FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Kaye Molnar, Cella & Associates, Inc.
               239-337-1071 FAX: 239-337-1076
               kmolnar@cella.cc

Burnt Store Road - Veterans Parkway - Colonial Boulevard (Bi-County) Transportation Corridor Study

HELP US PLAN OUR FUTURE! Please fill out your travel survey

Fort Myers, FL, February 16, 2004 - Lee and Charlotte counties have begun one of the most important transportation studies in Southwest Florida - the Bi-County Transportation Corridor Study. The counties are committed to enhancing mobility through more efficient, user-friendly management of their roads and are looking for your input. The study begins at Jones Loop Road at Interstate 75 (I-75) in Charlotte County, continues south along Burnt Store Road to Veterans Parkway in Lee County and then east along Colonial Boulevard to the interchange at I-75. The general objective of the study is to reach a decision on the type, design and implementation schedule for improvements along the corridor.

To ease congestion, Lee County is considering the use of express lanes. Express lanes could include elevated ramp(s) or side lane(s) to bypass congested traffic. The Lee County portion of the corridor that includes Veterans Parkway and Colonial Boulevard is being considered for this type of facility. As congestion warrants, express lanes could be implemented on all or part of the corridor. If implemented, the express lanes would provide new capacity available to everyone.

The Lee County Department of Transportation is looking for your help in answering questions about your daily travel. Lee County DOT representatives will be distributing travel surveys at three separate intersections along the study corridor in Lee County during the last two weeks of February. The travel survey will include questions regarding your driving patterns and solicit your views on the use of express lanes. You are encouraged to participate in this survey. Travel information collected will be used to make transportation planning and improvement decisions for this area over the next several years.

For more information on the Burnt Store-Veterans Parkway-Colonial Boulevard Study, visit the web site at www.BiCountyStudy.com For questions regarding the Bi-County study, please contact Lee County's public information consultant at (239) 337-1071.