ORLANDO, Fla. — MetroPlan Orlando is looking at ways to reduce the number of traffic-related deaths in three central Florida counties.
What You Need To Know
- MetroPlan Orlando partnering with three area counties to create a safety action plan for roadways
- Their goal is zero traffic related deaths
- In Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, MetroPlan reports more than 5 people are killed and 35 people are seriously injured the road every week
- The group will have another community meeting in Altamonte on April 11
It’s a partnership with Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
The group will create a federally funded comprehensive safety action plan, called Vision Zero Central Florida, to reach their goal of zero traffic fatalities.
The plan will look at ways to improve roadways as well as providing educational tools to prevent traffic related deaths.
11 years ago, Mike Davis and his family moved to Oviedo. Davis says the city looked completely different from what it is today.
“Oviedo had no hospital, Oviedo did not have Center Lake Park, it was more trees, fewer restaurants, less traffic,” said Davis.
Davis is the founder of a non-profit organization named One Body Outreach and is constantly driving around the city serving youth. He says during peak time, traffic gets bad.
“Oviedo does need to grow in the traffic area to support the influx of people moving here,” said Davis.
Davis says widening of road lanes and potentially adding lanes could be a solution to reduce the number of traffic crashes and related deaths.
According to MetroPlan Orlando, crashes kill around five people and seriously hurt 35 every week in Central Florida.
Transportation planning manager Bill Wharton says there are a number of projects taking place in Seminole County.
“We’re hopefully gearing up towards the end. We have a project list that is prioritized and right now it’s broken down into roadways, sidewalks, trails, intersections for different parts of the county,” he said.
Wharton added that MetroPlan Orlando’s goal of zero traffic deaths is ambitious, and gathering public input is crucial.
“They drive those roads all the time so they do have a good idea, so it’s good to get that feedback,” he said.
MetroPlan Orlando says reducing speeds, road design and post-crash care all are ways to reduce deaths and series injuries.
The group will have another community meeting in Altamonte on April 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The meeting will be held at Westmonte Recreation Center, which is located at 624 Bills Lane Altamonte Springs, FL 32714.