INSIDE NEWS Winter 2003 Goldenrod Extension to Open Wekiva Task Force Continues Beltway Debate Win Magic Tickets Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority 525 South Magnolia Avenue Orlando, Florida 32801-4414 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ORLANDO, FL PERMIT NO. 3937
We get you there...we bring you home. Winter 2003 Western Expressway Western Expressway Now Open to County Road 535 Another milestone toward completion of a Western Beltway occurred in December with the opening of State Road 429 between Florida s Turnpike and County Road 535.The 3.5 mile link provides enhanced access to the growing suburbs surrounding Windermere,Winter Garden and Ocoee. By 2006, State Road 429 should be completed all the way south to Interstate 4 in Osceola County, leaving only the portion through the Wekiva River Basin incomplete. An All-New Navigator! More informative, more relevant and more fun that s what we had in mind as we began improving and enhancing the Expressway Navigator.We hope you ll enjoy the new features and format, all designed to keep you informed about the changing face of transportation on the Expressway Authority system. Our Mission: It is the mission of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority to implement an expressway system that will improve the mobility and quality of life in Central Florida and provide access to major economic centers consistent with growth management and environmental objectives and to accomplish this mission in a manner which is financially sound and cooperative with other modes of transportation and governmental jurisdictions. For Current Updates: http://www.expresswayauthority.com
EXPRESSWAY SYSTEM MAP East-West Expressway Central FL GreeneWay Western Expressway Bee Line Expressway Board of Directors Allan Keen................................... Chairman Orlando Evora............................. Vice Chairman James Pugh, Jr.......................... Secretary/Treasury Richard Crotty.................... Orange County Chairman (Ex Officio) Mike Snyder, P.E.................. Secretary-FDOT District 5 3 525 South Magnolia Avenue Orlando, Florida 32801-4414 Phone (407) 316-3800 www.expresswayauthority.com
Update Central Florida GreeneWay Highway Speed Tolling Only Months Away At University Plaza E-PASS customers are just months away from zipping through the University Main Plaza on State Road 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay) at highway speeds.the complex project to reconstruct the toll plaza, widen the roadway, and improve the University Boulevard interchange is running months ahead of schedule. Already the contractor, Eby Construction has finished widening State Road 417 to three lanes between State Road 50 and University Boulevard, greatly improving traffic flow at rush hour. Ongoing improvements will improve safety and traffic at this extremely busy interchange.the entire project is scheduled for completion this summer. E-PASS Q&A ON-THE-GO! Quick news about the Expressway Authority Keep Alert For Changes At University Boulevard If you use the State Road 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay) exit at University Boulevard you will need to be alert over the next few months as construction crews reconfigure the University Main Toll Plaza. Northbound E-PASS customers will only be able to exit at University Boulevard if they are in the far right E-PASS lane.the left hand E-PASS lane will be for through traffic only. E-PASS Service Centers East: 762 South Goldenrod Road West: 5050 W. Colonial Drive Phone (407) 823-7277 or 1-800-353-7277 e-pass@oocea.com 2 Q. A. Q. A. What should I do if the red light does not change to green when I enter the toll lane? If you are in an E-PASS Only lane, do not stop. Notify the E-PASS Service Center as soon as possible. In the meantime, utilize Change/Receipt lanes or Coin Lanes and pay your toll in cash until the problem can be resolved. If my account balance drops to zero ($0.00), will my toll transactions be deducted once I put more money in my account? Once your account balance drops to zero you are considered a violator.the light in the toll lane or on your transponder will remain red. In addition you will receive a letter from E-PASS alerting you to the fact your account has no money.to reinstate your account you will be required to reimburse the Expressway Authority for any unpaid tolls. If you fail to add more money to your account in a timely manner and you continue to violate, your account will be frozen and you will be turned over to the Violation Enforcement Office, which could ultimately issue one or more Uniform Traffic Citations.
east-west Expressway $600 Million State Road 408 Widening Getting Underway Construction is getting underway this spring on the first phase of the $600 million State Road 408 (East-West Expressway) widening project. Initially construction crews will be widening the stretch between Interstate 4 and Tampa Avenue. Later this year work will begin on the segment between Tampa Avenue and Hiawassee Road.As part of the project, all State Road 408 main toll plazas are Western Expressway Win A Night of Magic! Ready to be an Orlando Magic VIP? Enter our contest today for your chance to win one of two Grand Prize Packages, including: Two Premium Tickets to see the Magic vs. the Chicago Bulls, February 21, 2003 Opportunity to sit Courtside for a Pre-Game Shoot Around Tour of the Magic court Dinner for two in the exclusive Arena Club Magic T-shirt Magic Hat Plus, 75 more lucky winners will receive a runner-up prize a pair of upper bowl Magic tickets! Entries must be received by February 6, 2003. No purchase necessary. One entry per person. Full contest rules available at Expressway Authority offices, 525 S. Magnolia Ave. Drawing to be held February 7, 2003. being converted to open road tolling, allowing E-PASS customers to pay their tolls at highway speeds.as part of the plaza upgrade, the Holland West Main Plaza by the Citrus Bowl will be torn down and reconstructed several miles west near Pine Hills Road. In early 2004 construction will begin on the east side of town between Rosalind Avenue and Lake Underhill. Weighing the Options: Wekiva Basin Task Force Continues Debate AWekiva Basin Task Force created by Governor Bush has spent the last three months studying concepts for completion of the Western Beltway between Apopka and Interstate 4 in Sanford.This critical beltway link crosses the environmentally sensitive Wekiva River Basin.The task force has been studying design options that would reduce impacts to wildlife and the surrounding environment.there have also been discussions about buying sensitive lands to protect them from development pressure.the task force is expected to release its recommendations by January 15, 2003. 4 ENTRY FORM NAME STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP PHONE Fill out the entry form and mail to: UCF Contest Winner Jerry Staral Contest winner Jerry Staral with son Chris and UCF Coach Kruczek. What a perfect birthday present! The winner of our UCF Golden Knight Weekend in Buffalo contest, Jerry Staral, attended the November 9 game with his son, Chris, who was also celebrating a birthday. The two received charter air travel to New York on the UCF team plane, tickets to the UCF vs. Buffalo game, hotel accommodations and ground transportation. Winning this contest could not have happened at a better time, stated Staral. This trip with the UCF team gave my son an 11th birthday he will never forget. Congratulations, Jerry and Chris! Magic Contest Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority 525 South Magnolia Avenue Orlando, FL 32801-4414
Greening up the Expressway Central Florida s Expressway system is one of the first things many people see when they visit the region. That s why landscaping has been a top priority for the Expressway Authority.With an emphasis on xeriscape (low water low maintenance) plants, the Expressway Authority has created an attractive driving environment that appeals to locals and tourists alike. Landscaping a 90-mile expressway system has been no small task.there are currently 82 acres of landscaping along the Expressway system. 1 1 1 Over the past ten years nearly 100,000 trees have been planted along the Expressway system. Of these 73,000 have been pines and 4,500 have been the state tree, the Sabal Palm. Nearly 600,000 shrubs and native grasses have been planted. They include approximately 25,000 oleanders and 380,000 native cordgrass and muhly grass. Over 2,000 acres of turf are mowed on the average 12 times each year. Bee Line Expressway Goldenrod Road Extension to Open What a Treat! Boggy Creek Toll Plaza Shares the Halloween Spirit Drivers passing through the Boggy Creek Main Toll Plaza on State Road 417 this past October were greeted by more than just friendly toll collectors. Karen Shrewsberry, manager of the plaza, and her staff had a ball decorating the area with festive Halloween displays, including this humorous graveyard. Motorists enjoyed it as well. Florida Toll Services, the Authority s Toll Operations Contractor, received over 60 compliments from travelling customers. The Goldenrod Road extension to State Road 528 (Bee Line Expressway) and Orlando International Airport is expected to open to traffic in March 2003. The Goldenrod Road Extension provides free local access, but requires a 50-cent toll to access the Orlando International Airport or State Road 528. The toll will eventually be removed once the $38 million project has been paid for. 5