Florida Community Research Articles

Epibenthic mobile invertebrate diversity organized by coral habitat in Florida

Benthic mobile invertebrates are important components of coral reef diversity and community structure, although in most cases their ecological contributions are poorly known. The objectives of this study were 1) to describe diversity and composition patterns of epibenthic mobile invertebrate assemblages in shallow-water coral reef communities in Florida and 2) to evaluate these animals’ ecological roles by reviewing publications on their diet. Underwater surveys were conducted during the summer of 2013 at 40 sites distributed along the Florida Reef Tract from Broward County to the Dry Tortugas. The survey data included 618 records of 116 unique morphospecies, representing 83 species from 61 genera, 46 families, 19 orders, seven classes, and four phyla of mobile invertebrates comprising herbivores, detritivores, carnivores, omnivores, and suspension feeders. Of the identified taxa, six were recorded at the majority of the sites (≥50 % of sites), while 43 taxa were encountered only once. Nearly ubiquitous taxa were the snapping shrimp Alpheus armatus, red reef hermit crab Paguristes cadenati, and long-spined urchin Diadema antillarum. Each reef type was characterized by assemblages of dominant taxa: echinoderms were the most diverse in patch reefs and the Southeast Florida Reef Complex, molluscs were most diverse in shallow bank reefs, and arthropods were most diverse in deep bank reefs and the Southeast Florida Reef Complex. These results suggest that reef habitats are characterized by distinct communities of fauna, and that individual phyla and feeding guilds possess mostly unique but overlapping habitat requirements. This study establishes a reference point for further research and monitoring of ecological changes to inform conservation strategies for the Florida reef systems.

How Much Are Floridians Willing to Pay for Protecting Sea Turtles from Sea Level Rise?

Sea level rise (SLR) is posing a great inundation risk to coastal areas. Some coastal nesting species, including sea turtle species, have experienced diminished habitat from SLR. Contingent valuation method (CVM) was used in an effort to assess the economic loss impacts of SLR on sea turtle nesting habitats for Florida coasts; and to elicit values of willingness to pay (WTP) of Central Florida residents to implement certain mitigation strategies, which would protect Florida's east coast sea turtle nesting areas. Using the open-ended and dichotomous choice CVM, we sampled residents of two Florida communities: Cocoa Beach and Oviedo. We estimated the WTP of households from these two cities to protect sea turtle habitat to be between $42 and $57 per year for 5 years. Additionally, we attempted to assess the impact of the both the respondents' demographics and their perception toward various situations on their WTP value. Findings include a negative correlation between the age of a respondent and the probability of an individual willing to pay the hypothetical WTP amount. We found that WTP of an individual was not dependent on prior knowledge of the effects of SLR on sea turtle habitat. The greatest indicators of whether or not an individual was willing to pay to protect sea turtle habitat were the respondents' perception regarding the trustworthiness and efficiency of the party which will implement the conservation measures and their confidence in the conservation methods used. Respondents who perceive sea turtles having an effect on their life were also more likely to pay.

HIV testing practices among Latina women at risk of getting infected: a five-year follow-up of a community sample in South Florida

ABSTRACTLatinos are more likely to delay HIV testing, present to care with an AIDS defining illness, and die within one year of learning their HIV-positive status than non-Latino blacks and whites. For this paper, we explore the role of partner-relationship characteristics and health behaviors, in predicting HIV testing among Latina adult women who engaged in risky sexual behaviors (i.e., unprotected vaginal and/or anal sex). Data from a convenience sample of 168 Latina adult women who engaged in risky sexual behavior in the year prior to assessment were analyzed for this paper. Rates and predictors of HIV testing among this sample were assessed after a five-year follow-up. Descriptive and analytical estimates include incidence rates and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) from multilevel models. At five-year follow-up, 63.7% (n = 107) women reported having been tested for HIV, of whom 12.2% (n = 13) were women who never tested before. Main reasons for not having been tested at follow-up included: low risk perception (62.1%) and trusting their partner(s)/being in a monogamous relationship/knowing their partner's HIV status (17.2%). Predictors of HIV testing included: age (AOR: 0.96; 95% CI = 0.92–0.99), provider endorsement of HIV testing (AOR: 4.59; 95% CI = 1.77–11.95), poor quality of their romantic relationships (AOR: 1.12; 95% CI = 1.03–1.26), and knowing the HIV sero-status of sexual partner (AOR: 3.61; 95% CI = 1.46–8.95). This study characterizes a group of Latina women at high risk for HIV infection and their HIV testing behaviors. Our findings underscore the need of increasing access to quality health-care services and HIV behavioral interventions, and to strengthen the adherence to HIV/sexually transmitted disease testing recommendations and guidelines among local health-care providers serving the Latino community in South Florida.

Rural Community Disaster Resiliency: Self-Organizing Collective Action among Farmworkers in Central Florida

In this article we examined how voluntary and self-organizing efforts contributed to disaster resiliency in a rural community in Central Florida. We analyzed data from a focus group with farmworkers in Central Florida to investigate how self-organizing collective action can help develop more resilient communities in socially vulnerable populations. We identified three major themes within our coding scheme: past disaster experiences, self-organizing collective action, and challenges to self-organizing collective action and resilience. The results indicated that past disaster experiences provided an opportunity for these farmworkers to mobilize their social capital and network partnerships to self-organize and develop disaster resilience. The findings indicated that self-organizing collective action could be effective in creating disaster resilience, even in socially vulnerable populations. Nonetheless, the results also indicated certain challenges to self-organizing collective action and resilience such as: language barriers, an anti-immigrant sentiment, poor relations with law enforcement, and lack of work. These challenges are constant reminders that the goal of creating truly disaster resilient communities cannot be reached if these conditions are not lessen or eradicated.

Abstract LB-272: Effect of smoking cessation on soluble CD44 levels in head and neck cancer

Abstract In the past year, an estimated 55,070 individuals were diagnosed with head and neck cancer and approximately 12,000 related deaths occurred. This disease is devastating to the patients and families it affects due to its significant impact on swallowing, speech and appearance. Tobacco, the single largest risk factor for head and neck cancer, accounts for an estimated 85% of head and neck cancers. Carcinogens found in tobacco smoke induce damage to DNA leading to mutations and DNA strand breaks. When not correctly repaired, overexpression of gene products including CD44, a cancer stem cell marker, occurs. CD44 can be cleaved into a soluble form (solCD44) that is found in body fluids. CD44 levels in oral rinses distinguish head and neck cancer patients from controls with around 62% sensitivity and 88% specificity. CD44 becomes abnormally expressed in dysplasia and elevated levels of solCD44 have been found prior to clinical evidence of disease, in some cases. In this study we investigate changes in solCD44 levels with smoking cessation. 150 smokers from a South Florida community known to be at high-risk for oral cancer were recruited and enrolled in smoking cessation programs. At baseline, questions on smoking status, frequency and history were administered to participants. Oral rinses and saliva samples were also collected to determine levels of solCD44 and cotinine, which was used to confirm quit status, using ELISA assays. One year after enrollment (± 3 weeks), samples and questionnaires were taken again from participants to identify quitters and measure their CD44 levels. Results were then computed and analyzed by paired t-test using SAS University Edition. So far, thirty-seven participants (24.6%) reported quitting smoking but only half of them (n = 13) were confirmed by cotinine (<21). For confirmed quitters, the mean solCD44 dropped from 1.81 (SD = 1.29) prior to quitting to 1.65 (SD = 1.12) one year after enrollment. This association between solCD44 level and smoking cessation was not statistically significant (p = 0.65). Four out of 13 quitters had elevated CD44 levels prior to quitting. Three of 4 with elevated levels experienced drops in their CD44 levels following smoking cessation, including 2 subjects whose CD44 level returned to the normal range. Based on this data, a larger number of quitters and/or an additional time points post quitting are needed as it might reveal more profound results. Such results would be critical, offering smoking cessation as a means for subjects with high levels of CD44 to decrease their risk of progression. Citation Format: Faisal F. Alotaibi, Turki M. Almuhaimid, Erika Reategui, Elizabeth Franzmann, Jarrard Goodwin. Effect of smoking cessation on soluble CD44 levels in head and neck cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-272. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-LB-272

Building Program Capacity Through Food Environment Assessments

Objective: This study will assess the food environment of several low-income communities in Florida to provide a basis for recommendations that enhance healthy food resources and align nutrition education programming with environmental supports. Target Audience: A community was selected from each of the five Extension Service administrative districts. The five communities or neighborhoods assessed were Linton Oaks (Alachua County), Franklin Park (Broward County), Central Avenue (Osceola County), North Port (Sarasota County), and East Milton (Santa Rosa County). Theory, Prior Research, Rationale: Built environments can influence community well being and affect an individuals ability to access affordable healthy foods. Past studies have shown that less healthful options are available in low-income communities. This study describes the food environment of low-income communities where the Family Nutrition Program (FNP) provides programming. Description: FNP staff canvassed each neighborhood noting the type and number of food outlets. The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey was used to provide observational measures for several food outlets in each neighborhood. Evaluation:A total of 46 food outlets across the five communities were evaluated. In each community, convenience stores out-numbered grocery stores and in urban counties convenience stores and fast food restaurants accounted for more than half of the food outlets. Results supported the need for increased access to healthy food in these communities. Conclusions and Implications: Recommendations to support FNP programming include working with local stakeholders to organize weekly farmers ormobile markets; partnering with organizations to improve food security; promotion of healthy food options in local restaurants; and informing vending machine policy. Funding: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education.

Quality Assurance in Colombia

past decade some Latin American countries have targeted the Spanish-speaking migrant populations in the United States. Institutions from Puerto Rico, for example, have set up learning centers in Miami and Orlando for the Hispanic community of Florida. Various initiatives have sought to bolster the participation rate among the Hispanic population, which overall is underrepresented in US higher education. The vast majority of transnational provision in the region is at the postgraduate level, in some cases due to national regulations. However, there appears to be a growing transnational

Operating Profitability of For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Florida Community Hospitals During Medicare Policy Changes, 2000 to 2010.

Medicare Advantage was implemented in 2004 and the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program was implemented in Florida during 2005. Both increase surveillance of medical necessity and deny payments for improper admissions. The purpose of the present study was to determine their potential impact on for-profit (FP) and not-for-profit (NFP) hospital operating margins in Florida. FP hospitals were expected to be more adversely affected as admissions growth has been one strategy to improve stock performance, which is not a consideration at NFPs. This study analyzed Florida community hospitals from 2000 through 2010, assessing changes in pre-tax operating margin (PTOM). Florida Agency for Health Care Administration data were analyzed for 104 community hospitals (62 FPs and 42 NFPs). Academic, public, and small hospitals were excluded. A mixed-effects model was used to assess the association of RAC implementation, organizational and payer type variables, and ownership interaction effects on PTOM. FP hospitals began the period with a higher average PTOM, but converged with NFPs during the study period. The average Medicare Advantage effect was not significant for either ownership type. The magnitude of the RAC variable was significantly negative for average PTOM at FPs (−4.68) and positive at NFPs (0.08), meaning RAC was associated with decreasing PTOM at FP hospitals only. RAC complements other Medicare surveillance systems that detect medically unnecessary admissions, coding errors, fraud, and abuse. Since its implementation in Florida, average FP and NFP operating margins have been similar, such that the higher margins reported for FP hospitals in the 1990s are no longer evident.

Bistability of mangrove forests and competition with freshwater plants

Halophytic communities such as mangrove forests and buttonwood hammocks tend to border freshwater plant communities as sharp ecotones. Most studies attribute this purely to underlying physical templates, such as groundwater salinity gradients caused by tidal flux and topography. However, a few recent studies hypothesize that self-reinforcing feedback between vegetation and vadose zone salinity are also involved and create a bistable situation in which either halophytic dominated habitat or freshwater plant communities may dominate as alternative stable states. Here, we revisit the bistability hypothesis and demonstrate the mechanisms that result in bistability. We demonstrate with remote sensing imagery the sharp boundaries between freshwater hardwood hammock communities in southern Florida and halophytic communities such as buttonwood hammocks and mangroves. We further document from the literature how transpiration of mangroves and freshwater plants respond differently to vadose zone salinity, thus altering the salinity through feedback. Using mathematical models, we show how the self-reinforcing feedback, together with physical template, controls the ecotones between halophytic and freshwater communities. Regions of bistability along environmental gradients of salinity have the potential for large-scale vegetation shifts following pulse disturbances such as hurricane tidal surges in Florida, or tsunamis in other regions. The size of the region of bistability can be large for low-lying coastal habitat due to the saline water table, which extends inland due to salinity intrusion. We suggest coupling ecological and hydrologic processes as a framework for future studies.

Prehospital use of i.m. ketamine for sedation of violent and agitated patients.

IntroductionViolent and agitated patients pose a serious challenge for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. Rapid control of these patients is paramount to successful prehospital evaluation and also for the safety of both the patient and crew. Sedation is often required for these patients, but the ideal choice of medication is not clear. The objective is to demonstrate that ketamine, given as a single intramuscular injection for violent and agitated patients, including those with suspected excited delirium syndrome (ExDS), is both safe and effective during the prehospital phase of care, and allows for the rapid sedation and control of this difficult patient population.MethodsWe reviewed paramedic run sheets from five different catchment areas in suburban Florida communities. We identified 52 patients as having been given intramuscular ketamine 4mg/kg IM, following a specific protocol devised by the EMS medical director of these jurisdictions, to treat agitated and violent patients, including a subset of which would be expected to suffer from ExDS. Twenty-six of 52 patients were also given parenteral midazolam after medical control was obtained to prevent emergence reactions associated with ketamine.ResultsReview of records demonstrated that almost all patients (50/52) were rapidly sedated and in all but three patients no negative side effects were noted during the prehospital care. All patients were subsequently transported to the hospital before ketamine effects wore off.ConclusionKetamine may be safely and effectively used by trained paramedics following a specific protocol. The drug provides excellent efficacy and few clinically significant side effects in the prehospital phase of care, making it an attractive choice in those situations requiring rapid and safe sedation especially without intravenous access.

English

Arenivaga occur across the American Southwest and Mexico, as well as in the scrub and high pine communities of Florida. This study analyzes the relative contribution of 22 abiotic and one biotic variable to the niche of the genus Arenivaga. This analysis revealed that more than 95% of their ecological niche is described by eight variables: soil, isothermality, minimum temperature of the coldest month, mean temperature of the driest quarter, annual precipitation, precipitation of the driest month, precipitation of the wettest quarter and ground cover. These eight variables with respect to their relative contributions to the niche of the genus as a whole as well as the individual niches of 27 species in the genus were then examined. This revealed the similarity of niche composition of most of the species, as well as how varied the niches were of several species. A species dendrogram built from similarity of contribution of the eight variables to niche composition was compared to a phylogeny of the genus, but few similarities in topology were found. This analysis revealed that soil is the most important contributor t o these species' niches, followed by precipitation of the driest month, and finally, precipitation of the wettest quarter. It also confirmed that the majority of Arenivaga species have niches comprised of similar, but not identical, proportions of as few as four, and as many as eight ecological variables. Currently there is no evidence to support niche conservatism between closely related species, indicating that adapting to new and variable niches is one of the drivers of speciation in this genus.

Results of Colon Recall Techniques in a Florida Community

Results of Colon Recall Techniques in a Florida Community

Seasonal water use by deciduous and evergreen woody species in a scrub community is based on water availability and root distribution

AbstractIn a seasonally dry plant community of central Florida, USA, that experiences water limitation in the dry season and high water availability in the wet season, we first tested whether evergreen woody species shift from shallow water in the wet season to deep water in the dry season. Second, we tested whether deciduous woody species restrict water uptake to the shallow soil during the wet season and cease water uptake during the dry season. To address these questions, we measured water source use of two deciduous and three evergreen species over 13 months using stable isotopes. As hypothesized in previous studies, we showed that leaflessness in deciduous plants is an important source of stem water isotopic fractionation. Therefore, we compared stable isotope ratios of stem water only when deciduous species had leaves and found that all species, except the evergreen Lyonia ferruginea, used proportionally the same water sources. Early dry season water use was based on water availability for all species except L. ferruginea, and deep soil (50–150 cm) was the most important water source. During the late dry and wet seasons, water uptake from each soil layer was based on its respective proportion of fine roots. Nevertheless, deep water remained an important water source throughout the year. This study clearly demonstrates the limitations of using stable isotopes of stem water when comparing deciduous versus evergreen species. Further, this study is the first to directly quantify depth of water uptake via isotope analysis and couple these findings with root distribution. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Fine-scale, spatial and temporal assessment methods for feral swine disturbances to sensitive plant communities in south-central Florida.

Feral swine are estimated to annually cost hundreds of millions of dollars in economic loss to property and agriculture in the USA, while their ecological consequences remain largely unmeasured. Using submeter-accurate Global Positioning System technology over a multiyear project, we are quantifying in a novel way the spatial and temporal attributes of swine rooting damage within 587 ha of ecologically sensitive wetland plant communities at Avon Park Air Force Range in south-central Florida. We delineated damage polygons from 0.0023 to 4,335 m(2) and were able to document recurrent damage through time at most sites during each assessment. For each polygon, we also estimated the age of damage and assigned to it a severity index, qualities of the rooting in which we detected changes in proportions over time. Spatially explicit damage assessments at fine scales conducted over several years can assist land managers in determining effects of rooting on rare plant populations, and will allow investigators to hypothesize what factors are driving patterns of this disturbance across ecologically sensitive plant communities.

Effect of high-impact targeted trap-neuter-return and adoption of community cats on cat intake to a shelter

Approximately 2–3 million cats enter animal shelters annually in the United States. A large proportion of these are unowned community cats that have no one to reclaim them and may be too unsocialized for adoption. More than half of impounded cats are euthanased due to shelter crowding, shelter-acquired disease or feral behavior. Trap-neuter-return (TNR), an alternative to shelter impoundment, improves cat welfare and reduces the size of cat colonies, but has been regarded as too impractical to reduce cat populations on a larger scale or to limit shelter cat intake. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of TNR concentrated in a region of historically high cat impoundments in a Florida community. A 2-year program was implemented to capture and neuter at least 50% of the estimated community cats in a single 11.9 km2 zip code area, followed by return to the neighborhood or adoption. Trends in shelter cat intake from the target zip code were compared to the rest of the county.A total of 2366 cats, representing approximately 54% of the projected community cat population in the targeted area, were captured for the TNR program over the 2-year study period. After 2 years, per capita shelter intake was 3.5-fold higher and per capita shelter euthanasia was 17.5-fold higher in the non-target area than in the target area. Shelter cat impoundment from the target area where 60 cats/1000 residents were neutered annually decreased by 66% during the 2-year study period, compared to a decrease of 12% in the non-target area, where only 12 cats/1000 residents were neutered annually. High-impact TNR combined with the adoption of socialized cats and nuisance resolution counseling for residents is an effective tool for reducing shelter cat intake.

The Nutrition Education Initiative Resource Guide

Background and Purpose: With obesity in children and youth continuing to be a major health problem in the U.S., schools are considered an important setting to implement programs to address the issue but few have focused on middle school students. The purposes of this study were to: 1) determine the effectiveness of a school-based nutrition education program, the Nutrition Education Initiative (NEI) Resource Guide, in improving school lunch eating behaviors of middle school students, and 2) identify science teachers’ perceptions of the materials. Implementation: The project was implemented by 16 middle school science teachers and 309 seventh grade students in a medium-sized north Florida community. The NEI Guide included three conceptual areas (Build a Healthy Base, Choose Sensibly and Aim for Fitness), major concepts, objectives, narrative information, and teaching strategies. Evaluation: Using a pre-/post without control group design, the study involved collecting data via food recall surveys with students, and surveys and interviews with teachers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests. Results: During lunch time, a higher proportion of students met the recommended dietary servings for dairy, meat, vegetables, fruit, juice and grains from pre-test to post-test. Students also significantly increased dietary intake of meat (p< .01), fruit (p< .01) and fruit/juice combined (p< .05); and significantly decreased intake of fried vegetables (p< .001), with decreased fat intake approaching significance (p< .06). Differences in dietary patterns were noted between the two schools studied. Science teachers perceived the NEI Guide as effective; yet they also identified challenges including lack of adequate training, lack of time to implement the materials, and lack of collaboration with the project team. Conclusion: The project outcomes suggest that middle school science teachers can positively impact school lunch eating behaviors of middle school students in selected schools by incorporating nutrition education in their curricula.

Effective Recruitment Strategies and Community-Based Participatory Research: Community Networks Program Centers' Recruitment in Cancer Prevention Studies

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches that involve community and academic partners in activities ranging from protocol design through dissemination of study findings can increase recruitment of medically underserved and underrepresented racial/ethnic minority populations into biomedical research. Five cancer screening and prevention trials in three National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD)-funded Community Networks Program Centers (CNPC), in Florida, Kansas, and South Carolina, were conducted across diverse populations. Data were collected on total time period of recruitment, ratios of participants enrolled over potential participants approached, selected CBPR strategies, capacity-building development, and systematic procedures for community stakeholder involvement. Community-engaged approaches used included establishing colearning opportunities, participatory procedures for community-academic involvement, and community and clinical capacity building. A relatively large proportion of individuals identified for recruitment was actually approached (between 50% and 100%). The proportion of subjects who were eligible among all those approached ranged from 25% to more than 70% (in the community setting). Recruitment rates were very high (78%-100% of eligible individuals approached) and the proportion who refused or who were not interested among those approached was very low (5%-11%). Recruitment strategies used by the CNPCs were associated with low refusal and high enrollment ratios of potential subjects. Adherence to CBPR principles in the spectrum of research activities, from strategic planning to project implementation, has significant potential to increase involvement in biomedical research and improve our ability to make appropriate recommendations for cancer prevention and control programming in underrepresented diverse populations. CBPR strategies should be more widely implemented to enhance study recruitment.

Testing Bear-Resistant Trash Cans in Residential Areas of Florida

Abstract Human—bear interactions in Florida are becoming more common as human populations grow and as the range of Ursus americanus floridanus (Florida Black Bear) increases and bears adapt to finding food in a human-modified environment. The number of calls to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) concerning human—bear interactions increased from approximately 1000 calls in 2000 to more than 4000 in 2010. Almost 70% of the calls received in 2010 were related to bears consuming garbage or other unnatural foods (e.g., pet food) in residential areas. Therefore, the FWC used telephone surveys in 2 Florida communities to evaluate the effectiveness of using 2 types of bear-resistant trash cans. Surveys revealed a significant reduction in the number of bears consuming garbage and of other human—bear interactions over a 1-year period and, consequently, a positive attitude from residents toward using these trash cans. Apportioning the cost of issuing bear-resistant trash cans, however, remai...

LIBERATION‐FOCUSED COMMUNITY OUTREACH: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF PEER GROUP SUPERVISION DURING DISASTER RESPONSE

While it is clear that community outreach and disaster response must include cultural and social justice competence, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the process by which this can occur. Guided by liberation psychology, this qualitative study examined the peer group supervision process of psychologists and counselors providing outreach to Haitian communities in Florida after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The findings suggest that peer supervision generated a cyclical process in which the practitioners focused on both content and process themes that were salient to the community outreach. During supervision, practitioners used content information on the community's culture, strengths, and sociopolitical issues to conceptualize the community's experiences and needs. This content informed the outreach process, including the practitioners’ roles and the ways in which they connected and developed respectful relationships with the community. Ongoing peer supervision appeared to facilitate a liberation‐focused community outreach and increase consciousness among the practitioners.

Managing the Indirect Impacts of Bypasses on Small and Medium-Sized Communities in Florida

In Florida, the bypass alternative is increasingly being considered in small and medium-sized communities that contain roadways that are part of Florida's strategic intermodal system (SIS)–-roadways critical to the statewide movement of people and goods. These roads are often the primary roadways into and through smaller communities. Local governments sometimes seek SIS designation to gain funding for increasing the capacity or improving the function of the major roadway; this process leads to consideration of a bypass. Observed issues with these bypasses include the following: ( a) the SIS designation assigns level of service and design criteria that increase pressure for a bypass alternative; ( b) misconceptions abound regarding potential positive and negative impacts of a bypass; ( c) inadequate consideration is given to evaluation of the potential indirect impacts of a bypass on land use and related issues (e.g., livability, local mobility); ( d) without local roadway network planning in affected areas, many local trips are likely to rely on the new bypass; ( e) access management is critical for the bypass and along major roadways accessing the bypass and their interchanges; ( f) the bypassed roadway may be oversize in relation to local mobility needs and could benefit from multimodal enhancements; and ( g) proactive attention is needed for addressing potential indirect land use and mobility impacts, which will help determine appropriate plans, strategies, and mitigation measures. This paper examines these issues and offers practical enhancements to current policy and practice to help the Florida Department of Transportation and local governments achieve a multidimensional approach to bypass planning and impact mitigation.