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MPO adopts FY27–31 project priorities; members move SR 710 intersection ahead of other projects and FDOT updates board on SR 710 design status
Summary
The Martin MPO approved a final FY27–31 list of project priorities, moved a State Road 710 intersection project up in ranking and reviewed a district update on SR 710 design funding and signal warrants; board members discussed safety priorities and unfunded safety projects for grant consideration.
The Martin County MPO Policy Board unanimously approved the final FY27–31 list of project priorities June 16, including roadway, safety and transit candidate projects for future FDOT funding and grant applications.
Ricardo Vasquez, principal planner for the MPO, summarized the list presented in draft in February and said the two State Road 710 widening segments remain top priorities. Board discussion produced a motion to move project number 5 (State Road 710 at County Road 609/Allapattah Road intersection improvements) up to project number 3 to group related SR 710 projects together; the motion passed unanimously.
The board also reviewed an unfunded safety priority list intended to position projects for safety‑focused funding. Vasquez said some projects on the roadway priority list are also eligible for safety funds and explained that these separate lists reflect different funding “buckets” rather than a single chronological order.
Commissioners emphasized near‑term safety needs in several areas. Commissioner Stacy Hetherington argued that some safety projects — notably traffic signals or signal upgrades — should be pursued through grant programs or local funds if they cannot be scheduled quickly through FDOT’s five‑year work program. Commissioner Christopher Collins and others discussed the Bridge Road bascule bridge replacement’s elevated rank and recent county investments to maintain that used structure.
FDOT District 4 planning and environmental administrator Cesar Martinez gave a separate update on State Road 710 design status. Martinez said design work on the 710 corridor is ongoing, the state budget process may identify additional construction funding in coming weeks, and the design consultant has a supplemental agreement to study signal warrants at La Pata. He said FDOT will provide updates to the MPO in the fall and explore decoupling certain signal work from the larger widening contract if appropriate.
The MPO approved the final priorities list and asked staff to submit the list to FDOT for work‑program and grant consideration.
