![The Florida Department of Transportation is conducting a study to mitigate traffic on Highway 90. The preferred option is widening the road through downtown Milton, which will impact the Fisher-Hamilton building. However, the Milton Council passed a resolution asking FDOT to consider a route south of the historic district to keep from impacting the district. [AARON LITTLE | Press Gazette]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-498783e6-84d0-75eb-e053-0100007f4706-e5c4fd2e-scaled.jpeg)
MILTON — Milton Council voted 5-2 to pass two resolutions asking the Florida Department of Transportation to include a route it previously dismissed in its Project Development and Environment Study to relieve traffic congestion on Highway 90 and to protect Milton’s historic district. Councilwomen Pat Lunsford and Sharon Holley voted against the resolutions.
Councilwomen Pat Lunsford and Sharon Holley voted against the resolutions.
The resolutions are second versions written with stronger language, according to Councilwoman Peggi Smith.
The first resolution was on the council’s agenda during its meeting Feb. 14, but Smith didn’t think the wording was strong enough and asked Vernon Compton for his input after saying he had studied the issue over the years.
Both resolutions state the majority of the council’s interest in FDOT, including a route running south of Milton’s historic district.
Four-laning Highway 90 may affect numerous historic buildings downtown and a large number of residents voiced concerns about such impacts, according to the second resolution.
Smith said she’s happier with the new resolutions, asking for the inclusion of the southern route.
“It has more teeth … It’s much more straightforward,” she said.
“I’m not under any impression we can dictate what decision the state can make, but I’ve felt it’s always a good idea all options are explored,” Councilman Casey Powell said.
Councilwoman Pat Lunsford voted against the resolution out of concern for local businesses if a bypass takes traffic away from them.
“We have the steakhouse, the Milton bakery, Mackenzie Motors, Halls Hardware. All of those businesses have been there for a long time and I just think we need to protect them,” Lunsford said.
Compton has worked on transportation issues on the local and regional levels, he said.
“(This study) is like threading a needle. It’s not easy, but that’s what (Project Development and Environment Studies) are set up to do: to add many alternatives and explore all those alternatives to bring lots of people to the table, agencies, and the public so you can end up with the very best route,” Compton said.
The study is six to eight months away from completion, according to FDOT spokesperson Ian Satter.
“We’ve gone through an exhaustive study to look at every viable option … It’s extensive. That’s why it takes two to three years to complete,” Satter said.
The Florida Highway Administration disqualified the southern alternate because it crosses land protected by the Florida Forever conservation program. Part of implementing the southern alternate route involved protecting another piece of land for that affected by the route, according to Compton, by way of the Use of Natural Resource Lands policy under the Florida Forever program.
However, “mitigation in that area is just not feasible,” Satter said.
Another option FDOT may implement is the no-build option.
“Every PD&E study conducted has a no-build alternative. If the study concludes not building is the best option, if that’s what the information dictates, that’s what we’ll go with,” Satter said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Council wants to add route to traffic study