INVERNESS, Fla. — A recent study shows that Citrus County is behind when it comes to road repairs.
What You Need To Know
According to a recent study, Citrus County is behind when it comes to road repairs
About 600 miles of roadway are classified as very poor, with another 350 miles in poor condition
Data has been collected by a new software developed by engineering consultant Mott McDonald, showing the county is carrying a road repair backlog of more than $700 million
About 600 miles of roadway are classified as very poor, with another 350 miles in poor condition. But plans are being made within local government to make necessary repairs.
“I’m just glad that they’re paying attention to Beverly Hills, in general,” said Ashanti Negron.
For 11 years, Negron has called Beverly Hills home. It’s also where she owns her salon, Bobbi Pinz.
“In the last three years since COVID, people have been migrating here in droves,” said Negron. “People are moving from South Florida, they move from up north, so we have more traffic.”
That traffic, she says, is noticeable from outside her shop. With the local roadways taking a beating.
For 11 years, Ashanti Negron has called Beverly Hills home. She has noticed the traffic and road issues. (Spectrum News/Calvin Lewis)
“Some of these side roads really get neglected,” Negron said. “What happens is you get big fissures in the side. The main road looks nice and everything’s done new. But then you go off into the side street and if that’s where your house is, then you’ve got a dip. It would be nice if they went into that a little more.”
Negron is not the only one noticing, either.
Citrus County recently completed a road study. It analyzed data collected by new software developed by engineering consultant Mott McDonald.
Citrus County maintains 1,844 paved miles of road every year. That data shows almost 600 miles of roads are classified as very poor. Another 350 miles fall into the poor category.
“The roads don’t seem bad when you’re driving through the county,” said Citrus County Commissioner and Chair Diana Finegan. “But when you get into some of our residential areas, you’ll find that much road work is needed.”
Finegan says repairs are already being made. This new software, she says, will also be accessible to residents to see which roads may be next on the list.
“They’ll be able to go online, look at how much money the board has put aside for regular servicing for the year and they can see which roads are coming up,” she says.
It’s good news for residents like Negron, who says she embraces the repairs and the traffic that may come with it.
“It’ll be good,” she said. “And more people is always better, to me. But I did grow up in Manhattan!”
The recent data shows the county is carrying a road repair backlog of more than $700 million. Funding, Finegan says, will be coming from the American Rescue Plan Act.
TAMPA, Fla. — Drivers traveling through Downtown Tampa should prepare for major overnight detours as crews will close all westbound lanes of Interstate 4 at the I-275 interchange.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the closure will begin at 10 p.m. Wednesday night and is expected to reopen by Thursday morning.
The closure will allow crews to safely install large overhead signs as part of the Downtown Tampa Interchange Safety and Operational Improvements Project.
FDOT officials say installing the signs requires a full closure of westbound I-4.
Detours Through Downtown Tampa
The closure will impact drivers attempting to access I-275 northbound and southbound from I-4. During the shutdown, motorists will be routed off the interstate and through Downtown Tampa using the Selmon Connector.
Drivers are urged to follow posted detour signs and allow extra travel time.
FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson acknowledged the inconvenience but said the work marks one of the final major steps before improvements begin to benefit drivers.
“After this big major detour, we have some ramps that will be opening in the next few weeks, so there are some things that will be alleviated very soon,” Carson said.
🚧 Westbound I-4 Closure 🚧
A temporary closure of all westbound I-4 travel lanes through the Downtown Tampa Interchange (I-4/I-275) will occur from 10 p.m., Wednesday, January 7, to 5 a.m., Thursday, January 8, weather permitting.
— FDOT West Central – Tampa Area (@MyFDOT_Tampa) January 5, 2026
FDOT is reminding drivers to slow down and stay alert while traveling through the construction zone, especially overnight when closures may catch some motorists off guard.
Officials also say this may not be the last disruption. While the current closure is temporary, sporadic overnight impacts could continue at various times into 2026 as construction progresses. The entire interchange improvement project is currently scheduled for completion in 2027.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and check traffic conditions before heading out.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Relief is on the way for drivers frustrated with the road conditions of State Road 37.
What You Need To Know
Drivers are concerned with the road condition of SR-37 from Mulberry to Lakeland
Traffic has gotten busier on the state road as Polk County has grown in population
FDOT says that an improvement project on SR-37 is starting
Mulberry resident David Downs has been asking for repairs to the road for years.
“It’s all coming apart,” Downs said. “The road is coming apart. There are places where it’s gone.”
SR-37 is known as North Church Avenue in Mulberry and South Florida Avenue in Lakeland. Traffic has gotten busier on the state road as Polk County has grown in population.
Downs says ruts in the road have been a consistent issue on SR-37 from Mulberry up to Lakeland.
“The ruts make it hard to travel. The steering in your car – you get pulled different ways,” Downs said.
Downs reached out to Real Time Traffic Expert Tim Wronka for help, who found out from the Florida Department of Transportation that an improvement project on SR-37 is now happening.
FDOT officials say the project started Sunday night. The plan is to improve the quality of SR-37 by milling the top layer of asphalt and repaving the road and side street entrances. Rumble stripes will also be installed along the edge lines for safety.
FDOT says most of the work will take place at night to minimize traffic impacts.
Downs is hopeful it will lead to a smoother ride.
“It’s been getting worse and worse. It’s something that needs to be addressed,” Downs said.
TAMPA, Fla. — Many people who have autism are still able to drive, including Eric Kaiser. However, stressful situations, like being pulled over by police, can make him uncomfortable.
What You Need To Know
Blue Peace Envelopes provides information to officers about drivers with autism
It includes the driver’s license, emergency contacts, tells an officer if the driver is verbal or non-verbal, and more
Eric Kaiser said the envelope could make traffic stops less stressful for drivers like him
He hopes the Florida Legislature passes a new law that will allow for the use of a Blue Peace Envelope.
“It’s just to give that sense of calm in a tense situation,” he said.
The envelope includes a copy of one’s license, emergency contacts, tells an officer if the driver is verbal or non-verbal and more.
Kaiser said this lets an officer immediately know more about a person on the spectrum.
“Some people just freeze up. They don’t talk. They can’t talk,” Kaiser said. “Some of us would rather just write stuff down.”
Tampa Councilman Luis Viera said he met Kaiser through their Autism Awareness Program.
After learning about the program from Kaiser and seeing similar programs in other states, he’s throwing his support behind the legislation.
“If it’s not obvious to the person that you have a disability, it can lead to misunderstandings in all areas of life, including with law enforcement,” he said.
The Tampa Police Department said it doesn’t comment on pending legislation.
Still, they shared this statement:
“We remain committed to a proactive approach in building strong, supportive partnerships with our community and providing officers with the tools and information necessary to interact safely and effectively with all residents.
Traffic on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena will be replaced by barbecues, folding chairs and coolers starting Wednesday night ahead of the 137th Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day.
That means road closures, traffic congestion and lots of people. A forecast of rain is adding another layer of complexity for campers and parade-goers.
Before the petals hit the metal, here’s what you should know:
Street closures
The 5.5-mile parade route begins on Orange Grove Boulevard, then turns east onto Colorado for the bulk of the trek before ending at Sierra Madre Boulevard.
Street closures will begin at 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and roadways will reopen at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Day:
Officials will block traffic on Colorado, the main leg of the parade route.
All north-south roads intersecting the route between Del Mar Boulevard and the 210 Freeway also will be closed to traffic over that time period.
Sierra Madre Boulevard will be closed to southbound traffic for the duration.
A midnight 5K race will add another layer of overnight restrictions.
Beginning at 11 p.m. Wednesday, cross-traffic will be shut down at multiple intersections between Pasadena and Hill avenues, including El Molino, Fair Oaks, Marengo, Los Robles, Lake and Wilson avenues. Those intersections will reopen once the race concludes.
Race staging will begin even earlier. Streets along Colorado Boulevard from St. John Avenue to De Lacey Avenue, and from Marengo Avenue to Euclid Avenue, will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Getting to the parade
The parade kicks off at 8 a.m. and runs for two hours.
Officials recommend avoiding driving to the event. Metro’s A Line (Gold) runs along the parade route and provides access to multiple viewing areas.
For those who do drive, plan to get there early. Campers and overnight spectators will set up on sidewalks along the parade route beginning Wednesday morning. The Pasadena Department of Transportation “strongly” advises parade-goers park before 6 a.m. the day of the event. Rose Bowl parking can be pre-purchased.
Drivers trying to get around the closures are encouraged to use Walnut Street or the 210 Freeway for east-west travel north of Colorado Boulevard, and Del Mar Boulevard or Cordova Street to the south. The 134 Freeway is also an option.
For information on towed vehicles on New Year’s Day, call (626) 577-6426 between 5 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Thursday.
Rules of the road
Rain is expected for this year’s Rose Parade, but umbrellas are not permitted along the parade route because they block the view for others. Wear a rain rain jacket or poncho instead.
Camping is permitted along the parade route beginning Wednesday. All items, including blankets, chairs and bags, must remain on the curb until 11 p.m.
After that time, spectators may move forward to the blue “honor line” chalked on the road but not beyond it.
Tents, bonfires and fireworks are not allowed.
With temperatures dipping, campers are urged to use weather-rated sleeping bags. Small, professionally manufactured barbecues are allowed, as long as they are elevated at least a foot off the ground, placed at least 25 feet from buildings, and accompanied by a nearby fire extinguisher.
Questions about closures or access can be directed to the visitor hotline at (877) 793-9911 or found online.
TAMPA, Fla. — A proposed Tampa ordinance centered around bikes would’ve lowered speed limits, banned wheelies and more, but it was voted down at the last city council meeting.
What You Need To Know
Tampa’s proposed bike ordinance included speed limits and banning wheelies, but was voted down
Concerns were raised about racial targeting and other issues during public comment
The council plans to revisit the issue in 2026
The goal was to make it safer for people walking on paths like the Tampa Riverwalk for visitors like Cat and Nick Virca, who worry about bikers along the path.
“(Nick) was almost hit today by somebody riding without their hands and very quickly,” Cat said. “So for us, it’s not just the bikers and the e-bikers. It’s also the scooters and the bladers.”
The ordinance drew strong reactions during public comment, including concerns about police targeting people of color.
Yvette Lewis, president of the local NAACP branch, said during public comment that the ordinance worried her.
“My concern is with this: if it starts here on the Riverwalk and Bayshore, how do I know or how can I trust y’all that it won’t continue over into my neighborhood?” she asked.
Paula Flores with Walk Bike Tampa raised additional concerns during public comment.
She told the city council the ordinance would affect all city trails, including long-distance bike paths.
“While these changes appear focused on the Riverwalk and Bayshore, their impacts would extend far beyond those locations without effectively reducing conflicts where congestion actually occurs,” she said.
City council members plan to revisit a potential ordinance in 2026, as police said they continue to get complaints from those who walk at places like the Riverwalk.
Other concerns people shared included how this could push some bicyclists off safe trails and onto busy roads.
Some city council members also felt the language of the proposal was too vague for officers to enforce.
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. — The city of Indian Rocks Beach has had free parking at its beach access points for years. However, a new pilot program is looking to change that.
What You Need To Know
Indian Rocks Beach has offered free parking at beach access points for years but is considering a paid system
The proposed rate is $4.50 an hour, potentially generating over $1 million annually
There is no set start date this change would begin
City Manager Ryan Henderson said the conversation surrounding paid parking began in 2023.
He believes the revenue can make a big difference in their community.
“My recommendation and staff’s recommendation to the commission was as this revenue comes in through paid parking, we put it back into the community,” Henderson said. “We put it back into our infrastructure, we put it back into our maintenance.”
Henderson said there is no set date for when paid parking could start.
With 182 free public spots at the access points, Henderson said the money generated would make a major impact, especially for a city of its size.
They’re looking at $4.50 an hour.
“We’d be generating around $800,000 to $900,000 a year, but we think that’s a very conservative number,” Henderson said. “We think we’ll be well over $1 million.”
Christine Anderson said there has been free parking for the 17 years she’s lived in Indian Rocks Beach and that talk of these changes caught her off guard.
“I was a little surprised, but I think times have changed and maybe there is a need for this city to recoup some of the money,” she said.
Richard Griffin, a part-time resident for 15 years, is hoping that more information comes out about the changes.
“I have some sort of mixed emotions until I get more details as to what the final price will be and how long you can park and that type of thing,” he said.
Henderson said there would be no time limit on parking.
At a busy downtown intersection where cars, scooters, cyclists and pedestrians cross paths, Raleigh traffic engineers are testing a new approach to managing congestion as the city continues to grow.
Using existing traffic cameras paired with artificial intelligence and mapping software, the city is analyzing how people and vehicles move through select intersections in near real time. City officials say the goal is not to eliminate traffic but to make signals operate more efficiently and safely, especially in areas with heavy pedestrian activity.
“One of the core challenges of traffic engineering is moving vehicles efficiently,” said Jed Niffenegger, Raleigh’s city transportation manager. “We can’t change the fact that an intersection is busy. What we can do is make sure it’s operating as efficiently as possible.”
The pilot program relies on computer vision technology that converts live video into data. Software tracks turning movements, traffic volumes and different modes of travel, replacing a manual process that once required staff to stand at intersections and count vehicles by hand.
“The cameras allow us to make changes much more quickly,” Niffenegger said. “With analytics, the amount of work it takes has been reduced to a fraction of what it used to be.”
Raleigh has roughly 250 closed-circuit traffic cameras citywide. For now, the AI system can analyze data from about 10 to 12 cameras at a time because of computing limits. Transportation staff rotate intersections into the program based on where signal timing studies or corridor reviews are underway, including along Glenwood Avenue and in parts of downtown.
The technology allows engineers to fine-tune signal timing during peak hours, sometimes by only a few seconds, based on real-world conditions rather than assumptions.
“We’ll look at the evening rush and see whether a signal is running too long or needs to start a little later,” Niffenegger said. “It’s about fine-tuning what we’re already doing.”
City officials say that focus on intersections matters. While widening roads has long been used to relieve congestion, engineers say intersections are often the true bottlenecks.
“If we can maximize efficiency at intersections, we can delay costly road-widening projects,” Niffenegger said. “That saves money and allows us to invest in other places where it can have a bigger impact.”
James Alberque, Raleigh’s emerging technology manager, said the project is part of a broader effort to better understand how the city moves as its population grows. Raleigh surpassed 500,000 residents last year, putting new pressure on streets that were not designed for current traffic volumes.
“Cameras record video, and we’re turning that video into data,” Alberque said. “That data helps traffic engineers understand what’s happening across the city, not just at one camera at one moment.”
The data is visualized using a high-resolution, three-dimensional model of Raleigh, sometimes called a digital twin. City staff can compare traffic conditions before and after signal changes and evaluate whether adjustments are working as intended.
The pilot initially focused on vehicle traffic. After validating those results, the city expanded the analysis to include pedestrians and bicycles, particularly in downtown areas with heavy foot traffic and scooter use.
“We wanted to understand all modes of transportation,” Alberque said. “GIS allows us to integrate traffic data with other information and analyze it in one place.”
City officials emphasized that privacy protections are built into the system. The city does not store video or collect personally identifiable information. The data is limited to anonymous counts, such as whether an object is a vehicle, pedestrian or bicycle, aggregated in 15-minute intervals.
“There’s no identifying information at all,” Alberque said. “We’re not recording video.”
The technology is not used to automatically change signal timing. Instead, the data is reviewed by engineers and used to inform decisions, with humans remaining in control throughout the process.
During the pilot, the city has validated the AI results by running manual counts alongside the software. Alberque said more than a dozen test cases have been reviewed so far, helping staff build confidence in the accuracy of the data.
Beyond traffic management, Raleigh’s camera network already supports other city departments. Police, 911 dispatchers and stormwater crews use the cameras during emergencies, including flooding events, to better understand conditions on the ground.
Scaling the system beyond the pilot phase would require additional investment. Alberque said the city has so far relied on existing infrastructure and limited resources while testing the technology’s potential.
“The technology is advancing very quickly,” he said. “We’re trying to be thoughtful about how we invest so we’re making good decisions as this evolves.”
For now, city leaders say the pilot offers a way to improve safety and efficiency at busy intersections without expanding roadways, an approach they see as increasingly important as Raleigh continues to grow.
The D.C. region was ranked in the top 20 for worst traffic congestion in the world, according to a recent report on traffic data.
The D.C. region was ranked in the top 20 for worst traffic congestion in the world, according to a recent report on traffic data.
The report, titled the 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard, examined 942 urban areas worldwide. It concluded that the D.C. region ranked 19th in the world and eighth in the United States in terms of congestion. On average, D.C.-area drivers lost about 70 hours in congestion, the report said. Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, told WTOP that the D.C. region is part of a worldwide trend of growing congestion in urban areas around the world.
“Traffic is increasing in general,” Pishue said. “A lot of urban areas are still growing in population, and growing in business and the economy, and the infrastructure is always playing keep up. Especially now (in) a tough time. … We can expect traffic to continue to get a little bit worse.”
The time spent in traffic also means money lost to those stuck in it. According to the report, a D.C.-area driver loses an average of $1,289 sitting in traffic.
“In D.C., the cost is probably higher,” Pishue said. “That’s because you could be spending your time with friends, with loved ones, at work, at some other purpose that you would rather be doing, other than just sitting in traffic.”
Two area highways also ranked among the study’s top 25 busiest corridors. Listed at No. 21 was a stretch of Interstate 495 between Clermount Avenue in Montgomery County, Maryland, and the Interstate 295 interchange. Travelers driving during the 4 p.m. peak hour would lose about 64 hours to traffic congestion.
The northbound portion of the Anacostia Freeway between the I-695 interchange and the Maryland border at 4 p.m., ranked no. 22.
Micromobility may be a remedy
Those living in the District have turned to some solutions to the traffic, specifically the expanded focus on micromobility, or the use of bikes, e-bikes and electric scooters. The report found D.C. reported a 48% increase in the use of these vehicles.
“While this growth is suitable for those trying to move around the city, especially downtown, it wouldn’t make a dent in helping those commuting from their suburban homes to work in urban areas, which is the typical congestion drivers deal with,” Pishue said.
Working from home and mass transit can help
According to U.S. Census data, 13.8% of U.S. workers worked from home in 2023 — more than twice the 5.7% in 2019, despite declines from its COVID-19 pandemic peak.
“Despite the drop, working from home and changing trip times can help reduce traffic on the road,” Pishue said.
Another alternative for those looking to avoid congestion is using mass transit. While it won’t solve many traffic problems, it can help travelers avoid sitting on packed highways when commuting in urban areas.
“Transit nationwide is still down about 20% versus pre-COVID level,” Pishue said. “It’s been a slow return, not like driving or the explosion from working from home. So, transit still has a little bit of catching up to do.”
Other cities have seen growth in the use of autonomous vehicles as another solution for drivers looking to avoid getting stuck in traffic. Robotaxi service Waymo added D.C. to its list of cities to expand to in 2026 as it is currently mapping out streets and corridors for its upcoming service.
Getting involved
The purpose of the report was to provide road authorities, transportation planners, engineers, policymakers and the public the traffic data to prioritize solutions that best fit their respective areas.
While lawmakers consider expanding roads and highways, the cost realities may play a factor in what to prioritize. The data provided in its report can help move some resources to other areas of need, whether that is improving traffic lights or creating efficient parking spaces.
“We look at 900 cities, dozens of countries, but really the main takeaway from this is congestion continues to grow,” Pishue said. “(In the report,) You can see if it went up … see if it went down and then dive deeper to really get into it.”
Pishue recommends drivers concerned about the amount of traffic they see get involved with local neighborhood groups.
During the holiday season, eyes will be on our airports, which are expected to see some of the largest crowds of the year. But you can expect Texas roadways to be filled with a fair number of merry travelers, too, resulting in congestion and, undoubtedly, frustration.
And when that frustration builds, there will be those who question the sanity of our state’s highway system (to say nothing of the drivers themselves), raising an interesting question: Are Texas roads as bad as we sometimes think they are?
David Schrank, a research scientist and the head of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, has studied mobility for more than 30 years, and he said our roads aren’t as bad as drivers sometimes like to think.
First, Schrank said the state of Texas, with voter approval, has invested heavily in improving the transportation infrastructure over the past 10 years through ballot initiatives such as Proposition 1 and Proposition 7, both of which earmarked funding for hundreds of road projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion.
There is also the ongoing Texas Clear Lanes congestion reduction initiative, introduced by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2015. In Tarrant County, four Texas Clear Lanes projects have been completed on Loop 820, Jacksboro Highway, and Texas 121. The construction on Interstate 20 east of Fort Worth and the work around the I-20/I-30 convergence west of the city is also part of the Texas Clear Lanes initiative.
“It’s more efficient now at moving traffic than it was a decade earlier,” Schrank said of Texas’ major roadway system. “For every mile you drive, there’s a certain amount of average delay you face. That number is actually slightly lower than it was in the past.”
In addition to road projects, Schrank said changing traffic patterns have also improved roadway flow. Many people have more flexibility now when it comes to where and when they work, which has impacted traditional rush hour congestion.
“We’re not slogging to work at 6 in the morning and slogging home at 6 in the evening like we did a decade ago,” said Schrank.
Texas road conditions
While he said traffic congestion has generally gotten better, Schrank added that you still see a lot of construction on Texas roads, which, of course, results in delays.
Some of that work is related to roadway expansion, but some of it is routine maintenance to fix things like potholes and cracks.
According to U.S. Bureau of Transportation statistics, roughly 77% of all Texas road miles are in acceptable condition. Texas ranks 33rd out of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in that measure.
But in their Infrastructure Report Card, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) said nearly 90% of Texas interstate and state highway pavement is in good condition or better.
Austin Messerli, a senior engineer and a member of the ASCE, said Texas’ report card grade for roads has improved slightly from a D-plus to a C-minus over the past four years, which is better than the overall D-plus on the nationwide report card.
Messerli said report card grades were based on things like road conditions, capacity, funding and expected future needs and resiliency.
Asked why Texas roads were better relative to those in other states, Messerli, like Schrank, said state funding had a lot to do with it. He also said local municipalities are also making more of a concerted effort to improve road conditions and mitigate congestion.
“Cities and counties are stepping up to take on more infrastructure development because it impacts quality of life,” said Messerli. “They’re stepping up on the maintenance side and stepping up improvement projects.”
Arlington motorists navigate a southbound I-30 entrance ramp near Ballpark Way. Star-Telegram archive image Fort Worth Star-Telegram
As Texas’ population grows, Messerli said that focus on continuing improvement will be critical. By 2035, Texas’ overall personal auto traffic is expected to be 66% higher than it was in 2008, said Messerli. Over that same span, commercial truck traffic could grow by as much as 123%.
All those cars and trucks contribute to more wear and tear on Texas roadways, which could result in degradation without consistent maintenance and a little foresight in terms of designing more resilient roads.
But what about my commute?
As you read this glowing review of Texas roads, you might be rolling your eyes while thinking about your own morning and afternoon commutes, when those long streams of brake lights so often extend before you as far as the eye can see.
Texas is experiencing a growth boom, with roughly 1,500 new residents arriving each day, Schrank said, and that’s naturally going to contribute to road congestion.
Schrank said new transportation infrastructure usually follows population growth, not the other way around, creating tension.
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute annually puts out its list of the 100 most congested road segments in Texas. The most seriously congested segments create well over a million hours of driver delays in a year, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in congestion costs, stemming from things like increased fuel consumption and wasted time.
Seven of the 10 worst road segments on that list are in the Houston area. Only one in the top 10 is in Tarrant County, that stretch of Interstate 35W between I-30 and State Highway 183 that commuters heading to and from downtown Fort Worth know and loathe.
But while acknowledging that Texas traffic is an issue, Schrank said it may not be as terrible as we perceive it to be.
He said people tend to have selective memories when it comes to traffic. The bad days are seared into their minds, but they often forget about all the times when congestion is minimal.
“I would say when you actually do the math, things are better here in the last year or two than they were for us six or eight years ago,” Schrank said.
It’s hard to convince people of that, though, added Schrank. He said when someone is sitting in gridlock traffic, they’re naturally going to feel as though there’s a problem with the road system. But what they don’t see is the traffic an hour before or after them, when it could be moving along just fine.
Take that for what it’s worth. As you’re setting off en route to grandmother’s house this holiday season, brace yourselves for crowded roads, but perhaps also take a moment to appreciate the stretches that aren’t overly congested.
Maybe, as is the case with most things, there are two ways of looking at Texas roads, and slight change in perception can make all the difference.
Matt Adams is a news reporter covering Fort Worth, Tarrant County and surrounding areas. He previously wrote about aviation and travel and enjoys a good weekend road trip. Matt joined the Star-Telegram in January 2025.
TAMPA, FLA. — This year’s holiday travel season is shaping up to be a record-setter.
According to AAA, more than 122 million Americans are expected to travel this week and next week, with millions already beginning their journeys: especially those driving.
What You Need To Know
More than 122 million Americans will travel for the holidays over the next two weeks
Florida will see 7.6-million residents travel 50 miles or more, with 6.7 million of them driving
Gas prices are at 4-year-lows, averaging under $3 a gallon nationally
Travel for the holidays is seeing a 2% increase compared to last year
In Florida alone, 7.5 million people are expected to travel for the holidays. Of those, 6.7 million will be on the road, making driving the most popular option this season.
AAA says the increase in road travel comes as airfare prices rise and travelers try to avoid potential weather delays and airport crowds.
As a result, rest stops and highways across the state are already seeing steady traffic. Travelers at a rest stop along Interstate 75 north of Tampa in Pasco County on Monday were stopping during their holiday drives.
One of them was Evan O’Shea, traveling with his family from Southwest Florida to Jacksonville and Northeast Florida to visit relatives.
So far, he says the trip has been manageable.
“It kind of seems like traffic is more spread out,” O’Shea said. “If people started their holiday on the weekend, maybe they already hit the road. As of right now, it seems to be going pretty smooth, with a few congested spots.”
Another factor encouraging drivers this year is the cost of fuel.
Gas prices are at four-year lows, averaging under $3 a gallon nationwide, easing the financial burden for families traveling long distances.
AAA and transportation officials say drivers should prepare for heavier congestion during morning and mid- to late-afternoon hours, especially on local roads, through Wednesday.
There is expected to be a brief traffic lull on Christmas Day, but roads will quickly fill again starting Friday and through the weekend, as travelers head back home.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra time, and stay alert as the busy holiday travel period continues.
The Florida Turnpike is undergoing a large expansion in Lake County that officials hope will ease congestion as the area around Hancock Road in Minneola continues to boom, and the expansion marked a major milestone with the opening of two new lanes of traffic southbound.From the Hancock Road interchange to the State Road 50 interchange, the $162.3 million project has seen the expansion of the Turnpike from two lanes to four.The project is set to wrap up next year, but will continue northbound from Hancock Road to O’Brien Road.”Any time we can ease traffic, I think that’s going to work in favor to everybody,” said driver Jim Ashbaugh. “It’s just too much traffic. Any time you have expansion is great. We do like it now, the more work that’s being done.”As the expansion continues, the area around Hancock Road is booming, with the opening of a new Advent Health hospital this month and thousands of homes recently built and still under construction.”It’s been a lot of work, I know that. There’s been a lot of holdups, the way the traffic has been and everything. But I think it’s for a good thing,” said driver Russell Iglesias.Officials hope all the work will accommodate the thousands of new Lake County residents flocking to the area.”You’ve got a lot more people coming here, moving, so they’re going to look to build houses,” Ashbaugh said. “More and more people coming is going to make that much more traffic, but more jobs, right, more opportunity for people to come and make a little bit more money.”The work to expand from two lanes to four in both directions northbound from Hancock to O’Brien will conclude in 2028.
MINNEOLA, Fla. —
The Florida Turnpike is undergoing a large expansion in Lake County that officials hope will ease congestion as the area around Hancock Road in Minneola continues to boom, and the expansion marked a major milestone with the opening of two new lanes of traffic southbound.
From the Hancock Road interchange to the State Road 50 interchange, the $162.3 million project has seen the expansion of the Turnpike from two lanes to four.
The project is set to wrap up next year, but will continue northbound from Hancock Road to O’Brien Road.
“Any time we can ease traffic, I think that’s going to work in favor to everybody,” said driver Jim Ashbaugh. “It’s just too much traffic. Any time you have expansion is great. We do like it now, the more work that’s being done.”
As the expansion continues, the area around Hancock Road is booming, with the opening of a new Advent Health hospital this month and thousands of homes recently built and still under construction.
“It’s been a lot of work, I know that. There’s been a lot of holdups, the way the traffic has been and everything. But I think it’s for a good thing,” said driver Russell Iglesias.
Officials hope all the work will accommodate the thousands of new Lake County residents flocking to the area.
“You’ve got a lot more people coming here, moving, so they’re going to look to build houses,” Ashbaugh said. “More and more people coming is going to make that much more traffic, but more jobs, right, more opportunity for people to come and make a little bit more money.”
The work to expand from two lanes to four in both directions northbound from Hancock to O’Brien will conclude in 2028.
AAA is projecting that 2.5 million Marylanders and 3.4 million Virginians will be driving somewhere this week and next during the holidays.
If you’re traveling on the road over the holiday season, you will certainly not be alone. AAA is expecting records to be broken through New Year’s Day.
They project that 2.5 million Marylanders and 3.4 million Virginians will be driving somewhere this week and the next. Experts are crediting lower gas prices as a motivating factor to hit the road over the holiday season.
“There’s going to be more traffic on the roadway. Obviously, it’s easier to travel. We did see that around Thanksgiving, during that holiday,” Charlie Gischlar, deputy director of communications with the Maryland State Highway Administration, told WTOP. “Just expect a lot of company on the roadways, and always give yourself plenty of time.”
Gischlar added that MDOT-SHA are doing some things to help relieve congestion.
To help ease the burden, there will be some traffic changes in the D.C. region to help bring the holiday spirit.
Maryland
In Maryland, there will be no lane closures for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge for Dec. 24-26 and Jan. 1, according to the state’s transportation authority.
On Monday and Tuesday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., the westbound span could be closed due to maintenance work. As a result, there will be two-way traffic on the eastbound span.
Also on Monday and Tuesday, one lane of the eastbound span could be closed due to maintenance work from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“We also enhance our highway patrollers in a lot of areas that are really heavy because they can get on the scene quicker, remove disabled vehicle debris or help clear crashes to the shoulder and get those lanes open as soon as possible,” Gischlar said. “Those are some of the things that we’re doing to try to get out of people’s way and help keep traffic moving around the holidays.”
The westbound span could be closed for the following days and times:
Saturday, Dec. 27 — 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28 — 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30 — 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Friday, Jan. 2 — 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 3 — 8 p.m. to 9 a.m.
The eastbound span could be closed for the following days and times:
Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30 — 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A lot of the highway work zones will be suspended, along with the temporary lane closures on Virginia’s interstates and major roads being lifted from noon on Wednesday to noon on Friday, and from noon on Wednesday, Dec. 31, to noon on Friday, Jan. 2.
But travelers could come across semi-permanent work zones that will stay in place, despite the lifted lane closures.
Tips on driving safely on the roadways during the holidays include putting on your seat belt, not looking at your phone while driving and leaving early for extra time to get to your destination.
WTOP’s Alan Etter contributed to this story.
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Passengers wait in line at a TSA security checkpoint inside Terminal C at DFW International Airport on March 1, 2023.
Elias Valverde II
Dallas Morning News
The Dallas-Fort Worth Airport has made some changes to help offset increased traffic and longer wait times for fliers traveling during the holidays.
Still, travelers should expect substantially increased traffic in and around the airport and increased wait times in TSA lines. Nearly 5 million people are expected to fly to, from and through DFW Airport between Dec. 18 and Jan. 6, according to a DFW Airport news release. Overall passenger traffic during the holiday travel period is also projected to increase by more than 3% compared to last year.
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DFW Airport changes ahead of holiday travel rush
Because of construction in the area, Terminal C is expected to have the heaviest traffic. Construction at Terminal C includes a pier-style expansion of 115,000 square feet, nine new gates, new concessions and a new parking garage. A new 15-gate Terminal F, set to open in 2027, is also under construction in the area which could complicate parking and traffic flow.
The airport has reconfigured traffic patterns for the next several days through Terminal C to alleviate congestion. Signs have been installed to guide traffic through the most highly congested areas of the airport.
Because of the construction, Terminal C has just two garages open — the North and Central garages — rather than three, as the south garage remains closed for reconstruction.
The airport has also launched an access point to Terminal A to alleviate traffic congestion for the holidays. The new right-hand access point, opened Dec. 19, removes detours that were previously in effect. The access point opened sooner than the airport anticipated and was fast tracked due to the holiday season.
When are the busiest travel days?
Dec. 19 through Monday, Dec. 22, is projected to be the busiest travel period. Dec. 23, 24 and 25 are still expected to be busier than normal as well. DFW also marked Dec. 26 through Dec. 28 as another one of the busiest periods of the holiday season.
DFW projected that more than 265,000 passengers flew to and from the airport on Dec. 19, and a similar number is expected on Dec. 28. The airport marked those two days as the busiest individual days of the holiday travel period.
Daily volumes throughout the holiday travel period are expected to be more evenly distributed than during the Thanksgiving travel period. But terminal curbsides are expected to be near the levels they were during Thanksgiving. The busiest periods for curbside pickups are projected to be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 26 and Dec. 27.
The airport recommends travelers arrive at least two hours before their flight boards for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
“Ensuring enough time will assist customers that encounter traffic, construction impacts, congested parking areas, and busy check-in and security screening areas,” the news releases reads.
What to know about public transit
Airport officials encourage travelers to use public transportation.
The most convenient public transit option from downtown Fort Worth is the Trinity Metro TEXRail, which runs from downtown Fort Worth, Haltom City, North Richmond Hills and Grapevine. The TRE line from downtown Fort Worth stops at the CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, where passengers can the take the TRE Link Shuttle bus from the stop to the airport, with transfers at each terminal.
Samuel O’Neal is a local news reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram covering higher education and southwest Fort Worth. He joined the team in December 2025 after previously working as a staff writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He graduated from Temple University, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the school’s student paper, The Temple News.
TAMPA, Fla. — There’s been a lot of questions recently about Florida’s new license plate law.
What You Need To Know
A Florida law went into effect Oct. 1 and established harsher penalties for anything that obstructs vehicles’ license plates
Confusion spread on social media about whether plate frames are legal
FLHSMV says the law does not prohibit the use of a license plate frame as long as it does not block the alphanumeric plate identifier or the validation sticker at the top right of the plate
FLHSMV does not consider the information on the bottom of the plate to be a primary feature on the plate. The top of the plate can be covered as long as law enforcement is able to identify the state that issued the plate
It went into effect on Oct. 1 and established harsher penalties for anything that obstructs your license plate — including fines or even jail time.
That’s led to many drivers wondering if their license plate frame is legal or not.
That includes Florida resident Belle King — known on social media as Pikabellechu — who has built a large following for her Pikachu collection.
She owns a Volkswagen decked out in the famous Pokémon, which includes a Pikachu license plate frame. When she heard about the law, she removed the frame.
(Courtesy of Belle King)
“It’s been on my plate for 24 years. One of my fans actually gifted it to me. They were so excited that I put it on the car. It stinks that it’s coming off after all these years. But it is what it is,” King said.
Based on what she was seeing on social media, King removed the frame.
But a Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson said the law isn’t really about the frames.
“This is for vehicles that have an obstruction on their tag,” FHP Lt. Tara Crescenczi said. “Meaning, they have a mechanical switch that can block out the tag completely. Or they can use a switch to make the tag flip up. And really it’s about law enforcement trying to stop dangerous drivers or someone who has committed a crime.”
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) also put out clarification on the new law.
FLHSMV said the law does not prohibit the use of a license plate frame as long as it does not block the alphanumeric plate identifier or the validation sticker at the top right of the plate.
In addition, FLHSMV does not consider the information on the bottom of the plate to be a primary feature on the plate. The top of the plate can be covered as long as law enforcement is able to identify the state that issued the plate.
(Courtesy of FLHSMV)
Under that clarification, King’s plate should be OK.
“I thought as long as your numbers were showing, or in my case, my words were showing, and then your little registration tag. I was like, ‘OK that’s fine. Mine’s only covering a little bit of the top and the bottom’,” King said.
An immigration judge will decide in the coming days whether to temporarily release an immigrant rights activist after a Friday bail hearing that was delayed when authorities tried to block media access to the courtroom.
Attorneys representing Jeanette Vizguerra told the judge, Brea Burgie, that government lawyers had provided no evidence that Vizguerra posed a flight risk or a danger to the community.
Vizguerra, a nationally renowned activist, has been in the Aurora detention center since her March arrest, and her attorneys reiterated their allegations Friday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials intentionally targeted Vizguerra because of her public profile and advocacy. They asked Burgie to release Vizguerra, who was born in Mexico and does not have proper legal status, on bail while the rest of her immigration case proceeds.
“Detention is not justified,” said Laura Lichter, one of Vizguerra’s lawyers.
Shana Martin, an attorney for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, argued that Vizguerra should continue to be detained indefinitely because, Martin said, she was both dangerous and a flight risk. Martin pointed to Vizguerra’s criminal conviction for using a fake Social Security card so she could work, as well as to traffic violations, as evidence that she “shows a lack of respect for authority.”
One of Vizguerra’s daughters recently joined the Air Force, and Vizguerra applied for a form of legal status based on her daughter’s military service. Martin said that application has been denied — something Lichter said was news to Vizguerra and her lawyers.
Lichter said after the hearing that she’d never seen that type of application denied in a case like Vizguerra’s. She told Burgie that the denial was “fantastic evidence” of the government’s bias against her client.
CIting the extreme complexity of the case, Burgie said she would issue a written decision on whether to grant bail to Vizguerra at a later date. The Denver judge appeared remotely in the Aurora detention center’s hearing room.
As Vizguerra waited in a hallway outside the courtroom, she blew a kiss to family members and waved to supporters.
The hearing came two days after a U.S. District Court judge ordered federal officials to provide Vizguerra with a bail hearing before Christmas.
Proceedings were delayed Friday morning after personnel at the detention center, which is privately run by the Geo Group, told reporters and supporters that they couldn’t enter the courtroom. It’s typically open to observers, family members of detainees and journalists who provide photo ID and go through a security checkpoint.
Earlier Friday morning, a Denver Post reporter was waiting for an escort to the courtroom when a Geo Group lieutenant approached and asked what courtroom he was visiting. When the reporter said he was there to watch the Vizguerra hearing, the lieutenant told him the courtroom was full and escorted him back to the lobby.
Juan Baltazar, the facility’s warden, later told reporters that they wouldn’t be allowed into the courtroom “partially” because of space constraints, as well as because of unspecified “safety and security” concerns.
Geo personnel also closed and locked a gate leading into the facility, with an armed guard later controlling access. The gate was not closed on several earlier visits by The Post earlier this fall. Guards on Friday were dressed entirely in black, a change from their standard blue shirts.
Baltazar said ICE officials had called and verbally ordered Geo personnel to allow in only lawyers, family and witnesses. He said the limitations were put into place “because of the attention (this case) is getting.”
When Lichter pressed him about what safety or security risk was posed by reporters, Baltazar said questions would have to be directed to ICE.
“Everybody has a boss,” he said.
After continued prodding by Lichter, facility personnel eventually relented and allowed in several reporters, along with a handful of Vizguerra’s supporters.
Messages sent to Steve Kotecki, Denver’s ICE spokesman, and to a regional ICE representative were not immediately returned.
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.
A wreck that left a car wedged under a school bus caused some delays Wednesday morning on NC-540 West near Holly Springs.
Sky 5 flew over the scene, which showed the vehicle’s air bags had deployed and the front end was smashed into and then wedged under the bus. Lanes began to reopen just after 9 a.m. and the car was separated from the bus.
There was no word on injuries or if any children were inside the bus at the time.
