Great news for travelers along South Alafaya Trail: On Monday, May 11, Mayor Richard Crotty announced that an agreement had been reached concerning Road “E” and the Alafaya Trail extension to the Beachline. Road “E” will provide much needed relief for businesses and residents traveling along South Alafaya Trail. Construction will start sometime in July and the road should be finished within 14 months. The two-mile stretch costs between $8-10 million, to be paid for by a developer. Although this is good news, people who normally travel S. Alafaya Trail are saying, “It... Read more
The UCF International Service Center hosted a MetroPlan Orlando Community Conversation for students and staff. Activities included an opportunity to play Connect I-4 with results being presented to the Metroplan Orlando Board. Sure, there are plenty of transportation options to serve East Orlando residents and connect the region with the rest of Orange County, Florida and the world. But, as the area continues to grow in popularity, there is an increased demand for transportation options and infrastructure. Enter Metroplan Orlando and their 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan. Metroplan Orlando... Read more
The UCF Driving Simulator is used to recreate real life driving scenarios in a controlled environment. Colonial Drive and Alafaya Trail. Consistently ranked as one of the worst intersections in Central Florida, the high-traffic area is one that many East Orlando residents know all too well. Rear-end collisions, red light running and dead-stop traffic are just some of the nicer terms associated with the intersection. But, what makes the intersection so treacherous and is there anything we can do to alleviate the problems? A recent study at the University of Central Florida Engineering Department... Read more
Red light cameras, much like this one, are planned to be in place to fine violators on popular county roads as early as September. Orange County commissioners moved forward this month with a plan to install red light cameras to be used to fine violators in spite of the State Legislature’s vote against passing a statewide camera law. The commissioners voted unanimously, 7-0, to approve the program in Orlando. Red light runners in Orlando could see fines up to $150 as early as September if the plan continues to stay on track regardless of warnings from County Mayor Rich Crotty that the decision... Read more
Any East Orlando Resident who has hopped on the 408 for a quick drive to their destination has probably noticed the sudden toll increases. Think about driving through the Conway toll plaza: $1.00 seems like much more than $0.75. Many people with E-Pass may not have realized the tolls have gone up until their bill arrives. But, why do we need to pay more money to use toll roads? With the recent toll increases, many East Orlando roadway projects are expected to be completed in the near future. While we’re digging ourselves out of a recession and throwing extra money in the toll basket, it just... Read more
