LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. — Manatee County leaders cut the ribbon on the 44th Avenue extension project on Monday, which connects Bradenton with Lakewood Ranch and will reduce traffic on area roads.
What You Need To Know
Manatee leaders cut the ribbon on the 44th Avenue extension project on Monday
The final phase adds about two miles of new roadway, which includes a bridge over I-75
The new road connects Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch
The extension can accommodate about 36,000 vehicles per day
“This has been a very long time coming for at least 25 years,” said Bob McCann, Manatee County Commissioner. “This new stretch of roadway is truly a game-changer.”
The final phase of the extension project adds about two miles of new roadway, which includes a bridge over I-75. McCann said the extension can accommodate about 36,000 vehicles per day. It is expected to reduce traffic on State Road 64 and 70 by 21,000 vehicles per day.
“This overpass now creates a strong, safe link between Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch. Two thriving and fast-growing areas,” said John Kubler, F-DOT Director of Operations. “It’s the kind of project that shows what thoughtful infrastructure can do. Connect communities, provide quality of life and get ahead of growth instead of being overwhelmed by it.”
Crews were still putting the final touches on the extension, which will officially open to drivers on Saturday.
“They used to call it the ‘Bridge to Nowhere.’ We don’t have a bridge to nowhere anymore,” said McCann. “Now we have a cohesive community that could be connected by this transportation.”
Florida House Rep. Bill Conerly said about $28 million in grant money was used to build the 44th Avenue extension.
TAMPA, Fla. — Haines City could be the next stop added to the Florida Department of Transportation SunRail expansion that currently serves 17 stations in the Orlando region.
A project development and environment study is underway.
What You Need To Know
FDOT conducting a Project Development and Environment study to potentially add Haines City to its SunRail.
The SunRail currently serves the Orlando region, with 17 stations.
Haines City SunRail meeting will be held in September for public input; date and location to be announced
Business owners in downtown Haines City hope the stop is added to the area.
Business owners like Suzette Gomez hope the project passes. She started her own business, 555 Nutrition.
“Everything here is healthy, and we also do free full body scans,” she said.
Gomez opened the store five years ago in downtown Haines City. She was drawn to its growth and a welcoming atmosphere.
“I really love the community here in Haines City and I love being around different cultures,” she said.
She sees about 40 to 50 customers a day, a number she hopes will increase if Haines City becomes a stop in the FDOT’s SunRail expansion.
“A lot of people will start knowing more of the downtown area,” Gomez said. “There’s a lot of small businesses here.”
SunRail currently operates over 61 miles with 17 stations.
With Polk County being one of the state’s fastest growing counties, Haines City Mayor Morris West said this could help alleviate traffic congestion.
“Haines City is a destination for people that are retiring and moving here,” West said. “We’re working diligently as a city commission and as city council members to make sure we get some alternative transportation for our Haines City residents and beyond.”
City officials have been staying proactive in the project by purchasing buildings near the proposed location to help make way for more parking.
Gomez says it could be an impactful addition. “For those who either don’t drive or don’t feel comfortable riding here on a bike,” she said.
To serve as that connection to the heart of downtown and beyond.
The first public meeting for the SunRail expansion in Haines City project will be held in September. The date and location haven’t been announced yet.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — As the Sunshine State continues to grow, so does demand for public transportation.
The SunRail commuter rail service could make its way into Polk County sooner rather than later.
The Florida Department of Transportation is hosting a special workshop to discuss what a possible extension would mean for local leaders and residents in Haines City.
What You Need To Know
FDOT staff host a special workshop to discuss plans to extend SunRail commuter service to Polk County
Polk County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, with a projected population growth of over 1.2 million people by 2050
FDOT says an extension of the commuter service is necessary “to support this growth”
The 16-mile extension would extend service to Haines City, with stations in the Loughman and Davenport areas
A Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) study is currently underway to assess costs, benefits and environmental factors
Polk County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, with a projected population growth of nearly 1.2 million people by 2050.
According to FDOT, more than half of this growth is projected to take place in the northeastern portion of the county.
To account for this growth, it’s seeking to expand the SunRail commuter service to Haines City, with two additional stations in Loughman and Davenport.
FDOT staff discussed what it calls Transit Oriented Development (TOD) concepts with elected officials and local planners.
This concept focuses on a variety of factors, including “designing areas that are within a quarter- to half-mile of transit stations to promote transit use” and how it could benefit those who choose to walk or bike.
“For communities investing in transit like SunRail, growth must align with TOD principles to maximize ridership,” says FDOT Communications Specialist Patricia Pichette.
Factors like the design of streets, development, parking, housing, and jobs within walking distance of stations strongly influence the use of public transit like SunRail, according to FDOT.
The workshop also provided the public an opportunity to engage in an open discussion with FDOT staff and ask questions.
Right now, SunRail operates over 61 miles, with 17 stations connecting the Greater Orlando region, from Volusia County down to Osceola County.
Some of those service areas include DeLand, Winter Park, Orlando, Kissimmee and Poinciana.
Poinciana is currently the southernmost point of the station.
A first public meeting to discuss the SunRail extension Project Development and Environmental Study (PD&E) is scheduled for late September.
The study, which is still in its early stages, will look at expansion benefits, environmental factors, preliminary conceptual costs and funding strategies.
It will also serve as a way for FDOT staff to examine economic development opportunities and ways by which it could help improve mobility.
DAYTON, Ohio — The Greater Dayton RTA is expanding weekend hours for the Flyer on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 while NATO is in town.
It’s a big event, as the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will hold a series of meetings in the United States for the first time in 20 years.
The Greater Dayton RTA said the expanded hours, which will be from 8 a.m. to midnight, are an effort to increase access to local businesses and restaurants downtown.
The Flyer will also be rerouted from May 20 to May 26 as the security perimeter gets setup for the event. It will travel through Wright Stop Plaza from Jefferson Street to Main Street, instead of turning left down Third Street.
For passengers who normally get off at the bus stop outside the Arcade, they should plan to use the stop at the hub instead.
During the NATO event, RTA’s downtown transit center will be open and will have minor reroutes around the secured area. Greater Dayton RTA said details on the reroutes will be released closer to the event.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — More than 14,000 walkers and runners are expected to participate in this year’s OhioHealth Cap City Half Marathon, according to organizers, and with that comes many road closures.
This year’s event takes place Saturday, April 26, and includes three difference races: OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon (13.1 miles), OhioHealth Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles) and Columbus Promise 5K (3.1 miles).
But some roads will be closed starting Friday to allow organizers to set up for the race.
Here are the road closures for Friday, April 25 at 5 p.m. and will remain closed until Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m.:
High Street from Broad Street to Main Street
W. Town Street from W. Front Street to S. High Street
E. Town Street from S. Third St. to Damian Street
E. Rich Street from Wall Street to S. Third Street
Here are the full road closures for Saturday:
(OhioHealth Cap City Half Marathon & Quarter Marathon)
A full schedule of events can be found on the event’s website.
BARTOW, Fla. — Starting this month, 16 red-light cameras will be up and running across the city of Bartow.
What You Need To Know
Bartow will activate 16 red-light cameras at eight major intersections on April 21
City officials and local business owners, like Martha Stephens, support the program, citing frequent accidents and dangerous driving behavior
While some residents support the initiative, others are pushing back, calling the cameras excessive and inaccurate
The cameras, operated by Verra Mobility, will be placed at the following eight intersections:
Wilson Ave. at Van Fleet Dr. / SR 60
W. Main St. / SR 60 at Crown Ave.
Holland Pkwy. / US 17 / US 98 at Van Fleet Ave. / US 98
Broadway Ave. / US 98 at E. Van Fleet Dr. / SR 60
Holland Pkwy. / US 17 at Main St.
S. Holland Pkwy. / US 17 at W. Wabash St.
Holland Pkwy. / US 17 at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
S. Holland Pkwy. / US 17 at E. Georgia St.
City leaders plan to launch the program Monday, April 21. Officials released video showing vehicles, including semi-trucks, speeding through red lights at several of the main intersections. Though the footage was recorded during a traffic study last year, Martha Stephens, who owns a food truck on State Road 60, says it’s a perfect example of what can happen on the road.
“The traffic is really crazy at times. People run the red lights and even though we have the arrows, they still run them,” she said.
Since opening Hy-Tech Cuisine last March, Stephens says she’s learned of several car accidents nearby. She says one fatal incident involved her new hire, who was struck by a driver while riding her bike on East Van Fleet Drive.
“He said he didn’t see her. You know, it’s once again running the lights. Running the lights,” Stephens said.
This is why she says she couldn’t be more relieved that the city of Bartow is launching its red-light camera program. While others feel the same, some people took to Facebook to share their disappointment, saying the cameras are excessive and often inaccurate. One resident even created a petition in hopes of stopping the program.
However, Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker stands behind it.
“They work,” he said. “We’re just asking people to obey the law. It’s a force multiplier for us as far as I can’t have my officer at every intersection all the time. Traffic is a big issue in Bartow and so we’re trying to make it safer for everyone.”
Walker says roughly 2.2 million drivers make their way through the city every year, mainly because of the major highways. The cameras are intended to help reduce the number of angle crashes at each intersection.
Officers will review the footage daily to check for violations. Walker says each violation will result in a fine of up to $158, with $75 going to the city.
“Probably will be used for infrastructure improvement. You know, we have roads that need to be improved so that’s where I see it probably going,” he said.
As for Stephens, she says she’s looking forward to the sense of peace the cameras will bring to the community. In the meantime, she has this message for drivers:
“Slow down. Take your time. We all want to live. There’s no place you need to be that that’s urgent and if it is, leave a few minutes earlier,” she said.
The red-light cameras will go live on April 21. Then, notices of violations will be sent out starting May 21.
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A pilot program in Manatee County that has helped emergency vehicles reach scenes quicker might be expanding, thanks to its success helping save lives.
What You Need To Know
EMS officials in Manatee County hope to see a pilot program of traffic light technology expand
Manatee County commissioners will ultimately decide if that happens
Donald McEachern, a paramedic since 1993, says the program is helping save lives
Donald McEachern has been a paramedic since 1993 and serves as the District Chief of Operations for Manatee County EMS. But he still goes out in the field on several calls each shift.
“I just loved helping people. I really, really enjoyed helping people and making a difference in people’s lives,” he said.
He says technology is helping save more lives.
The program began last year and has helped first responders get to emergencies in a more timely fashion. Now, EMS hopes expansion of the traffic signal technology is approved by the county commission.
“They push that first button, which is the emergency lights, that turns all the emergency lights on,” McEachern said. “And it also activates the system to alert the traffic signals whenever they are approaching them to turn green for us. And red for the opposite opposing traffic.”
The technology was installed in eight ambulances and two supervisor vehicles. It allows first responders to switch the light to green automatically.
“There’s times when we pull out of the station and none of the vehicles will stop for us. It alleviates or eliminates a big portion of our response,” he said.
The county estimates that emergency vehicles save 11 seconds at each of the 24 intersections where the technology is present. County commissioners are expected to decide whether to expand the program.
“This system is great. It really helps us tremendously,” McEachern explained.
It’s critical help in emergency situations, when first responders like Donald are focused on saving lives.
Manatee County EMS says it is still waiting on county commissioners to get back about if this program will be expanded. No date has been set yet.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation is now studying plans to redesign I-175 in St. Petersburg.
Called the I-175 Action Plan, FDOT is looking at ways to enhance the safety and connectivity around the small interstate that connects I-275 and 4th Street.
What You Need To Know
FDOT is now studying plans to redesign I-175 in St. Petersburg
The I-175 Action Plan will look at ways to enhance the safety and connectivity around the small interstate that connects I-275 and 4th Street
Neighborhood coalition Reimagine I-175 would like to see the interstate removed and replaced with a boulevard to reconnect the city
The findings are expected to be completed next April
That’s welcome news to Justin Cournoyer, co-founder of Reimagine I-175. It’s a coalition of neighbors who’d like to see the interstate removed and replaced with a boulevard to reconnect the city.
“We see it as the Berlin Wall of St. Pete,” Cournoyer said. “It’s literally just a wall of concrete and earth. For people like me living in Campbell Park, you have 7 blocks of this where you can’t get across.”
I-175 first opened in April 1980 to connect I-275 and 4th Street, but it effectively split the city and displaced neighborhoods.
45 years later, Cournoyer says not enough traffic uses it.
“It acts like a scar across the city. The permeability under the highway is not there. The connectivity is not there. It kind of separates our city into north and south St. Pete,” Cournoyer said.
(Spectrum News)
The only way across the interstate now is a pedestrian bridge, which Cournoyer says just takes people out of their way.
“It’s kind of an eyesore. It’s covered in chain link. Graffiti most of the time. A lot of trash up here. It’s a neglected part of our city,” Cournoyer said.
The study found that while I-175 is useful for emergency vehicles and connecting attractions, it comes at a cost to adjacent neighborhoods, especially has drivers go at high speeds.
That comes as plans for a new ballpark at the Tropicana Field site fell apart in March.
“With or without a ballpark, I think removing 175 and replacing it with a boulevard is going to do wonders and be a huge positive impact on communities, especially disenfranchised communities in the south side,” Cournoyer said.
The I-175 Action Plan study started in January. The findings are expected to be completed next April.
A camera looks down on an intersection on U.S. 19. (Spectrum News)
It’s part of a new grant with Marlin Engineering, monitoring traffic so that engineers and planners can learn how to make roads safer.
“We are now entering into a micromobility area looking at behavior of those that are driving at our most dangerous intersections,” said Gorman.
Right now, the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization is monitoring intersections along the U.S. 19 corridor.
A view from one of Pasco County’s traffic volume monitoring cameras. (Courtesy: Pasco County MPO)
“We’ve actually just started monitoring over the last month,” Gorman said. “We’ve just taken down the data for collection results. So we’ll get that data and review it and that will give us more insight to the behaviors going on at that intersection.”
The county is also using AI to distinguish between scooters, e-bikes and pedestrians, using different colors to identify them. That data can then be used to count how many pass through that intersection.
“There’s darting across the street and you’re just like, ‘Oh man, I wish I knew what happened’ because in the past, that’s what we’d say,” said Gorman. “A lot of our reports come from the on-scene officer or highway patrol or whoever is on scene. Now we’re able to see the crash in real time and see what exactly transpired in that moment.”
AI technology being used by the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization can distinguish between different modes of mobility. (Courtesy: Pasco County MPO)
Right now, the tech is being used at three different intersections, including U.S. 19 and Sea Ranch Drive. If successful, more intersections throughout the county may see the cameras.
“That way we can have a comprehensive, cooperative and collaborative process of planning on how we’re going to identify and address these intersections that have these issues with safety concerns,” said Gorman.
It’s all paving the way for safer roads throughout the county.
Gorman says the next step will be to have a micromobility plan, allowing the county to expand where cameras are placed.
DUNEDIN, Fla. — The city of Dunedin is a well-known tourist destination that draws more than 1.8 million visitors, and leaders are now considering a new parking garage that would provide more than 190 parking spaces.
What You Need To Know
Dunedin city leaders are considering a new parking garage with more than 190 parking spaces in downtown
The project could cost as much as $10 million
Work could start around September and be completed in December 2026 if approved
The city chose a site at Scotland Street and Douglas Avenue — close to Main Street.
Some business owners like Soozy Naylor O’Donnell love the idea of more parking.
“I think it’s absolutely brilliant,” he said. “We were down in Clearwater Beach for 28 years and they desperately needed parking, and I think doing it now as the city is growing … is only going to help all of us small businesses.”
But not everyone supports the project.
City Commissioner Jeff Gow says he would like the city to look at alternative modes of transportation to help people get around.
“We have all of this car traffic because we do not offer any alternative,” Gow said. “They have come by car.”
The project is estimated to cost around $10 million.
While plans are still in the preliminary phase, officials say construction could start in September — with an estimated completion date of December 2026.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a three-vehicle crash in Orange County on Lee Road Thursday morning following a stolen car chase that started in Polk County, officials said.
Officials say six passengers — ages 13 to 17 years old — were inside the suspected stolen vehicle.
FHP said the 18-year-old driver of the stolen vehicle refused to stop, which led to a chase across county lines.
Officials said troopers initiated a pit maneuver as the vehicle drove into Orange County. The driver ended up traveling the wrong way on Lee Road, striking a Honda and Chevy Malibu.
Officials said the crash caused traffic delays for hours Thursday morning. They also said all three drivers were transported to the hospital.
No other information has been released at this time.
CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — A popular roadway in Citrus County is getting a major facelift.
What You Need To Know
The widening of US-19 near Crystal River is entering its final stages, going from two travel lanes to three
The project stretches a little more than 4.5-miles, which should help, as city officials say, during severe weather events
It’s a major project that will have big implications for Crystal River and local businesses
Two more projects will begin after this one finishes, with the state repaving a 1.2-mile stretch from south of northeast First Terrace to south of Snug Harbor Road
The widening of US-19 is entering its final stages, going from two travel lanes to three. It’s a major project that will have big implications for Crystal River and local businesses.
Just a stone’s throw from the roadway, Ryan Delarco arranges a few bicycles outside his shop Sparky’s Green Rides.
“It’s changed a lot,” says Delarco.
Delarco has had the shop since 2013. He’s experienced it all, from hurricanes and tornadoes to the most recent widening of US-19.
“Hopefully, when everything’s done, it causes economic growth and better traffic flow through here.”
The project, Delarco said, has its pros and cons. With the road running right outside his shop, construction drew away potential customers. But with road work now dwindling down, better access to trails is just around the corner.
“We’re going to be connecting the trails for the bicycles, the pedestrians and walkways and miscellaneous things to get us around even more conveniently than we can now,” said Delarco.
US-19’s widening project stretches a little more than 4.5-miles. Improving from two travel lanes to three. Which should help, as city manager Audra Curts says, during severe weather events.
“Those types of things and those events where our traffic is higher than normal, it’ll make it flow so much better as folks are heading north if they ever have to evacuate during another disaster,” said Curts.
And with businesses flanking either side of the major roadway, business owners, like Delarco, are excited to see what new business may come with the improved road.
“When it’s completed and finished, I think the three lanes will help get the seniors be able to turn off the highway easier with the extra lane,” Delarco said. “I mean, three lanes is a big difference from two, for sure.”
Two more US-19 projects will begin after this one finishes. The state will begin repaving the 1.2-mile stretch from south of northeast First Terrace to south of Snug Harbor Road. The project will also include pedestrian improvements with new crossing buttons.
But there’s one intersection in Pasco County that neighbor Don Hassee is frustrated with: State Road 54 and Bexley Village Drive, just east of the Veterans Expressway.
Hassee says making a left turn into the Bexley neighborhood can take forever.
“If I’m about 10 cars back, I know it’s going to be tough to make a light. So I have to have to be patient and wait for two cycles,” Hassee said.
That area of Pasco County has seen a lot of growth in recent years, with new housing and businesses. That of course leads to more traffic.
Hassee timed the left turn light a few times while doing an interview with Spectrum News, showing it go between 20 to 25 seconds. He says that’s not enough time to move traffic through.
His concern isn’t just the wait, but the traffic from the turn lanes backing up onto busy SR-54.
“Then you’ve got traffic out on 54. And those people are having trouble getting through as well,” Hassee said.
He says it’s particularly a problem during rush hour.
He was hoping to see the Florida Department of Transportation consider changing the timing on the traffic light to let more drivers through.
FDOT officials checked on this intersection after Spectrum News asked about it. They say a detection equipment issue has now been corrected. They say they’ll continue to work with Pasco County on any further issues.
Hassee hopes the fix improves the commute home.
“People are coming home. It’s the end of their day. They’re tired. They want to get home. If they could get an extra cycle through, it just makes the traffic flow so much more smoothly,” Hassee said.
DADE CITY, Fla. — Construction continues on a section of U.S. 98 in Pasco County called the Dade City Bypass to widen the road from two lanes to four.
What You Need To Know
FDOT is widening the Dade City Bypass (U.S. 98) from two lanes to four
The owner of a nearby business says he is concerned about how construction has affected customers
Work on the road is expected to be finished by the fall of 2026
But a nearby business owner has concerns about what will change there.
When folks visit Ken Woodard’s shop, the Quilted Twins, it’s for one reason.
“This is people’s love,” Woodard said. “They’re making things with their hands for people that they love.”
Over the past seven years, Woodard has built the business into a destination for those into quilting and in need of fabric.
“We have some very loyal customers,” he said. “Our typical customer drives an hour to get here. But then when they get to Dade City and hit the construction, they’re a little bit frustrated when they walk in the store.”
That construction he is talking about is on the Dade City Bypass east of downtown that started in March 2023.
The Florida Department of Transportation is widening the road from two lanes to four between Seventh Street North and Seventh Street South to account for growth in the area.
That’s something Woodard never thought he would see in Dade City.
“When I got here 35-37 years ago, they were sand roads,” he said. “Now they’re two lanes and talking about four lanes. Traffic congestion has just boomed.”
But the roadwork has caused some issues for his customers finding the shop due to road blocks and detours.
Woodard also has concerns about the two roundabouts that will be added. One will be at Seventh Street South and the other will be on Old Lakeland Highway.
Site of future roundabout on Old Lakeland Highway. (Courtesy of FDOT)
“Folks in those lanes are going to be focusing on not crashing into somebody else,” Woodard said.
According to the project website, the road is expected to be done in the fall of 2026. In the meantime, southbound traffic on U.S. 98 is detoured through downtown Dade City.
Woodard’s hope is that when the project is finished, the final result is a positive for his business and his customers.
“I want them to have confidence in coming into the store and enjoying their experience,” he said.
TAMPA, Fla. — Some ride services across Tampa Bay and Central Florida are offering voters free rides on Election Day!
If you’re in need of transportation to get to the polls or around town on Nov. 5, here’s how you can get a free ride in your county.
For more info on Decision 2024 and Bay area coverage, visit Spectrum Bay News 9’s Voter Guide.
For more info on Decision 2024 and Central Florida coverage, visit Spectrum News 13’s Voter Guide.
PINELLAS COUNTY
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is offering free rides to all voters on Election Day, Nov. 5.
The offer is for PSTA’s fixed service only, and riders qualify for a free ride if:
Rider presents Voter Registration Card to the bus operator
Rider presents “I Voted” Sticker to the bus operator
Rider informs the bus operator they are voting at one of Pinellas’s precincts
Riders can find their polling location by visitingvotepinellas.gov.
Meanwhile, in St. Petersburg, Lime is teaming up with When We All Vote and Vote Early Day to make voting more accessible for everyone. From 10/29 to 11/5, use promo code VOTE2024 for 2 free 30-minute rides to and from the polls. Find your nearest electric scooter or bike here: https://limebike.app.link/caHa2twXrLb
If you would prefer to use a scooter to get to the polls, VEO is offering an in ride credit of $5 to get to the polls. All you have to do is use the promo “VOTE24” in the VEO app.
PASCO COUNTY
Voters can receive free bus rides to the polls when they show a valid voter information card. Complimentary bus rides will be available on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the general election.
“This partnership to benefit the voters of Pasco County epitomizes good government and we are grateful to GoPasco for this program” said Supervisor Corley.
For more information on Pasco County Public Transportation bus routes and schedules, visit gopasco.com/.
For residents in Citrus County, the fixed route system will be free to use to get to the polls. If you do not live near a fixed route, you can call (352) 527-7630 and they will be able to help get you a ride scheduled.
VOLUSIA COUNTY
Volusia County’s Transit Services Division is offering free rides to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 5, through its Votran fixed-route, Votran Gold and VoRide services.
Votran fixed-route riders can ride for free if they present a valid Volusia County Voter Registration Card. Riders should check in advance for the closest bus stop for their polling destination, as buses won’t make direct stops unless polling locations are on regular routes.
Votran Gold Service, which assists disabled residents, will offer free trips directly to polling sites. Gold Service riders should schedule their rides no later than noon on Monday, Nov. 4, by calling 386-322-5100. Riders must show their voter registration card to get the fee waived.
VoRide, a curb-to-curb rideshare service available in the DeBary, DeLand, Deltona, and Orange City areas, will provide free roundtrip rides to the polls within its service zones.
On Monday, Nov. 4, the day before Election Day, a promotional code will be announced for riders to enter when booking through the app. Riders will need to show their voter registration card to the driver to validate the promotional code
For more details about the Election Day transportation initiative, route schedules, and fare information, riders can contact Votran customer service at 386-761-7700, visit www.votran.org, or use the myStop mobile app.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus drivers shared firsthand accounts of their lifesaving transportation efforts during Hurricanes Helene and Milton as the agency resumed normal service on Monday.
What You Need To Know
PSTA drivers had 569,853 riders during the pre-storm and post-storm response
Pinellas County Emergency Management requested 1,229 targeted evacuation rides
One bus driver lost his possessions when his condo flooded, along with two cars, during Helene
The PSTA fueled up 20 of their oldest buses, which were ready for an immediate response after the storms
“I’d be driving and having to grit my teeth to keep from crying as I watched,” said Connie Stein, a trolley driver. “I could never have imagined what I was to see on that first day driving that rescue trolley after Helene.”
PSTA drivers had 569,853 riders during the pre-storm and post-storm response for the back-to-back hurricanes, which includes 1,229 targeted evacuation rides requested by Pinellas County Emergency Management, according to the agency. Stein estimates she evacuated hundreds of those riders from the beaches who were hit hard by Helene.
“Their cars were under water and under sand. They basically had nothing but the clothes on their back,” she said. “In some cases, million dollar homes and they lost everything. Some of them looked homeless. They just needed help. They needed to get out of there.”
Some drivers are storm victims themselves. Bus driver Leon Smiley said he could not help out during Hurricane Helene because his condo flooded and he lost two cars, but worked around the clock to transport evacuees when Hurricane Milton struck.
“I got the chance to take my mind off my personal loss and it made me see that there was always somebody in worse shape than you are,” he said. “It made me stop feeling sorry for myself.”
The largest single relocation operation happened at the Good Samaritan Church in Pinellas Park when Helene knocked out the power and air conditioning. Approximately 300 people had taken refuge in the church with more than 230 who had mobility issues.
They were transported to a permanent shelter building on higher ground, according to PSTA.
Dispatcher Chris Blackshear said he volunteered to drive a van to transport people with disabilities after his normal shift ended and it was hard to see all the suffering.
“I got a heart for people and the stories, it just weighed in on me,” he said. “I felt like I was helping the community and I felt better at the end.”
The PSTA said they fueled up 20 of their oldest buses which were ready for an immediate response after the storms to transport people to shelters and for lifesaving kidney dialysis treatments. They moved the fleet of newer buses to higher ground.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a more and more common sight on the road these days, and they’re not just found in Silicon Valley anymore.
What You Need To Know
Electric vehicles account for a bit more than 9% of new light-duty vehicle sales for the second quarter of 2024
That’s according to a press release on an analysis from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation
In Ohio, it’s closer to just about 5%
Ohio has a ratio of 21 EVs to public chargers, better than the national ratio
According to a press release on an analysis from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation—looking at the second quarter in 2024—they found that EVs accounted more than 9% of new light-duty vehicle sales, up slightly from the same quarter last year.
Ohio is a bit behind the national percentage, with EVs accounting for just more than 5% of new sales, with a total of 6,718 EVs sold. In the same quarter last year, they accounted for just more than 4% of sales.
According to the Electric Vehicle Quarterly Report, Ohio was ranked 30th in 2024 EV market share through the second quarter, at 4.70%. It likely comes as no surprise that California ranked first with 25.78% market share. North Dakota came in last place with 1.62%.
Ohio ranked better when it come to the ratio of EVs to public chargers, coming in at 21. According to the release, Ohio had a total of 80,710 EVs out on the road, with 3,867 public chargers to keep them going, leading to the ratio of 21 EVs to each charger.
That’s better than the national ratio, with 5.1 million EVs in the country and 177,330 public chargers. That’s a ratio of 29 EVs to each charger.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two more Intel-related super loads are traveling from Adams County to Licking County this week, but they will be much smaller than the massive loads we saw this summer headed to the $20 billion chip manufacturing site.
What You Need To Know
Two more Intel-related super loads are traveling from Adams County to Licking County this week
They will be much smaller than the massive loads we saw this summer headed to the $20 billion chip manufacturing site
ODOT Press Secretary Matt Bruning said the transport of these materials is not a cost incurred by ODOT but rather Intel and the haulers
Bruning said other companies have approached them asking if they can also help them move large materials as well
The first of these super loads, coming in at 258,000 pounds and more than 16 feet tall, leaves Friday. The second, which weighs 132,000 pounds and is more than 17 feet tall, leaves on Saturday.
ODOT Press Secretary Matt Bruning said recent super loads and those still ahead are “dramatically smaller” than those moved this summer. The traffic impacts, he said, have been almost nothing.
“There will be many more from here through next year… but we are not anticipating any other huge loads like we saw this summer,” he said. “There may be a couple more that will be a little more impactful to traffic. We’ll certainly do what we did with the others and put out an advance notice of that.”
You can see the exact route details of loads 25 and 26 here.
(Courtesy JobsOhio)
As far as cost, Bruning said the transport of these materials is not a cost incurred by ODOT. The hauler purchases the permit, he said, and then Intel pays them to bring the equipment in.
He said the only cost for taxpayers is if they use an ODOT escort vehicle, they pay that employee. But it’s not really an additional cost, as that employee would be being paid regardless, just for another task, without the super load.
He said even if the load has a state trooper escort, that’s paid by the haulers.
A massive truck is hauling Intel equipment for its construction project across Ohio. (Photo Courtesy Ohio Department of Transportation)
When it comes to the logistical challenges of plotting the routes for these super loads, especially the 900,000 pound plus ones earlier this summer, height, weight, width and traffic are the key factors.
They had to make sure bridges could support the weight, that roads were wide enough to accommodate large loads, that they timed around traffic-heavy events and avoided routes which would take them under too-short bridges, Bruning said.
Those challenges even led to some minor, yet permanent, changes some eagle-eyed drivers may notice.
There were a few overhead signs in Chillicothe and Portsmouth that were permanently raised. While ODOT paid for those, he said those changes are beneficial moving forward, not just for Intel but for others wanting to move massive loads who now have a higher height clearance on that route.
“So that’s an advantage, certainly, to Ohio’s economy,” Bruning said.
A massive truck is hauling Intel equipment for its construction project across Ohio. (Photo Courtesy Ohio Department of Transportation)
They also installed swivel arms to some traffic signals in Piketon and Pickerington, paid for by the haulers. This allows the signal to just pivot, rather than needing to be raised. Bruning said it made the operation much easier and quicker.
It’s something they can benefit from in the future, if anyone else decides they need to move large items through this portion of the state.
Bruning said other companies have approached them asking if they can help them move large materials as well.
“It has definitely positioned Ohio, economically, in a good spot that other companies are looking to move here because they realize that Ohio can make and move things,” he said.
Spectrum News 1 anchor and reporter Taylor Bruck contributed to this report.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) is offering bus service in Hillsborough County to take residents to emergency shelters.
Buses will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents can call (800) 729-3413 for evacuation assistance.
