Arlington, VA-based Alcalde & Fay has the assignment. The county last year failed to get $3 million from Washington to study the road project. County staffers tell GlobeSt.com that if the Congress approves, the money would have to be tied to a new transportation spending bill next year.

Based on the $237 million it recently cost to build 10.5 miles of Orlando's beltway, the proposed 35-mile Lake-Sumter Greenway would come in at around $22.6 million per mile or a total $791 million, county planners tell GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity.

County commissioners themselves tell taxpayers they have no idea yet what the project will cost or where they might find funds to build it. And Florida Turnpike officials already are on record as saying they have no money for the project.