Other issues such as adequate signing and markings and a public information mechanism must be in place. The regions discussed using the existing right side shoulders on the limited access facilities as an additional lane. This would require less manpower and materials and equipment to support and take less time to set up. Modifications to existing shoulders, including bridges, may be required. The Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Department of Transportation of each region were given the assignment to develop reverse lane plans for the above listed routes to include the shoulder as an alternate.
All regions plan to meet and develop a more detailed plan to handle the additional traffic impacts.
The regions also identified the need for better and more coordinated public information for the motorist. Radio, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and other methods were discussed as a critical need. In the future, the State Emergency Operations Center will be pro-active and activate host counties in advance to support the evacuees. The last issue that was discussed at all meetings was the need for all counties to have a comprehensive evacuee re-entry plan. There are several counties with good plans, but all counties should consider this as a high priority.