ReportWire

Tag: Jerry Hume

  • Roundabout coming to problematic Mount Dora intersection

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    MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Changes are coming to a Mount Dora intersection that has been a source of confusion for drivers.

    In 2008, the intersection where Old Highway 441 meets Eudora Road and County Road 19A received an F grade for level of service.

    “It’s not a traditional intersection and I think that’s what makes it the most confusing for people,” said Allison Hartog from Set in Stone Monuments, a business located at the intersection.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Lake County investigation found that crashes are common at the intersection of Old Highway 441, Eudora Road and County Road 19A in Mount Dora

    • County leaders have approved a roundabout for the intersection

    • A county spokesperson says work will begin this winter


    Hartog’s family started the business at the beginning of the year.

    From the business’ front window, she spots drivers going every which way at Old Highway 441, Eudora Road and County Road 19A.

    Lake County found that from August 2020 to August 2025, there were 64 crashes at or near the intersection.

    “There are quite a few accidents here, and I think it’s just because people don’t realize which direction traffic is coming from because it’s so many different directions,” Hartog said.

    That’s why in July, Lake County Commissioners approved a single-lane roundabout that would connect Old Highway 441, Eudora Road and County Road 19A, to increase capacity through the intersection and reduce the number of crashes.

    According to a county spokesperson, construction should begin this winter.

    “It’s needed,” Hartog said of the project. “The community is growing, the traffic is getting busier. A lot of people don’t like the roundabouts, but I think at this particular intersection it’s going to be a great solution to the problem.”

    The project totals just over $8 million, with $1.3 million coming from the city of Mount Dora, $1.7 million from grant funding and the rest, $5 million, coming from Lake County.

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    Jerry Hume

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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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  • Brevard resident calls for turn lane at Viera Boulevard-Murrell intersection

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    VIERA, Fla. — A Brevard County resident says traffic on westbound Viera Boulevard at the Murrell Road intersection backs up and a westbound right turn lane is needed.

    What You Need To Know

    • Backups are common at the westbound Viera Boulevard at Murrell Road intersection, Brevard County resident Paul Lewis says

    • Lewis says a westbound right turn lane is needed to reduce backups

    • Brevard County is studying the possibility of a dedicated westbound right-turn lane on Viera Boulevard

    • Brevard County is also considering an adjustment to the signal timing at the intersection


    “When it’s really congested and a busy time of the day, traffic can get backed up considerably to the east on Viera Boulevard,” said Grand Isle community resident Paul Lewis.

    Every direction, except westbound Viera Boulevard, has a right-turn lane.

    Without the lane at the red light, drivers looking to make a right get stuck behind those that need to go through the intersection.

    Lewis also says when drivers travel southbound on Murrell Road and look to turn left onto Viera Boulevard, he has to wait a while before he can clear the intersection.

    “This red light, red arrow, only stays on a very short period of time,” he said. “And at times, I have seen only five cars be able to make the turn before it turns to yellow.”

    The Brevard County public works director says traffic officials are studying possible upgrades at the intersection, including a dedicated westbound right-turn lane.

    County officials also said they will review signal timing to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently, but that study won’t be completed until spring 2026.

    “It’s going to take a lot of planning and a lot more configuration, adjustment of lights, but the traffic is going to get heavier,” Lewis said.

    Neither design nor construction is currently funded.

    To report a traffic trouble spot or a road-related situation, complete the Traffic Inbox form on the website or app.

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    Jerry Hume

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  • Public hearings set for Poinciana’s Southport Connector Expressway

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    POINCIANA, Fla. — Three public hearings will take place next week on the Southport Connector Expressway, called the “Great Wall of Poinciana” by some. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Public hearings are set for Sept. 16, 17 and 18 regarding the Southport Connector Expressway

    • Central Florida Expressway Authority says the elevated toll road would reduce congestion in Poinciana

    • Critics argue the toll road, built in the median of Cypress Pkwy, would split Poinciana in half


    The Central Florida Expressway Authority will hold public hearings on the Project Development and Environment study on Sept. 16, 17 and 18.

    Poinciana drivers have some of the worst commute times in the nation.

    “It was pretty bad when we first moved here. It has gotten much worse since then,” said Keith Laytham, a resident of Poinciana’s Solivita 55+ community for 17 years.

    The expressway authority said traffic on Cypress Parkway has increased 25% in the past 5 years, and they expect it to increase another 29% in the next 25 years.

    “Cypress Parkway is very heavily congested,” said Laytham.

    That is why early on, Laytham supported the Southport Connector Expressway, an elevated toll road built in the median of Cypress Parkway.

    “Right in the middle of the lanes here,” Laytham explained. “But the best part would be (it would) overpass all of the traffic lights at the intersections.”

    The expressway authority’s Southport Connector Expressway would stretch from Poinciana Parkway through Poinciana, below Lake Toho and over to Florida’s Turnpike.

    However, some residents aren’t for the plan, including Lita Epstein.

    “There’s no question that it’s going to divide the community,” said Epstein.

    Epstein started a group urging for an alternate route, concerned an elevated expressway down the middle of the community would split Poinciana in half.

    “There really is not much choice for Poinciana,” she said. “Poinciana has no alternative.”

    When it became apparent that officials would not consider an alternate route, Epstein pushed for this project to include more benefits for residents of Poinciana.

    Instead of building a wall down the middle of Cypress Parkway for the elevated toll road, the expressway authority agreed to make some of it a bridge-like structure.

    “It won’t be as much of a wall. The Great Wall of Poinciana won’t exist for most of the community,” said Epstein.

    Another big victory, according to Epstein, is the expressway authority agreeing to widen Cypress Parkway, so that local traffic not on the new toll road will have six lanes instead of four.

    There are still others who think the Southport Connector Expressway won’t benefit local drivers, the widened Cypress Parkway will have narrow lanes, and the construction will affect businesses and the environment.

    But Epstein and Laytham see more eye-to-eye now, agreeing something has to be done to tackle the crushing congestion in Poinciana.

    “We can’t go with the no-build alternative, leaving traffic conditions as they are,” said Epstein. “No, because it’s a parking lot already,” Laytham added.

    Here is information on the three public hearings:

    • Liberty High School
      • 4250 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee, FL
      • Tuesday, Sept. 16
      • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
    • Virtual
      • Wednesday, Sept. 17
      • 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
      • Register here
    • Poinciana Community Center
      • 445 Marigold Avenue, Poinciana, FL
      • Thursday, Sept. 18
      • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
    • Anthony DePalma Center
      • 395 Marigold Avenue, Poinciana, FL
      • Thursday, Sept. 18
      • 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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    Jerry Hume

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  • Aloma Park resident frustrated over drivers blocking entrance to neighborhood

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    WINTER PARK, Fla. — Drivers who seem like they are ignoring traffic signs off Aloma Avenue in Seminole County are causing concern and frustration for one Aloma Park resident. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Chris Hill says drivers ignore the ‘Do Not Block Intersection’ sign at the intersection of Aloma Avenue and Shale Court

    • Hill says a white X needs to be added to the pavement on Aloma Avenue to further emphasize drivers shouldn’t block the intersection

    • Florida Department of Transportation officials say there are plans to start a corridor study of Aloma Avenue soon


    Chris Hill said it’s difficult to get to and from his neighborhood off Aloma Avenue.

    “I have to sit here and wait to get in my own housing development,” he said.

    Hill lives off Shade Court, near where Aloma Avenue meets Howell Branch Road and Hall Road.

    It’s a busy spot where traffic gets backed up.

    “Sometimes the traffic will be backed up around the corner trying to get through this light,” he said.

    Even though there’s a sign that warns drivers not to block the intersection at Shale Court, Hill said they still do.

    He said he would like to see crews paint a white X on the pavement of Aloma Avenue at Shale Court to further emphasize that drivers should not block the intersection.

    He says it’s not just drivers ignoring signs — cyclists on the Cross Seminole Trail are also not stopping when he’s trying to pull onto Aloma Avenue from Shale Court.

    “As you see right there, there’s a stop sign. On the other side right there, there’s a stop sign,” Hill said. “They’re supposed to stop right here before they go through here, but they don’t.”

    Spectrum News reached out to the Florida Department of Transportation about the issue.

    FDOT spokesperson Tim Freed said the agency is planning to start a corridor study of Aloma Avenue, also known as State Road 426, from Howell Branch Road to Dean Road in the coming weeks.

    The study will look at improving safety and traffic efficiency along the roadway, including at Shale Court and the Cross Seminole Trail.

    “Somebody’s going to get killed, and when they get killed, somebody’s gonna be screaming bloody murder, and I’ll be like, ‘Hold on, time out. You didn’t listen to me when I told you. You have a problem,’” Hill said.

    Until something is done, Hill said he plans to use his online radio program, which he does from the patio of his house, to advocate for safety improvements.

    Do you have a traffic trouble spot? Or maybe a solution to a road-related problem? Tell us about it here.

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    Jerry Hume

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  • Why won’t Orange County open a connection road to Lake County?

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    LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A single barrier is all that prevents Lake County drivers from cutting their commutes to Walt Disney World in half.

    What You Need To Know

    • Deborah Running says her drive to Disney from her Lake County home would be cut in half if she were able to access Flemings Road

    • Orange County placed a barrier to block Sawgrass Bay Boulevard from Flemings Road

    • Orange County says they’re waiting for a developer to make Flemings Road a four-lane road to handle the anticipated traffic

    • The road should be completed by Nov. 30, 2026, per Orange County


    Deborah Running says if Sawgrass Bay Boulevard in Lake County were open to Flemings Road in Orange County, it would cut down on drive times considerably.

    Right now she has to take US-27 to US-192 and then up to Avalon Road to access Western Way and the back entrance to Disney World.

    “That would take 35 minutes, maybe 40-45,” Running explained. “If I went this way it would take about 15 to get to the same spot.”

    This way is the end of Sawgrass Bay Boulevard where a newly constructed cul-de-sac from Lake County is located.

    Off the cul-de-sac is a road with a barrier. On the other side of the barrier is Flemings Road, which provides access to Western Way and Disney.

    “It does not make sense. It’s a road that exists. It connects Lake County to Orange County, and it could cut people’s drive times in half,” said Running.

    Orange County put up the barrier, preventing drivers from traveling between the two counties.

    A year ago we told you what drivers would do: go off-road to cut through to Disney.

    While not as commonplace now, people will still do it to cut their drive time in half.

    “It could definitely be connected if Orange County would just agree to do it,” said Running.

    Orange County does plan to remove the barrier, but city leaders are waiting for a developer to make Flemings Road a four-lane road that can handle the anticipated traffic.

    We obtained a study for Orange County that found if no truck traffic was allowed, Flemings Road could handle the local traffic from Lake County for the next 10 years.

    But Orange County’s manager of the transportation planning division said opening the road during construction would cost more, and could take longer to construct.

    Orange County recently updated its estimated construction completion forecast from Jan. 1, 2026, to Nov. 30, 2026, another setback for Running.

    “Disappointed and a little angry,” said Running.

    Running is part of a group, Connect 2025, hoping to keep Orange County’s promise to open the road up to Lake County.

    The group Connect 2025 says the biggest people to benefit from the connection are the service workers living in Lake County, but working at Disney and the attractions area.

    They say that opening the connection would have economic and environmental benefits.

    If you’ve got a traffic trouble spot, please fill out the form here.

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    Jerry Hume

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  • FAA hears concerns over Starship plans at Kennedy Space Center

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    CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX is looking to bring its Starship operations to Brevard County very soon.

    But launches and landings at the Kennedy Space Center could restrict public access to Playalinda Beach for at least 60 days out of the year.

    That’s why the Federal Aviation Administration is seeking input from the community after concerns have come to light.

    The agency began a series of meetings on Tuesday to give residents an opportunity to voice their concerns to FAA officials.  

    What You Need To Know

    • Space X’s Starship plans to expand operations to Brevard County soon

    • Some Brevard residents expressed concerns over the expansion of restricted zones for rocket launches

    • Such restrictions could lead to the closure of Playalinda Beach for at least 60 days out of the year

    • The FAA is holding a series of public meetings to gather community input on these ongoing plans


    SpaceX plans to launch Starship-Super Heavy 44 times a year from from pad 39A, and the FAA is reviewing many factors, like the environmental impacts to the noise level. (Starship is the spacecraft, while the Super Heavy is the rocket booster. When they are stacked together, they are collectively called Starship.)

    Community members like Robyn Memphis are concerned about SpaceX’s latest operations, given that the FAA is planning for the potential closure of Playalinda Beach for at least 60 days out of the year.

    “If you look at 60 days out of 365 days a year, that’s quite a few days of closures,” she said.

    More than two weeks ago, Memphis created a Change.org petition over how the restrictions are applied. It already has more than 3,100 signatures.

    “This isn’t a fixed amount of days that they’re proposing as, of course, we understand knowing things about rockets that it could be a lot more and is likely to be a lot more, and to go off of that, essentially the biggest concern there that arose is they aren’t necessarily citing safety as the issue for these closures. They largely chalk it up as logistical factors,” said Memphis, a Brevard County resident and avid beachgoer to Playalinda Beach.

    She said the community deserves more transparency regarding those logistical factors and what those entail regarding safety.

    In the draft of its 50-page Environmental Impact Statement, the FAA stated, “The actual duration of a closure associated with publicly accessible areas may be longer due to logistical aspects.”

    Launch scrubs and weather delays could also affect those beach closures, according to the FAA.

    Neither SpaceX nor the FAA can quantify how many days that would account for yet.

    The FAA warns the launches and landings would also have a major impact on air travel, to make sure airplanes don’t encounter any hazards during a SpaceX mission.

    “The average expected flight delay for launches would last approximately 40 minutes and could last up to 2 hours,” according to the FAA impact statement.

    Starship’s reentry over the Florida peninsula, the FAA found, could cause not only flight delays and re-routes, but also ground stops at multiple airports, including Orlando and Tampa International airports. That’s concerning to Titusville’s Susan Adair, who attended Tuesday’s meeting near the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

    “What’s going to happen to the tourism system in Florida coming in or other things? They’re going to be delayed from what I’m gathering or the potential to be delayed for quite a while,” said Adair.

    Then there are noise and vibration concerns.

    “The likelihood of people exposed to noise being awakened indoors would be as high 82 percent during late-night operations,” according to the FAA impact statement.

    Another meeting attendee, Barbara Evans, lives on the Indian River Lagoon across from the space center. Evans is used to her house vibrating during launches, but the frequency of Starship has her worried.

    “There’s the sonic booms in the middle night, I was awakened the other night, everybody was, they heard (the sonic boom) in Winter Park I was told,” Evans said.

    Her primary concern, however, is Playalinda Beach, a battle that she and her late-husband fought before, in the 1980s.

    “We are for the space industry,” she said, “(It) brings a lot of jobs here, it brings a lot of education to the world, we just need to coexist. It doesn’t need to be either or. NASA built us a road once, set a precedent, they can do it again”

    Two additional in-person meetings will take place at the same times on Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Radisson Conference Center in Cape Canaveral.

    A virtual meeting will also take place on Wednesday, Sept 3.

    Community members will have the opportunity to speak for 3 minutes each to share their concerns about the ongoing plans for Starship.

    • Thursday, August 28, 2025
      • 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 
      • Radisson Conference Center, Grande Caribbean
      • 8701 Astronaut Boulevard, Cape Canaveral
    • Wednesday, September 3, 2025
      • 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 
      • Virtual via Zoom webinar
      • FAA’s website has details on accessing the webinar

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    Sasha Teman, Jerry Hume

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  • Popular pedestrian bridge in Seminole reopens after rehabbing safety concerns

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    WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — A popular pedestrian bridge has reopened ahead of schedule in Winter Springs after being closed for construction since the end of April.

    What You Need To Know

    • Seminole County closed the pedestrian bridge for the Seminole Cross Trail over State Road 434 at the end of April

    • According to information from Seminole County, the bridge was closed on April 28 and wasn’t expected to reopen for 150 days
    • A county spokesperson said the bridge was closed for a critical safety rehabilitation project

    • The pedestrian bridge has reopened ahead of schedule, despite some electronic signs that still need to be installed


    Christina Watts uses the pedestrian bridge to cross over State Road 434 to continue running on the Seminole Cross Trail.

    “I was surprised it’s been closed for a little bit,” Watts said. “I figured it would be open for us to be able to get to the nicer end of the trail, where it’s more shaded, and to finish off my run.”

    According to information from Seminole County, the bridge was closed on April 28 and wasn’t expected to reopen for 150 days.

    Watts said it was frustrating to find the bridge closed without any explanation.

    “We don’t know why it’s closed, and it’s confusing because this is the route we like to take for our runs,” Watts said.

    During the closure, Watts had to change her routes, stopping and turning around at SR-434, fearful of crossing four lanes of busy traffic.

    “There’s no crosswalk,” Watts said. “There’s not even a light to take you across.”

    A Seminole County spokesperson said the bridge was closed for a critical safety rehabilitation project, which included fixing slab cracks, resurfacing the deck and removing equestrian tiles and railings that separated the equestrian trail.

    Bike calming features were also a part of the project, the spokesperson said.

    “I think it’s great that they are rehabilitating the bridge,” Watts said. “However, it would be nice if maybe they would have done one side at a time or left an area for runners to get across.”

    For safety reasons, the entire bridge had to be closed until the end of construction, according to the county spokesperson.

    About a week ago, the bridge reopened ahead of schedule.

    “It’s really important that we’re able to come on the trail and run in the mornings, and run in a safe place where there’s not a lot of cars,” Watts said.

    Some electronic signs still need to be installed, but when they arrive from back order, county officials say crews won’t have to close the bridge.

    Seminole County monitors and maintains 83 bridge structures, and a recent inspection found the problems that resulted in the Cross Seminole Trail rehabilitation project.

    If you’ve got a traffic trouble spot or question, complete the form on the Traffic Inbox page.

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    Jerry Hume

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  • SunRail marks 10 years with expansion on the horizon

    SunRail marks 10 years with expansion on the horizon

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — SunRail marks 10 years of service on May 1, as the commuter rail line looks to a future of expansion and changes.

    What You Need To Know

    • Since SunRail service began 10 years ago, there have been more than 9.6 million riders

    • DeLand SunRail station to open this summer

    • Plans underway to extend SunRail to Orlando International Airport, convention center & Disney

    • Polk County is studying extending SunRail to Haines City

    The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) found that since service began in 2014, SunRail has served more than 9,650,000 riders.

    It is currently in its third year of double-digit ridership increases since the pandemic.

    The pandemic did bring a big hit to SunRail’s growth as a slew of people transitioned to working from home.

    “It’s clean, efficient, it’s cheap — I can’t say enough about it,” said Kevin Lawrenson, a retiree from Maitland.

    Lawrenson and his wife, Carma, take SunRail whenever they have business in downtown Orlando, or want to do some shopping or exploring at the other stops along the 49 miles of track from DeBary to Poinciana.

    “Taking the SunRail is the easiest way to go because there’s literally no parking downtown whatsoever,” Lawrenson said.

    Work is underway to extend SunRail another 12.2 miles to the north, to the new DeLand station, which is set to open this summer.

    After 10 years of operating SunRail, FDOT will hand over the reins at the beginning of next year to the five local funding partners: the city of Orlando and Osceola, Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties.

    They’ll be responsible for the estimated $50 million to $65 million deficit to operate SunRail annually.

    “No rail pays for itself, so we all understood that’s what’s going to occur,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

    Dyer says the city will be responsible for more than $15 million.

    Despite the financial challenges, Dyer has been one of the biggest champions for SunRail.

    Before he finishes his final term in office, he wants to see construction begin on a connection to Orlando International Airport.

    “The estimates are the piece to the airport will triple the ridership and we’ll have to go seven days a week, longer hours as well, so I think that’s the critical piece, getting to the airport,” said Dyer.

    Just last week FDOT released a study detailing plans to connect SunRail to Orlando International Airport in the east with the Orange County Convention Center, South International Drive and Disney Springs to the west.

    It’s called the Sunshine Corridor.

    If just the connection to the airport was made, FDOT found 3.7 million people would ride on SunRail. Currently, a million people ride SunRail each year.

    If the entire Sunshine Corridor were built, SunRail would see 6.4 million riders. The cost to build the entire project is estimated to be $3.1 billion to $4.4 billion.

    Funding would depend on federal, state and local governments, along with private partners like Brightline and the theme parks.

    Brightline wants to use the tracks as they have plans to connect Orlando International Airport to Tampa.

    Universal Orlando has offered up land for a station near the convention center and its new Epic Universe theme park.

    Orange County approved a new special district last year tied to Universal’s proposed SunRail station.

    After a planned Brightline stop at Disney was nixed, Walt Disney World told Spectrum News a SunRail stop is a possibility.

    “We have long been open to discussions around the proposed SunRail expansion to Disney Springs and have been engaged with state and community leaders on the topic,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement to Spectrum News.

    Next up for Sunshine Corridor are meetings between FDOT, local leaders and the Federal Transit Administration. A $5 million to $6 million project development and environment study is also on the horizon.

    Polk County is also working with FDOT to look at extending SunRail, from where it currently ends in Poinciana.

    Currently, FDOT is in the process of hiring a consultant firm to lead an expansion study for the first phase, which would connect Poinciana to Haines City.

    Lawrenson is excited about the future of SunRail.

    As someone that tries to avoid I-4, getting to the antique store in Kissimmee may have been less desirable if he had to drive on the Interstate.

    “We most probably wouldn’t have come down here without SunRail,” Lawrenson said. “It’s just so convent for us.”

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    Jerry Hume

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