As the analysis of data collected by myregion.org begins, it becomes more and more evident that Central Florida is highly dependent on its toll-road system to provide the needed freeway infrastructure for urban growth. Our toll highways are unique, both in number and extent, linking nearly all of Central Florida's primary economic centers together. If you don’t believe it, just take a look at this map (click map to enlarge) showing the region’s transportation traffic flow.

Keeping up with Central Florida’s regional transportation needs has been a priority for the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, one of myregion.org’s Funding Partners. The Expressway Authority's 25-year work plan proposes $1.8 billion in system improvements and expansion.

During the next five years, the Expressway Authority will spend more than $781 million on improvements, with the majority of money going to widen State Road 408 through downtown Orlando. The Authority will also be working with the Florida Department of Transportation to improve the State Road 408 interchange at Interstate 4.

Open-Road Tolling is another priority for the Expressway Authority. Over the next few years, most of the Authority’s toll plazas will be expanded and remodeled to incorporate full-speed Express E-PASS lanes. These lanes allow E-PASS customers to pay their tolls at highway speeds without going through a traditional toll-plaza lane. Open-Road Tolling is already available on State Road 429 north of Ocoee, and work is currently underway to convert the University Main Plaza on State Road 417.

New roads currently under construction include the extension of Goldenrod Road to Orlando International Airport. The project, which includes an interchange at State Road 528 (Bee Line Expressway), should open by late 2002. The Expressway Authority is also extending State Road 429 (Western Expressway) south of Florida’s Turnpike in Ocoee to County Road 535. Work is projected for completion by the end of 2002. By 2005, the Expressway Authority and Florida’s Turnpike will have extended State Road 429 south to U.S. 192 near Walt Disney World.

Meanwhile, the Expressway Authority is looking ahead with preliminary studies to extend State Road 408 east toward Titusville and west toward Clermont. A study is also being done in Northwest Orange County to determine if an extension of State Road 429 should be built north of Apopka to serve as an alterative to U.S. 441 and to provide an eventual link for the Western Beltway around Orlando. In Seminole County, Florida’s Turnpike is studying the potential of build an expressway from Sanford northwest into Volusia County near State Road 415.

Additionally, an Interstate 4 frontage road is being planned by Volusia officials to help facilitate development of a future business activity center surrounding the I-4 interchange at SR 472 in southwest Volusia. The state legislature already has approved funding to advance planning for this road that will extend along the west side of I-4 from SR 472 to Summit Avenue. The 1,800-acre activity center is considered Volusia’s most lucrative site for future office, commercial and industrial development. A Development of Regional Impact (DRI) is being prepared to steer the business center’s infrastructure and development

In Polk County, the Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) serves as the principal transportation-planning agency for the entire county. The TPO, comprised of a 17-member board of local elected officials, staff and various advisory committees, develops transportation plans and programs for Polk County. It recently adopted a 2025 Long-Range Transportation Plan and is set to begin a Countywide Transit Study.

In Lake County, the Board of County Commissioners authorized $2 million to be directed toward roads. In addition to the normal road improvements, there have been a number of collaborative projects and they are currently envisioning the creation of a 15-year capital projects program to outline and quantify the roadwork needed to address future needs. The county is also partnering with adjacent counties and the Turnpike authority to provide a consolidated transportation plan for the region.

myregion.org will examine how our transportation system functions and how our region fits into national and global transportation patterns. If you want to review the data collected about the state of our transportation systems, log on to www.myregion.org. For information about the proposed toll-road extensions, contact Steve Pustelnyk, myregion.org’s Communications Committee member and Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority’s Manager of Communications and Marketing, at 407.316.3830, or electronically at pustelnyk@oocea.com.