ReportWire

Tag: Getting There

  • Polk County receives federal funding for Kathleen Road extension

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Planning is moving forward on the long-awaited Kathleen Road extension in Lakeland.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County continues to plan the extension and widening of Kathleen Road in Lakeland to US 98

    • For years, drivers have been hoping for an extension of Kathleen Road to relieve traffic congestion

    • A new U.S. House appropriations bill now includes $3 million to complete the design and permitting process for the extension project


    Residents say it is needed as the area continues to grow.

    “Well, we’ve been hearing about 15-20 years, that they were going to go four lanes,” said Marie Yale, owner of K&K Nursery, located just off of Kathleen Road.

    Kathleen Road is a north-south route through north Lakeland. Much of the road is two lanes.

    For years, drivers have been hoping for a widening and extension of Kathleen Road to U.S. 98 to relieve traffic congestion.

    That was especially the case when construction at the new Fox Branch Ranch development started in 2024.

    A new U.S. House appropriations bill now includes $3 million to complete the design and permitting process for the extension project. Polk County officials confirmed they are receiving those funds.

    Rep. Laurel Lee (R, FL-15) said in the funding request, “This is needed to reduce congestion on an already failing roadway. The State would receive a substantial benefit from the widening and extension of this roadway to the north,” according to her website.

    Yale is hopeful it will help as long as construction doesn’t impact her business.

    “I would hope they would take us into consideration to help people get to us so that we can stay in business,” Yale said.

    Polk County officials confirmed the project is still in the planning phase. Construction likely won’t start for another three or four years, but officials say the federal funding helps move it forward. The project is also in the county’s long term transportation plan.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • NCDOT focuses on putting EV charging stations in rural areas

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    Charlotte, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is shifting gears when it comes to electric vehicles.

    What You Need To Know

    • NCDOT plans to prioritize installing electric vehicle charging stations in rural areas
    • The department will focus on 16 locations, such as along I-26 in western North Carolina and U.S. 74 in Anson County
    • North Carolina received $109 million in funding from the Federal Highway Administration to build out a fast-charging network across the state


    The department announced plans to scale back the number of EV charging stations it had initially committed to build along interstates and highways.

    Instead, it’ll put more of the state’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funds toward infrastructure in communities, rural areas and highways “where less coverage exists.”

    Tatiana Pisarski and her husband are among 140,000 North Carolina drivers who’ve pulled the plug on gas-powered travel, according to NCDOT registration data from Oct. 2025.

    “It was something new and different,” Pisarski said. “We wanted to try it out and haven’t looked back since then.”

    Pisarski believes more charging stations are needed to help meet demand.

    “We’ve noticed most of [the chargers] are stationed around highways, major intersections,” Pisarski said. “And I think for those that live outside the big cities, it would be good for them to have access to charging stations as well.”

    North Carolina received $109 million in funding from the Federal Highway Administration to build out a fast-charging network across the state.

    NCDOT originally planned to build 50 stations along major highways in so-called “Alternative Fuel Corridors.”

    But, NCDOT says that new federal guidance allows them flexibility to focus on areas where fewer chargers exist.

    As a result, NCDOT says it’s scaling back to 16 locations in rural towns and along highways, such as I-26 in western North Carolina and U.S. 74 in Anson and Richmond counties.

    “Right now, there are some charging stations, but having more would give us different options,” Pisarski said.

    As the state moves in a new direction, Pisarski believes building more EV stations in rural communities may help convince other drivers to make the switch.

    “Based on my personal experience, once you switch over, I have not seen people back to gas cars,” Pisarski said. “Most people love it, and stick to EVs, and you know, only driving EVs, such as my family.”

    NCDOT says it plans in late March to issue a request for proposals for businesses interested in applying for NEVI funds to build and operate charging stations in those rural areas.

    The NEVI Program provides up to 80% reimbursement for private companies building these stations for a five-year period. After five years, the charging stations will continue to operate without government support, according to NCDOT.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Nick Buffo

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  • FDOT seeks public input on options for Longboat Key Bridge

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — State transportation officials are asking the public for input on the future of the State Road 789 Bridge on Longboat Key — a decision that could significantly affect traffic and businesses on the island.

    The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is holding public hearings next month to discuss several options for the bridge’s future.

    What You Need To Know

    • FDOT is asking for the public’s opinion on the Longboat Key Bridge

    • Public hearings next month will help determine which option on the future design could move forward

    • The in-person hearing is set for March 12 at 5 p.m. at Christ Church of Longboat Key, with a virtual option on March 17


    For Harvinder Mirchandani, customer service is everything.

    She has owned Longboat Resort Wear in Longboat Key for 37 years, but her commute from Bradenton can be unpredictable.

    “The traffic in the season keeps us here sometimes at night ’til 8 o’clock, and still we have to sit in traffic for half an hour more,” she said.

    One major factor is the drawbridge openings on the Longboat Key Bridge, she said. When the drawbridge is raised for boat traffic, cars can quickly become backed up in both directions.

    FDOT is moving into the design phase for a possible replacement. Options include a low-level drawbridge, a midlevel drawbridge, a high-level fixed-span bridge, or a no-build option.

    Mirchandani said she prefers a fixed-span bridge.

    “Fixed span, then we don’t have to wait for the bridge to go up and down every 15 to 40 minutes,” she said.

    Heather Rippy, owner of Driftwood Beach Home & Garden, said the current drawbridge is part of island life.

    “Yes, there’s traffic on the bridge, but it’s part of living on the island,” she said. “The bridge seems to be working fine. It doesn’t bother me.”

    She said she also wants to preserve walkability and the character of the area.

    Meanwhile, other business owners, like Irina LaRose, who is the owner of Design 2000, said traffic backups are costing them.

    “Well, it’s pretty frustrating because for us as a business, we have clients that are coming for an appointment. So we start getting phone calls from clients who are sitting in traffic saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m running late, but I’m sitting in traffic. I could walk here faster than I’m driving’,” she said.

    In a statement, FDOT said that regardless of which option is selected, the new bridge will include roadway shoulders and enhanced pedestrian features to improve safety.

    Public hearings next month will help determine which option moves forward.

    The in-person hearing is set for 5 p.m. March 12 at Christ Church of Longboat Key, with a virtual option on March 17.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Flyng without your REAL ID? TSA $45 ‘ConfirmID’ fee is now in effect

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    Travelers without a REAL ID are required to pay a $45 identity verification fee.

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    Nick Buffo

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  • Pinellas County asks for state funding to widen East Lake Road

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — It’s a question that drivers have asked for years in north Pinellas County: Will East Lake Road ever be widened to accommodate the growing traffic?

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County is asking for money in the state budget to widen East Lake Road

    • The county has been studying the widening since 2021

    • Congestion is common on the four-lane road between Tampa Road and Trinity Boulevard


    The county is now asking the state to fund just that.

    State Rep. Adam Anderson (R-Palm Harbor) made an appropriations request of $15 million in the new state budget for capacity improvements to East Lake Road.

    Widening East Lake Road is an issue that Pinellas County has been debating for years. In fact, the county is currently doing a study on it.

    East Lake Community Library Director Lois Eannel said the topic comes up often there.

    “East Lake has become very congested. Very heavily traveled,” Eannel said.

    And she would know.

    Eannel commutes on it each day from Trinity in Pasco County.

    In fact, southwest Pasco County is where a lot of the traffic comes from on East Lake Road because of all the development there.

    “What was originally a 15-minute ride from Trinity, is at least double during certain times of the day,” Eannel said.

    That’s why she’s interested in a possible widening project.

    Pinellas County is now asking for the state funds to reduce congestion and improve safety, according to the appropriations request.

    East Lake Road is just a four-lane road from Tampa Road to Trinity Boulevard. That’s where a lot of the delays tend to happen.

    Eannel said she feels adding lanes could help — though she’s a bit skeptical.

    “I don’t know if there is a long-term solution. You have a lot of people and a lot of cars,” Eannel said.

    The funding would go to Pinellas County if the Florida Legislature approves it in the state budget. There’s currently no timeline for construction.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • Seeing those black lines in the road? It’s microsurfacing

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — If you’re seeing some mysterious black lines or circles on Pasco County roads — they are there for a reason.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County is now using a process called microsurfacing to repair roads

    • It’s a quicker and cheaper process than full repaving

    • To see if your street is on the list, visit the Pasco County website


    It’s part of a process called microsurfacing, which Pasco County is now using to repair roads.

    “Our strategy in the past is we would mill and pave and then we’d wait 20 to 25 years and then come back and start the process,” said Ainsley Caldwell, a project manager with Pasco County Public Works.

    But now his crew can repair roads faster through a process called microsurfacing.

    “Typically it’s a road that was paved 8 to 10 years ago. And the cracks are beginning to show up,” Caldwell said.

    It starts with crews applying an asphalt sealer into cracks in the roads. That’s those black lines drivers will see.

    Then about 30 days later, crews return to put a new thin layer of asphalt on the road.

    “We have an average of about half an inch thickness. This is why it’s called microsurfacing. It’s not your typical mill and pave, which is usually an inch or inch and a half thick,” Caldwell said.

    Last, the road would be smoothed out, making the road look brand new.

    “We bring in a roller in and smooth everything. It will almost look like it’s paved but it’s not paved,” Caldwell said.

    It all adds up to a quicker and cheaper process than full repaving.

    Caldwell says it can also extend the life of a road five to 10 years.

    To see if your street is on the list, visit the Pasco County website.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • AAA projects another record-breaking holiday travel season for North Carolina

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — It’s the holiday travel season again. Millions of travelers will either travel by car, plane or public transit this Thanksgiving to spend it with their loved ones. 

    What You Need To Know

    • AAA projects we will see an increase of 1.6 million travelers this Thanksgiving 

    • Over 2 million North Carolinians will travel by car

    • Over 100,000 will travel by plane 

    • AAA projects gas prices will be similar to last Thanksgiving at an average $2.87 per gallon


    “There’s going to be a record number of North Carolinians traveling 50 miles or more or less away from home this holiday season,” said Carolina’s Public Affairs Director for AAA Tiffany Wright.  

    And although flights are back to normal after the government shutdown, travelers are still worried about air travel. 

    “There was concern with cancellations and delays. We saw over the last, I would say, week and a half, a lot of people changing their plans because they were nervous. So a lot of people have opted to drive to their destinations versus flying,” Wright said.

    According to AAA’s holiday travel projections, we will see an increase of 1.6 million travelers this Thanksgiving, still making it the busiest traveled holiday of the year. 

    With most travelers taking the roads, we can expect around 73 million Americans traveling by car. That includes over 2 million North Carolinians. AAA also projects over 100,000 North Carolina residents will be traveling by air. Stephanie Hawco with Raleigh-Durham International Airport says skeptical air travelers shouldn’t worry about their holiday travels next week.

    “We’re confident that things will be back to normal in the next week and a half. We really hope that travelers will have a nice, smooth experience here at RDU when they’re traveling to see family and friends next week,” said the media relations director for RDU, Stephanie Hawco.

    Hawco says the airport starts to see traffic pick up the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving. She says make sure to arrive extra early before your flights and you can also book your parking online ahead of time to get the best rate and a guaranteed spot.

    “We did see some ripple effects here at RDU from those flight restrictions with some delays and cancellations, but we feel good about the idea that things will be back to normal next week and everybody will have smooth travels,” Hawco said.

    AAA also projects gas prices will be similar to last Thanksgiving at $2.87 and recommends filling up your tank the night before and checking your battery and tire pressure. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Kennedy Chase

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  • Work continues on the Orange Belt Trail in Pasco County

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Work is moving along on the Orange Belt Trail in Pasco County.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Orange Belt Trail is a planned multi-use trail that will connect with other trails from Trinity to Trilby

    • It’s named for the old Orange Belt Railroad, which ran from St. Petersburg through Pasco County in the 1800s

    • Officials say the design of the western portion along Trinity Boulevard is nearly done, with construction expected to begin next year

    • Pasco County is currently studying how the trail will connect in east Pasco, from U.S. 41 to Dade City


    It’s a planned multi-use trail that will connect with other trails from Trinity to Trilby.

    It’s named for the old Orange Belt Railroad, which ran from St. Petersburg through Pasco County in the 1800s.

    “The Orange Belt Trail began as a concept within the county to see if there was a way we could utilize this amazing corridor that exists,” said project manager Erin Swanson.

    Swanson says the design of the western portion along Trinity Boulevard is nearly done, with construction expected to begin next year.

    Pasco County is also currently studying how the trail will connect in east Pasco, from U.S. 41 to Dade City, where there are several options.

    Map provided by Pasco County

    “When done, it’s going to be amazing,” Swanson said. “It’s going to allow folks to travel through our really great county towns and cities, like San Antonio, St. Leo, Dade City and cycle all the way down to the Trinity area. It’s going to be really nice.”

    The Orange Belt Trail will have connections to the Starkey Trail, Suncoast Trail, Withlacoochee Trail and also to Florida’s Coast to Coast Trail, which could make Pasco County even more of a biking destination.

    Swanson says the study of the eastern connection of the trail should be done next year and the first portion along Trinity Blvd is expected to open in 2027.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • New DMV option allows teens to get provisional license without the long wait

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    SHELBY, N.C. — Teen drivers in North Carolina have a way to take an important step toward getting their license without having to go to the DMV office.

    What You Need To Know

    • Teens trying to advance to a Level 2 limited provisional license can now take their road tests with a certified private driving school
    • At least 25 private driving schools are currently certified in North Carolina
    • The NCDMV says the new initiative aims to lower wait times at driver’s license offices


    The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles announced in October that teens trying to advance to a Level 2 limited provisional license can now do so by taking their road tests with a certified private driving school.

    Safe Lane Driving School in Shelby is one of at least 25 certified schools across the state.

    “Pretty neat to be one of the first schools to be able to give those road tests,” owner Phillip Glover said.

    The recent change made by the state DMV gives teens and parents a choice to skip the DMV office and gives them more flexibility since certified driving schools can do the test on nights and weekends.

    “Also, it gives a relief to the DMV employees, that they don’t have to leave the office and do the work,” Glover said. “And they don’t have to be out of the office for 20 minutes to go do a road test.”

    The NCDMV says the new initiative aims to lower wait times at driver’s license offices.

    The change adds not only convenience but also comfort. Some teens may be able to take what may be a stressful test with a familiar face.

    “Just talking to some of the teens already that have taken the road test through us, the stress level of coming here doesn’t exist for them,” Glover said. “They felt better about [the test].”

    As more people learn about this change, Glover thinks demand will only increase.

    “I think it was a great idea that the commissioner and the governor came up with, thinking outside of the box of how we can improve the DMV for the citizens of North Carolina,” Glover said. “And I think they’re going in the right step.”

    This change comes as the state is making other improvements at the DMV. That includes the sign-in process, which now allows drivers to watch their place in line on their phones and receive a text when it’s their time to come back to the office.

    They’ve also added nearly 65 examiners, thanks to the mini-budget passed by the legislature in the summer.

    A new law also allows eligible North Carolina drivers without a Real ID to renew their licenses online, which a spokesperson with the NCDMV says about 4,000 drivers took advantage of on the first day.

    For a full list of certified driving schools in North Carolina, click here.

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    Nick Buffo

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  • Safety patrollers keep students safe at school drop off

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The AAA School Safety Patrol program is the world’s largest student-led safety initiative. Through the program, kids across the country work to ensure their fellow students safely make it to school and back.

    What You Need To Know

    • AAA School Safety Patrol helps students navigate to and from school

    • Patrollers are key at school drop off and pick up times to keep traffic flowing

    • AAA found the program has been credited with reducing pedestrian injuries among children


    Evangeline Sous is a morning lieutenant in her AAA School Safety Patrol at West Creek Elementary School in Hunters Creek.

    “Usually in school I feel like there’s something missing,” Sous said. “So safety patrolling helps me have more responsibility.”

    One of her responsibilities is taking attendance, making sure other safety patrollers are in their positions during what can be the hectic morning drop-off.

    The morning drop-off and afternoon pickup can lead to backups at just about any school in our area. Safety patrollers like Sous are in charge of keeping the flow of traffic moving.

    “I like to open the door long enough so that they’re in this pavement so that they don’t trip and fall,” Sous said.

    Sous was trained by one of the best. Back in May, Reese Tintle was named the Florida and National Safety Patroller of the Year. The honor helped her transition to middle school this school year.

    “It made me very confident for what I could succeed in this world,” Tintle said.

    AAA reported that more than 679,000 students across the country are members of its safety patrol program.

    While they don’t direct traffic, patrollers help students navigate to and from school.

    “Their visible presence and structured training have been credited by global safety organizations with reducing pedestrian injuries among children aged 5 to 14, the demographic most at risk,” AAA stated in a news release.

    “The safety patrol program is a very integral part of the school,” safety patrol advisor at West Creek Elementary, Keith Johnson, said. “They’re not only used for traffic safety or for the flow of traffic, we also use them when it comes to our delayed dismissals.”

    If there’s bad weather when school lets out, it’s the safety patrollers who help connect students to their parents.

    At West Creek, they have more applicants than positions to fill.

    “They really see it as something that is a valuable part of being in the school,” Johnson said. “They see it as something that gives them responsibility, it gives them a purpose.”

    More than 35,000 schools across the country have a School Safety Patrol program.

    AAA encourages more elementary schools to enroll to make school zones safer.

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    Jerry Hume

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  • Child Passenger Safety Week aims to reduce child deaths on the road

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Child Passenger Safety Week is underway in North Carolina.

    What You Need To Know

    • Recent CDC data shows that 700 kids under 14 years old were killed across the country in 2023
    • Almost half of them were not strapped into their car seat or strapped in correctly
    • The NHTSA says that properly used child restraints reduce deaths by 71% for infants younger than 1 year old


    The awareness campaign runs between Sept. 21-27, and is focused on reducing child deaths on the road.

    It has helped contribute to decreasing the number of kids dying in car crashes by over half since 1975.

    Still, recent data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention shows that 700 kids under the age of 14 were killed across the country in 2023. Nearly half of them were not strapped into their car seat or strapped in correctly, officials say.

    It’s why Carolinas Medical Center, in partnership with Safe Kids Charlotte Mecklenburg, hosts free car seat check events across Charlotte.

    These events give parents an opportunity to make sure their children’s car seats are properly installed.

    Director of Injury Prevention at Carolinas Medical Center Janice Williams says the events are important because while the seats can be installed based on the manufacturer’s instructions, every car has different limitations.

    “Some might let you leave it in the middle seat, some of them, the seats might not be long enough to hold the whole car seat,” Williams said. “We have to help with the compatibility with the child, the seat, the vehicle, and what the parent is going to use correctly every single time.”

    Williams says protecting your child in the car goes beyond the installation of their seat.

    “When the harness is wrong, the child can still move in the crash, and still takes a portion of the injury,” Williams said. “And if they’re small size, that can end up being very severe and life-altering for them.”

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says properly used child restraints reduce deaths by 71% for infants under the age of 1, and 54% for kids between 1 and 4 years old.

    State law requires kids who are under 8 years old and weigh 80 pounds or less to stay in a car seat or booster. Williams, however, recommends using a booster until they’re at least 10 years old.

    It is recommended to follow NHTSA’s car seat recommendations based on your child’s age and size.

    You can use NHTSA’s Car Seat Inspection locator to find a location near you. 

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    Nick Buffo

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  • Widening project on I-275 in Pinellas begins

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A major widening project is now underway on I-275 in Pinellas County.

    What You Need To Know

    • Construction is now beginning on widening project on I-275 in Pinellas

    • New express lanes will be built from 38th Ave N to Gandy Blvd

    • The project is expected to be done in 2030


    It’s part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward initiative, which is to give drivers relief from traffic across the state. 

    This new project on I-275 goes from 38th Ave North to 4th Street North.

    Two express lanes will be built in each direction of I-275, from 38th Ave N to just south of Gandy Blvd. And an additional express lane will be added to the ones that opened on I-275 last year with the Gateway Expressway, from south of Gandy Blvd to 4th Street, making two in both directions in that area.

    FDOT officials say that thanks to the new state funding, construction on the $340 million project will now start sooner.

    “It would’ve been another 8-10 years to get this project to construction had we not had this new funding,” said John McShaffrey, community outreach manager with FDOT. “And with the congestion we have out there, the sooner we can build the new lanes and express lanes, the better for everybody to move traffic through the area more freely.”

    These new express lanes will be tolled lanes. FDOT officials say using the tolled lanes has been successful in reducing traffic in other areas.

    “We’re using express lanes all over the state. It’s an alternative for people. It’s a choice. So if people are willing to pay the extra money to get into the express lanes, they have more consistent and more reliable travel times. But in turn, that also frees up traffic in the general use lanes for everybody else,” McShaffrey said.

    And future plans call for extending those new express lanes to downtown St. Petersburg.

    This project is set to be done in 2030. Drivers will see crews out there now getting it started.

    If you have any questions about this new project, FODT is holding a public workshop about it on Sept. 25 at the PSTA office in St. Petersburg, from 4:30 to 6:30.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • Businesses and drivers navigate through US 19 construction in Pinellas

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Construction continues on an overhaul of U.S. 19 in Pinellas County, north of State Road 580.

    What You Need To Know

    • FDOT continues construction on U.S. 19 between State Road 580 and County Rd 39

    • The project will covert that stretch of U.S. 19 into what’s called a “controlled access roadway”

    • Businesses and drivers have been frustrated by traffic delays

    • The project is expected to be done in 2029


    But the ongoing road work is causing some issues for the many businesses and drivers on that stretch of road.

    When Ean Neville opened Bonsai Beverage Company in Clearwater two years ago, he achieved something he always wanted: Own a local coffee shop near where he grew up.

    “It was a little bit stressful at first. We weren’t sure what to expect,” Neville said.

    That’s because the work on U.S. 19 started just two weeks before he opened his doors for the first time.

    “It was pretty bad for a while as the construction started to ramp up. People just tried to avoid this area at all costs,” Neville said.

    He says those first few months especially were rough.

    FDOT project rendering

    Nearly two years later, he and his customers are now more used to it.

    However, crews shut down the right turn lane from SR-580 to Curlew Road, making it harder to get into his location and other businesses. It’s also caused additional traffic during rush hour.

    “It’s just dangerous. People want to turn into these businesses. They have people flying up from behind them at 80 mph. I’m surprised there are not more accidents,” Neville said.

    The construction is an FDOT project to convert that stretch of U.S. 19 into what’s called a “controlled access roadway,” similar to how U.S. 19 looks south of SR-580.  

    The main lanes of U.S. 19 will be raised. Frontage roads along the side will be used to get to and from the businesses and neighborhoods there.

    The idea is to improve traffic flow in a busy area.

    Neville is hopeful it may help his business when it’s finally done.

    “It will be nice at some point when it’s finished it to have the turnarounds and frontage roads,” Neville said.

    Neville says he’ll have to be patient, as the project won’t be done until 2029.

    The construction on US 19 goes from SR-580 up to County Road 39, which is just north of Curlew Road. When done, the project will also include a new pedestrian overpass and underpass.

    FDOT officials say the construction is on schedule. They also ask that drivers watch out for crews at work, especially during overnight hours.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • EV fast charging expands in North Carolina

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina’s electric vehicle market continues to accelerate.

    What You Need To Know

    • Koulomb recently opened a 12-charging station depot off I-485 in south Charlotte
    • Ionna has set up similar concepts known as “Rechargeries” in Garner and Apex
    • More than 112,000 EVs were registered in North Carolina as of February, according to NCDOT


    More than 112,000 EVs were registered in the state as of February, a nearly 40% increase from the same time last year, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

    As more drivers make the switch to electric, fast-charging networks are expanding across the state.

    Charlotte area-based company, Koulomb, has several fast-charging stations across the Queen City.

    It recently opened a charging depot off I-485 in south Charlotte. It’s equipped with 12 fast-chargers and allows drivers to re-charge their electric vehicles in about 15 minutes under a solar canopy.

    “We can have 12 cars here at once,” Co-founder Jeff Constantineau said. “We haven’t seen that yet, but I imagine that day will come at some point.”

    The site, which looks a bit like a gas station, has been at least two years in the making.

    “It took a long time,” Constantineau said. “But there was a lot of work to be done here, and we pride ourselves in quality and we have to do the job right.”

    Constantineau says the location helps accelerate the company’s goal to settle EV owners’ worries about driving long distances, otherwise known as “range anxiety.”

    “This is a in-a-pinch solution,” Constantineau said. “Eighty percent of charging should be done at the home and in the garage. This 20% solution is really to fill that gap and provide customers more confidence to buy the EV and take the extra step.”

    He admits not every driver has access to a charger at home or at work. And as of February, there are just under 2,000 public charging stations across North Carolina, not including Tesla chargers, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

    “The technology is constantly improving,” Constantineau said. “Right now, we’re just throwing a pretty big band aid on a problem that’s occurring in the Southwest.”

    On the other side of the state, Ionna, which is a partnership between eight of the world’s top automakers, has set up similar concepts known as “Rechargeries” in Garner and Apex.

    The expansion of charging networks in North Carolina comes as President Donald Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” will end a $7,500 federal EV tax credit at the end of September.

    Constantineau says he’s uncertain about the impact that will have on his business.

    “We got involved in this business because drive EVs, and we just believe it to be the better technology,” Constantineau said. “It’s more fun to drive. They don’t break down, the cost of ownership is super low… we believe in the technology.”

    Constantineau says they’re showing no sign of pumping the brakes on expanding their charging network across the state.

    “We’re going to build two more [depots],” Constantineau said. “I think we’ll build another two that aren’t depots, that are just kind of four spaces, and then we’ll probably pause for a little while and just watch customer feedback.”

    Koulomb currently has nine charging stations across the southeast U.S., including North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia.

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    Nick Buffo

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  • Haines City could be the next stop added to FDOT’s SunRail project

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    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.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • North Carolina gets its first electric plane charger

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    SANFORD, N.C. — North Carolina now has its very first EV charger for planes.

    What You Need To Know

    • The state’s first electric aviation charger has been installed 

    • It is at the Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford

    • It takes about an hour to charge

    • A plane can fly a distance 250-300 miles before needing to charge again, according to officials


    Fully charging the plane takes about an hour, during which time you can hear the quiet hum of the charging system.

    It can then fly a distance of 250-300 miles before needing to charge up again. 

    “I think the future is here,” said Bob Heuts, director of the Raleigh Executive Jetport. “It’s certainly here at Raleigh Executive. It will be at other airports across the state and around the country. There’s no doubt about it.”

    He said he anticipates a significant rise in the number of electric aviation chargers installed across the state soon, envisioning a network of charging stations to support the growing electric aircraft industry.


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    Amy Elliott

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  • Traffic delays build as SR 54 project continues in Pasco

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    LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — Drivers can expect delays for the next several weeks on a busy stretch of State Road 54 in Pasco County.

    What You Need To Know

    • FDOT has daytime lane closures on State Road 54 eastbound after U.S. 41

    • Drivers can expect up to two lane closures there during the day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday

    • Crews are fixing voids in the road

    • Closures are scheduled up to Memorial Day weekend


    The Florida Department of Transportation started a project this week on State Road 54 eastbound just after U.S. 41.

    Drivers can expect up to two lane closures there during the day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

    FDOT officials say this work needs to be done during the day.

    While crews were recently resurfacing the pavement, they found voids under the road — basically empty spaces — that need to be fixed to keep the road in good shape.

    A traffic back up on State Road 54 in Pasco County. (Sky 9)

    FDOT spokesman John McShaffrey says the voids are filled by injecting grout into them, and that process needs to be done during the day.  

    “They can’t deliver that kind of material with reliability in the overnight hours,” McShaffrey said. “So in order for us to get the job done, we need to do, we just have to keep going as soon as we start the process.” 

    Officials say they have the daily closures scheduled up to Memorial Day weekend.

    Crews will then re-assess if any further closures are needed.

    In the meantime, FDOT is reminding drivers to expect delays on eastbound State Road 54 and for drivers turning east on 54 from U.S. 41.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • FDOT studying plans to redesign I-175 in St. Petersburg

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    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.

    These are all reasons a 2022 City of St. Petersburg mobility study recommended a reconfiguration of the interstate.

    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.

    Since the road is managed by FDOT, the agency is now building on that study to look at what the future of I-175 could be.

    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.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • Innovative traffic tech now monitors some Pasco roads

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A new form of technology is being used by Pasco County Transportation engineers to better gauge traffic volumes.

    What You Need To Know

    • New technology is being used by the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization to better gauge traffic volumes on busy roads

    • It’s part of a new grant with Marlin Engineering, monitoring traffic so that engineers and planners can learn how to make roads safer

    • Intersections along the U.S. 19 corridor are being monitored, helping hone in on near misses

    • The county is also using AI to distinguish between scooters, e-bikes and pedestrians with data used to count how many pass through an intersection


    It’s also helping hone in on near misses on some key roads, leading the way to safer roadways.

    At a busy intersection on U.S. 19 stands a new cutting-edge camera looking down on traffic below.

    “It’s making our intersections safer for our citizens to cross,” said Tania Gorman, executive director of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

    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.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Work ramps up on new I-4 lanes between Tampa and Orlando

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Construction is now ramping up on a project to help with traffic congestion on I-4 between Tampa and Orlando.

    What You Need To Know

    • Work is now ramping up to relieve congestion on I-4 between Tampa and Orlando

    • Two new lanes will be built east of U.S. 27 in Polk County to east of World Drive in Osceola County

    • It’s the start of a larger plan known as “Moving I-4 Forward” to improve congestion and safety on I-4 through Central Florida  


    It’s part of the “Moving Florida Forward” plan that was announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis last June to help improve safety and congestion on major roadways around the state.

    Part of that bigger plan is “Moving I-4 Forward,” which is made up of five major projects to improve traffic on I-4 in Central Florida.

    The first part of that is now underway, which the Florida Department of Transportation is calling the “Accelerated Start.” Two new lanes are being built from east of U.S. 27 in Polk County to east of World Drive in Osceola County, one in each direction.

    The goal is to have these two new lanes open by the end of the year.

    According to FDOT, that 7.5 mile section of I-4 sees an average of 140,000 cars per day.

    Once the lanes are open, work will begin on widening entrance and exit ramps at the ChampionsGate interchange, an area that sees constant congestion.

    And that is all just the beginning.

    While drivers may see relief later this year with the new lanes, FDOT is starting five other projects on I-4 from Polk County to Orange County. That includes widening I-4 from 6 lanes to 12 in some of those areas, plus new interchange ramps and connections.

    That work will happen over the next several years.

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    Tim Wronka

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