Florida Construction News staff writer
Port St. Lucie is planning to spend more than $2-billion on transportation improvements over the next 25 years, including road widenings, intersection upgrades, sidewalks, trails, bicycle facilities and transit projects.
City Council approved Ordinance 26-89 on first reading, advancing the 2050 Mobility Plan and a revised schedule of mobility fees charged to new development.
The plan includes approximately $2.2 billion in transportation projects through 2050, but about $1.7 billion remains unfunded. City officials stressed that inclusion in the plan does not guarantee a project will be built.
In the short-term about $403 billion has been earmarked for projects targeted through 2030 including:
- Widening St. Lucie West Boulevard from four lanes to six between Interstate 95 and Cashmere Boulevard.
- Widening Torino Parkway from two lanes to four between Midway Road and Cashmere Boulevard.
- Widening California Boulevard from two lanes to four between St. Lucie West Boulevard and Crosstown Parkway.
- Widening Port St. Lucie Boulevard from two lanes to four between Paar Drive and the Martin County line.
- Continuing improvements along Floresta Drive between Prima Vista Boulevard and Crosstown Parkway.
- Widening Village Green Drive between Walton Road and Tiffany Avenue.
- Building or extending roads to improve connections in growing areas.
The city also plans a feasibility study for St. Lucie West Boulevard and an intersection project at Savona and Gatlin boulevards, with construction anticipated in 2027.
The ordinance also updates mobility fees, which are one-time charges associated with new development, redevelopment, additions and certain changes in property use.
The fees are paid by developers, contractors or owner-builders rather than existing homeowners. However, development costs can affect the prices of new homes, rents and commercial projects and increases will vary according to the type of development and its location.
The city plans to phase in the difference between existing fees and the newly calculated rates over four years. Twenty-five per cent of the difference would be applied in 2027, 50 per cent in 2028, 75 per cent in 2029 and the full calculated rate in 2030.
The mobility plan is intended to guide transportation spending as Port St. Lucie continues to develop, but the city will still need to find funding for projects that are not currently financed.