KISSIMMEE – Today, the East Central Florida Corridor Task Force held its first meeting at the University of Florida/Osceola County Extension Services Building at Osceola Heritage Park, and all appointed members were in attendance. Today’s meeting was the first public meeting of the Task Force, serving as an introduction of Task Force members and overview of the responsibilities of the Task Force. The meeting also provided an overview of land-use planning and the future corridors planning processes within the study area. The Task Force also approved a work plan and schedule for the Task Force, identified action items for the next meeting, and solicited public comments.

“We are pleased to kick off the work of the East Central Corridor Task Force today and begin our cooperative planning in this area of Florida,” said the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Director of Community Development William B. Killingsworth, designated Chair of the Task Force. “Coordinated planning and decision making is critical to healthy communities and a thriving statewide economy.”

The East Central Florida Corridor Task Force was created by Executive Order 13-319, signed by Governor Rick Scott on November 1, 2013. The purpose of the Task Force is to evaluate and develop recommendations on transportation, environment, and land use planning for portions of Brevard, Orange, and Osceola counties. The Task Force is part of a broader statewide Future Corridors effort to coordinate future land uses and the supporting transportation network, and will serve as a pilot planning effort to be tested and evaluated for use in other future corridor planning efforts statewide.  Major transportation corridors and protection of the state’s unique environmental and agricultural resources are critical to the state’s economic competitiveness and quality of life over the next 50 years.  The Task Force will build upon a regional vision supported by an analysis of land use, mobility, economic, environmental, and community issues in the study area.

“We look forward to working with DEO and our other partners on this important collaborative effort to link land use, transportation planning and environmental stewardship,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad. “This is an excellent opportunity to provide transportation choices that ensure the region’s economic competitiveness and quality of life.”

The task force is chaired by DEO and consists of 13 members representing local governments, private landowners, and economic development, environmental, and agricultural interests in the study area. More information and materials regarding the task force are available at ecfcorridortaskforce.org.