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Traf f ic Circulation Element Policy 1. 1,, Economic Development Element objective 4,, Future Land Use Element Policy 3.4,, and Ports,, Aviation,, and Related Facilities Element Objective 3 all relate to LOS standards on roads within the county. These policies and objectives state that the county must take steps to maintain a specified minimum level of service on all roads within the county. By removing many large,, slow,, citrus hauling trucks from other arterial roads, the Citrus Highway will increase the level of service of these roads. Therefore, this amendment is consistent with these comprehensive plan objectives and policies. I Economic Development Element Policy 1.1 states that the county shall encourage expansion of existing businesses. The Citrus Highway will provide for the expansion of the citrus industry by providing more efficient movement of citrus from groves to packinghouses and consumers. Therefore, this amendment is consistent with Economic Development Element Policy 1.1. Capital Improvements Element Policy 1.6 states that the county shall encourage the FDOT to reallocate budgeted appropriations for traffic facilities in Indian River County. Since this amendment facilitates the construction of an FDOT funded traffic facility in Indian River County by incorporating the Citrus Highway into the county's comprehensive plan,, the amendment is consistent with Capital Improvements Element Policy 1.6. - S.R. 60 west of 1-95 The current traffic volumes on S.R. 60 from 1-95 to Osceola County do not justify additional lanes. Howevers several factors indicate that, despite existing traffic volumes, there is a need for additional lanes. Evidence indicates that this portion of S.R. 60 is so dangerous that drivers who would otherwise use it to reach the Florida Turnpike or the Tampa Bay area instead use much longer alternate routes. Several factors combine to make this portion of S.R. 60 dangerous. It is a longr narrow road, covering a distance of approximately 22.5 miles from 1-95 to 'Che Osceola County 'Line. Even though the comprehensive plan indicates that this portion of S.R. 60 currently has 100 feet of public road right-of-way, the paved portion of the road is actually only 28 feet wide. Deep ditches run along each side of this road. Additionally, this portion of S.R. 60 has no median and, until recently, had no shoulders or guardrails. In the last five years, there have been at least 123 accidents and seven fatalities on this portion of S.R. 60. This is despite the fact that many drivers are using alternate routes. This statistic demonstrates the hazards of this road in its current condition. In August,, 1991,, a petition requesting that S.R. 60 be substantially improved from 1-95 to the Osceola County line was presented to the Board of County Commissioners. The petition, one of the largest ever received by the commission, was signed by more than 14,000 people. Other important benefits of four-laning this section of S.R. 60 would be the increased speed and efficiency of evacuations for hurricanes and other emergencies,, and the economic benefits of more efficient transportation of goods and services. in addition tc as part of th least four lan A preliminary $33.6 million. being dangerous in its current condition, S.R. 60, e Intrastate Highway System, must be widened to at es to meet FDOT's minimum standards for this system. estimate of the cost of this project is approximately 41 BOOK 89 PAGFP05