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Fla. turtles take stimulus heat

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2009

Why did the turtle cross the road? To get to the other side of a stimulus project.

That's according to Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who this week pointed to a $3.4 million Florida Department of Transportation plan for an "eco-passage" north of Tallahassee as one of 100 projects nationwide representing questionable federal stimulus spending. The project - an underground road crossing for turtles and other wildlife in Lake Jackson, along U.S. 27 - ranked No. 5 on Coburn's list.

Josh Boan, the DOT's natural resources manager, said turtles and other wildlife are killed in large numbers in the area. In addition to protecting wildlife, he said, the project is needed for safety: Turtles hit by vehicles can become flying projectiles. The project is to begin in September.

Coburn's report, "100 Stimulus Projects: A Second Opinion." includes two other Florida projects:

•The DOT plans to spend $128 million on a bridge that would connect Stuart and Palm City, "even though an existing bridge connects the two only a quarter of a mile away."

•Miami will use $2.1 million in stimulus money to relocate an aging Greyhound bus terminal.

A staff and wire report

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