Florida News Straight From the Source
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is holding a public meeting for the proposed Kirkman Road Extension on Thursday, Nov. 8, 5-7 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center in the West Concourse, Room W315. The proposed improvements include extending Kirkman Road from Universal Boulevard to Carrier Drive. [Read more…] about Kirkman Road Extension Input Opportunity
This weekend, Mandarin Drive at Sand Lake Road will be closed to allow the contractor to reconstruct the street connection. A detour will be in effect from about 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 to 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1. [Read more…] about Weekend Detour Scheduled for Mandarin Drive at Sand Lake Road
As Orange County officials ready to discuss new measures aimed at curbing the gun violence epidemic, state Senator Linda Stewart on Monday urged the mayor and commissioners to first take stronger action closing a loophole allowing many questionable gun buyers to remain under the radar.
“I applaud the county for doing something, but we need strong, specific, and direct action that has been ignored so far,” said Senator Stewart. The Orlando Democrat was referring to a memo sent last month from Orange County Mayor Theresa Jacobs to County Commissioners that outlined gun control proposals, but omitted closing gun show loopholes and adding longer waiting periods.
Senator Stewart and other long-time leaders in the movement for gun safety have long called for such proactive safety measures to be enacted.
In a letter to the mayor, Senator Stewart urged county officials to include closing the gun show loophole, which continues to allow buyers to purchase firearms from private sellers without undergoing any background checks, and to lengthen waiting periods to 5-days.
“Especially in our community, failure to do everything we can to prevent senseless and unnecessary gun violence like the tragedy at Pulse nightclub and recently at Parkland school is absolutely unacceptable,” said Stewart, who has been a fierce gun control advocate following the Pulse massacre. Since her election to the Florida Senate in 2016, Senator Stewart has filed bills and amendments to ban assault weapons, ban bump-fire stocks, and additional measures to curb gun violence and honor the victims of Pulse. She plans to file legislation to address an operational statewide database, which she hopes will be eventually picked up as universal database for our country.
Drivers will encounter a traffic shift this week on John Young Parkway between Florida’s Turnpike and Commodity Circle/South Park Circle. Traffic will be shifted to the newly constructed outside lanes (see map below).
Because of the shift, the right turn lane from eastbound Sand Lake Road to southbound John Young Parkway will be open. In addition, the northernmost driveway to the Walmart shopping center will be re-opened.
The purpose of this traffic shift is to allow the contractor to work on the new “flyover” bridge for John Young Parkway over Sand Lake Road.
The work is part of a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) project to widen and reconstruct State Road (S.R.) 482/Sand Lake Road from west of International Drive to east of Florida’s Turnpike.
Motorists are asked to use extra caution while driving in the area and be aware of the wider turning movements and relocated roadway markings (e.g., stop bars and pedestrian crosswalks) at the intersection.
Please note construction schedules may change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT Communications Office at 386-943-5479 or [email protected].
Motorists in the Taft area of Orange County can expect upcoming weekend road closures and detours along Landstreet Road and Pine Street at the railroad crossings just west of South Orange Avenue. The closures are needed to allow SunRail to replace the crossings.
Landstreet Road is scheduled to be closed at the crossing from about 9 p.m. Friday, April 20, to approximately 6 a.m. Monday, April 23. During the closure, traffic will be detoured using South Orange Avenue, Boyce Avenue and Fourth Street.
The following weekend, Pine Street will be closed at the crossing from about 7 a.m. Friday, April 27, to approximately 6 a.m. Monday, April 30. A detour will be posted using South Orange Avenue, Boyce Avenue and Landstreet Road.
Detour signs will be placed throughout the area to direct drivers. Access to businesses will be maintained.
The crossings are being replaced as part of SunRail’s Phase II South extension project, which will add approximately 17.2 miles of new rail line between the Sand Lake Road station in Orange County and the Poinciana station in Osceola County. The project also involves double tracking most of the corridor and improving grade crossings.
Please note schedules may change due to weather or other circumstances. Construction updates are available on FDOT’s Central Florida website.
Media inquiries should be directed to the District Five Communications Office at 386-943-5479 or [email protected].
Please be careful around trains, railroad crossings and while at station platforms. Be smart. Be safe. For more information about SunRail, including fares, schedule and station locations, please visit sunrail.com.
South Bluford Avenue at State Road (S.R.) 50/West Colonial Drive will be closed from 7 a.m. Friday, May 5, to 7 a.m. Monday, May 8.
Motorists on S.R. 50 needing to access South Bluford Avenue will be directed to use Maguire Road as a detour (see map).
The contractor, The Lane Construction Corporation, will beperforming a pipe crossing. Electronic message boards have beeninstalled to inform motorists about the road closure, and detour signs will direct traffic.
The work is part of a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) project to widen S.R 50 (Colonial Drive) from four lanes to six lanes from S.R. 429 to just east of the West Oaks Mall. Please note construction schedules may change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Schedule updates are available at the FDOT Central Florida website, www.cflroads.com.
For media-related questions, please contact the Public Information Office at 386-943-5473 or [email protected].
FDOT encourages all drivers to use caution through construction zones.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public hearing regarding plans to improve safety in the area of State Road (SR) 426/Aloma Avenue at the intersection of North Goldenrod Road, in Orange County. The project addresses operational and safety concerns in the area by converting the full median opening to a directional median opening at North Goldenrod Road, closing the median opening at Hibiscus Avenue, and extending the westbound to southbound left turn lane at North Goldenrod Road. This modification reduces traffic conflict points at the intersection, improving safety.
The public hearing will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at The Praise Place Church at Slovak Garden, 3110 Howell Branch Road, Winter Park, FL 32792. There will be an open house at 5 p.m. during which staff will be available to discuss the project and answer questions, followed by the formal hearing presentation at 6 p.m., after which participants may provide their verbal comments to all present.
Participants may provide verbal comments directly to a court reporter before and after the formal presentation. Written comments can be submitted at the hearing, sent by mail to Dave Mixon, Florida Department of Transportation, District Five Traffic Operations, 719 S. Woodland Boulevard, M.S. #562, DeLand, FL 32720, or emailed to [email protected], no later than May 22, 2017. All comments written and oral will become part of the project’s public record.
The draft project documents and other information will be available for public review from April 19, 2017 to May 22, 2017 at the Winter Park Public Library, 460 East New England Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789, Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Persons with disabilities who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Kelly Hiden, Public Involvement Coordinator by phone at 407-508-0839, or via email at [email protected] at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator by phone at 386-943-5367, or via email at [email protected].
For more information about the project, please contact the FDOT Public Information Office at 386-943-5473 /[email protected].
Attorney General Pam Bondi released the following statement regarding the deaths of Master Sergeant Debra Clayton of the Orlando Police Department and an Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy:
“Today Florida lost two brave law enforcement heroes who died trying to keep us safe. Master Sergeant Debra Clayton of the Orlando Police Department was a dedicated law enforcement officer and a friend. She worked tirelessly to help children from low-income families and was a major advocate for preventing crime in the black community. Sergeant Clayton touched many lives and I am heartbroken at the loss of such a courageous, dedicated law enforcement hero.
“Tragically, we also lost a brave Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy who was participating in the manhunt. Another Orlando Police Officer suffered serious injuries. As the manhunt continues, my prayers are with Sergeant Clayton’s family, the Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy’s family and all law enforcement officers putting their lives on the line to protect us from danger.”
