It would be good to send a few thank you notes to this reporter for bringing out the NPS plan to take over a major road in S. Florida. It would also be good to let Governor Bush know this is not a popular idea for him to allow Florida Department of Transportation to do.


http://www.naplesnews.com/01/07/marco/d633814a.htm

State considers handing Tamiami Trail over to National Park Service
Sunday, July 22, 2001
By I.M. STACKEL, imstackel@naplesnews.com
Fueled by some environmentalists' desire to restrict commercial traffic on U.S. 41 between Everglades City and Naples and reduce the speed limit, state and federal officials are quietly discussing putting the historic Tamiami Trail in the hands of the National Park Service.
Such a move could lead to the trail being designated for park use. The conversations extend back at least 14 months, a Daily News review of public records shows. This predates a previously disclosed February memo to Florida Secretary of Transportation Tom Barry Jr. from Charles Lee, senior
vice president of Audubon of Florida. The dialogue comes as state and federal officials are in the midst of sometimes heated discussions over how to effectively overhaul the 100-mile stretch across the state in order to deliver more water to the Northwest Shark River Slough, an Everglades tributary.
Suggestions include raising the road on stilts in certain areas to restore the natural flow of water, which was interrupted 75 years ago when the roadbed was built.