Dear Mayor and County Commissioners:

Keys Last Stand opposes the proposal to 4-lane the Overseas Highway.

At a time when both residents and visitor alike complain about our daily traffic and worry about hurricane evacuation, adding lanes seems like the perfect panacea.  However, numerous studies show the very opposite occurs – more lanes induce more demand, traffic volumes rise and quickly return or exceed prior levels.

“Induced Demand” – is a counter-intuitive concept that is not only well studied and scientifically proven, but it’s also not new, and actually dates back to the 1930’s.  As roadways become wider and able to accommodate more traffic, additional vehicles materialize as drivers feel incentivized to take more trips and/or ignore peak traffic times on the belief that the added lanes have reduced congestion.  In the Keys, this also means a significant number of additional tourists – now lured into the belief that it’s easier/faster to drive US1 to get to “paradise”.  

Studies also indicate road expansion leads to more development and sprawl – precisely what residents indicate they oppose.  Residents already face challenges crossing two lanes of traffic to access the Heritage Trail or exit onto US1 in the opposite direction.  More lanes and no traffic lights, only exacerbates the problem and creates a public safety issue.

More lanes, more traffic, more road repairs needed as volume increases – this is not the solution you expect it to be.  Instead, residents continue to speak out against more development, greater dependency on tourism, and decreases to quality of life.

Finally, our near-shore waters are already impaired by nutrients.  Roadway and stormwater run-off is a known and contributing factor.  More lanes mean more run off into a Marine Sanctuary already showing signs of reaching a “tipping point” from which our tourism and fishing industries may not recover.

We urge you to further investigate the concept of induced demand and storm water run-off, before proceeding with this proposal.  Keep “island life” a real thing.

Sincerely,

Ann Olsen

For the Keys Last Stand Board