a message from your publisher….Reg Buxton

Reg Buxton Life in Naples Publisher

As Chair of the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and a member of the State Board of Governors I have also been appointed to Governor DeSantis Southwest Central Florida Connector Task Force. We operate under the name M-CORES (Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance).

This is a program intended to revitalize rural communities with several specific goals. They are in part; encourage job creation, provide regional connectivity while leveraging technology and enhancing the quality of life. Ensure public safety as well as protecting the environment and natural resources.

The program became law on May 17, 2019 and provides the following under the oversight of the Florida Department of Transportation:

Define the three study areas, establish diverse task forces that embody all aspects of each study area.
Provide several opportunities for public engagement and input on items that are important to each specific area and for the future of that community.

The program goals are to alleviate congestion, support multiple modes of transportation such as shared use trails, freight and passenger rail and public transit.

Connectivity: connect rural communities, expand broadband service.

Opportunity: create jobs, advance trades and logistics.

Resiliency: improve energy distribution, build water, sewer, and other infrastructure.

Environment: conserve wildlife and protect environmentally sensitive areas.

Safety: provide hurricane evacuation routes.

This is a community based approached therefore each task force will hold public meetings in each local jurisdiction within the study area and seek input and participation.The task force will consider opportunities to restore and enhance protection of these vital resources while considering opportunities to expand safety, efficiency and quality of life. The environmental, conservation and wildlife habitat assessments, and acquisition of lands will be included in the task force’s final report.

Each task force will submit a final task force report to Florida’s Governor, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives by October 1, 2020.

For continuing information go to floridamcores.com