Alligator Alley

Source: Citizens Transportation Commission

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Summary
Summary: 

In 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist proposed the long-term lease of Alligator Alley, a 78-mile stretch of interstate highway, as a way to quickly raise money for budgetary shortfalls.  Six teams of bidders expressed interest in the lease, drawn by the potential toll revenue, but when the deadline passed for the submission of proposal, none of them submitted bids.  The recessionary economic conditions are thought to have discouraged many of the interested teams from bidding on the lease, but many expect the state to attempt to lease the highway again once economic conditions improve.

 

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History
History: 

The Florida legislature passed House Bill 985 in 2007.  This bill allowed Florida to lease transportation facilities to private operators for concession terms of 50 or 75 years.  The leases required approval of the Legislative Budget Commission, a statutorily created group comprised of 14 members of the Legislature tasked to approve mid-year budget changes.  Shortly after HB 985 was signed into law, Governor Charlie Crist proposed the long-term lease of Alligator Alley, a 78-mile stretch of interstate highway I-75 spanning Florida from Collier County on the west coast to Broward County on the east coast.  He touted the lease as a way to quickly raise money for shortfalls in other budgetary areas. 

In 2008, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) began the procurement process, soliciting proposals from interested companies for the right to lease, maintain, operate and receive toll revenues from Alligator Alley.  The lease was to be set up as a public-private partnership, with some revenue-sharing for the state, but was seen as a potential "gold mine" for a private company as the stream of toll payers grew.

Six teams of bidders expressed initial interest in the lease.  Although FDOT extended the January deadline to receive bids to May 18, 2009, none of the interested parties submitted a bid.  Besides vocal citizen opposition, the economic recession is thought to have discouraged interest in the lease.  However, many expect the state to attempt to lease the highway again once economic conditions improve.  The Citizens Transportation Coalition continues to monitor the privatization effort and post updates on its website. 

 

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Key Issues
Key Issues: 

The Citizens Transportation Coalition carefully monitored the privatization effort and raised several serious concerns regarding the proposed long-term lease of Alligator Alley.  First, the process lacked transparency.  Many decisions were made without adequate public input.  Although no contract was signed, it was known that $504 million was the amount Florida sought in the lease deal.  This would have been the lowest price per mile of any lease arrangement in the U.S. to date, at $6.46 million per mile.  Many feared that Florida was significantly undervaluing the asset in return for a quick short-term gain.   

Additional issues regarding the loss of public control over the road made many residents nervous about the proposed lease.  Once a private entity took over the road, public officials would have a significantly reduced role in determining transportation decisions.  Alternative roads in the area were known to be less safe than Alligator Alley, giving drivers little choice but to use the road and pay increased tolls.       

 

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Advocacy
Advocacy: 

Citizens Transportation Coalition (http://www.ctcnaples.com/), a grassroots group of local citizens, formed in reaction to the proposed privatization of Alligator Alley and led the campaign against it. The coalition has conducted public education campaigns to inform the community about the significant risks and long-term effects associated with the proposed long-term lease of the highway.  Their website serves as a source of up-to-date information for the public regarding Alligator Alley.