
The Lake-Sumter MPO seeks to improve transportation in both counties for all modes of travel, including mass transit, walking, bicycling, rail, air, as well as the automobile. The MPO prioritizes capital improvements to address the counties’ travel needs and allocates federal funding to implement the projects as identified in the LRTP and the TIP.
Lake County Transportation Alternative Funding Task Force
Current Planning Documents: