To join the conversation
Anyone interested in completing the survey can do so by going to the Web site: www.jolleybridge.com and clicking on the survey link.
Got time to chat online?
Collier County transportation leaders want to hear your views on tolling the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge.
They may even call you at home to seek out your opinion.
Last year, Collier’s Metropolitan Planning Organization handed off a contract to CRESPE Inc. to find out how county residents feel about the Jolley Bridge, which spans the Marco River, connecting Marco Island to Naples via Collier Boulevard.
Consultant Chris Swenson held focus groups, monitored online surveys, and organized telephone surveys.
The first survey and round of questions — which began just about a year ago — asked people how they use the bridge.
“People were asking us why we weren’t interested in asking whether they wanted a toll or not,”
Swenson said. “We were just looking at how traffic uses the bridge. That’s the information we were trying to get last summer and spring. Some people like a two-lane bridge, because it controls traffic. Some people want a four-lane bridge. Now, we’re asking them if they want a new bridge at all.”
Officials are also asking whether they’d be willing to pay a toll to use it, Swenson said.
“But, we wanted to make sure that we separated the issues,” Swenson said, acknowledging that when MPO authorized the studies, the economic climate was somewhat better.
Anyone interested in completing the survey can do so by going to the Web site: www.jolleybridge.com and clicking on the survey link.
Announcement of the second phase of the survey comes just a few weeks after Collier commissioners made it clear that they aren’t interested in tolling Interstate 75 or Collier Boulevard, formerly known as State Road 951.
Built in 1969, Jolley Bridge expansion was identified as a need in 2005 in the MPO’s long-range transportation plan. Several attempts to obtain funding for the expansion have failed, which has led to the discussion of alternative funding sources such as tolls.
In 2005, a loan application was submitted through the Florida Department of Transportation’s Toll Facilities Revolving Trust Fund for a toll feasibility study for the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge and the preliminary design of a toll plaza on the north side of the bridge if tolls are determined to be feasible.
In November, Cambridge Systematics issued an interim report on the Jolley bridge, noting that it is in satisfactory structural condition; that traffic approaches capacity during peak season; and growth through 2030 is expected to result in longer periods of congestion, even in off-peak season.
The Cambridge study notes that a new bridge isn’t immediately necessary, and proposes 2026 as a construction start date.
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Comments » 9
SmokeyJoe writes:
The above response indicates how stupid it is to ask all Collier residents their position on tolling Marco Island residents, Since it is a State bridge, the state of Florida should pay for anything done to the bridge, like they do with all other State owned bridges. The people that are seeking input on this question, seems not to see any real Collier Countys problems to spend their time on.
mimibuck writes:
i copyed and pasted the link and could'nt connect. either it's very busy or a prank. april fools. i would vote "No Way, idiots!" no tolls, it only benifits the wealthy with exclucivity, and burdenes the workers and those citizens willing to deal with the Marco Elite. i would vote them out of the County.
upnorth writes:
Marco residences are already paying enough in taxes. Let Marco residences pay nothing, and hit up the rest of the people who have to come here. As long as I have lived here we are always getting overcharged for something. Mark-up island?
enoughalready writes:
Sure, let's take some more money out of the pockets of the working middle class. I travel over that bridge at least twice a day to get to and from work, most often 4 times a day due to kids, school, sporting events, etc. Gas prices have put a serious dent in our monthly budget, now let's make it worse. Tax the tourists, toll the tourists, but leave the year rounders alone. I agree that asking the county residents whether to have a toll or not is a waste of time, ask the full time residents, I am sure you will get an earful. They toll that bridge, remember, there is still a free one available.
jogaxbonito writes:
What we need is a new bridge to cut off traffic is so annoying. In response to this question i say toll the visitors not the residents.
ballarino writes:
Tolls are a waste, there's a severe cost in just collecting them and they never go away.. All efforts should be made to obtain funding from the state, anything less is a failure of local politicians.
Tolls would hurt Marco's economy as less people would be willing to visit the island.
Keep the existing bridge and build 2 new lanes along side..
bbyrone46 writes:
This bridge is owned by the State of Florida not Collier County. Has the State of Florida made known it's interest in replacing this birdge? If so, when and why? Why is Collier County interested in it's replacment or expansion? The Cambridge Systematics study does not recommend replacement or expansion at this time. Marco Island is near build-out and unless beach access has been improved, little or no increase in traffic should occur. The Jolley Bridge principally serves the municipality of Marco Island, why are ALL county residents being surveyed? Has Marco Island decided to open it's beaches to all county residents? When did the county ask it's residents permission to utilize county funds to pay for this survey? This newspaper has a responsibility to our community to answer these questions.
ISLANDER190 writes:
I think it's only fair that the residents of the island help defray the cost of the project. Heck , we're all millionaires, what's a couple of thousand dollars apiece to us. C'mon we've got it ! I'm sure I speak for everyone. I know the Men's Senior Softball League would kick in a good chunk.
Bulldog32 writes:
Turn it into a positive. Give free passes to Marco residents with their tax bill. Offer annual, seasonal, monthly and worker passes...take the money and put it towards our infrastructure, beach renourishment, sewer, water, Tract K...I'm sure we could find a number of ways to save our residents some money. We are going to have 10,000+ families within 15 minutes of our bridge wanting to use our beaches, parks and boating facilities...LET THEM PAY!
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