East Orange New Parks: 

• The new 28 acre Young Pine Park is scheduled to open late next year or early 2015.  It will have new ball fields, diamond fields, fishing pond, pavilion, a fitness trail and more.
• Corporal Patrick Deans Park (Timber Springs) - Park dedication will take place on November 11th at 4:30 pm.  This is a five acre pocket park.
• My office is currently working with the development outside the neighborhood to gain possession of a 23 acre park that was promised as part of a 2008 approval.
• Currently working with OCPS to purchase their 20 acre parcel at the end of Lake Underhill Road for a future passive park.
• I have included funds in this year's budget to build a pedestrian bridge so that we will have access to the Hal Scott Preserve as part of the East Orange Trail System. We are working through an extensive legal process with OUC.

East Orange Transportation Projects:

• Lake Underhill Road - resurfacing project completed.
• Rouse Road - widening project to be completed Summer 2014.
• East Colonial Drive - FDOT widening project starting this Fall (3-5yr) completion date.
• Alafaya Trail - widening project completion date is Spring 2014 to include 10ft mulit-purpose path on eastside and 5 ft sidewalk on westside.  My office is well aware of the need for lighting and landscaping.  We have a plan for both and will continue to work on this.  More details to follow. 

Traffic Calming Studies/Actions:

• Golden Raintree - met warrants for speed humps, petition already signed, comptroller will be sending ballots to homeowners for vote. Proposing speed humps with center islands.
• Tanya King west of Flowering Dogwood Dr. - met warrants for speed humps, need 67% of home owners to sign petition requesting them. 
• Three Rivers Dr. east of Anastasia Ln. - met warrants for speed humps/need 67% of home owners to sign petition requesting them.
• Chicora Crossing Blvd. between Carriage Lake Dr. and Peacock Springs - did not meet warrants for speed humps.
• Tanya King at Wild Tamarind - met warrants for stop sign, preparing for Board of County Commissioners approval.
• Tanya King at Guiana Plum (both locations) - did not meet warrants for stop sign.
• Tanya King at Peppervine Dr. - did not meet warrants for stop sign.

 Avalon Park Specific:

• Reclaimed water lines have been installed. 
• All roads within Avalon Park are scheduled for resurfacing.  This is a two year project that will be completed throughout the current and next budget cycle.
• Trees are currently being trimmed throughout the neighborhood.
• Traffic light at Avalon Park Blvd. and Waterford Chase Parkway had a revised signal timing to include a "Leading Pedestrian Interval" allowing pedestrians a head start in order to cross.
• Perdido Drive at Avalon Park Blvd. has new sidewalk connections.
• Pellicer Drive at Avalon Park Blvd. has new sidewalk connections.
• School sign installed on Tanja King and Phoenix Dr. for added safety.
• There were (18) "Share the Road Signs" installed for all of Avalon Park Blvd.
• After road resurfacing is complete, I have requested placement of pavement marking bike lane symbols installed for added cycling/pedestrian safety.
• Striping out 1.5 parking spaces on Tanya King in front of Subway, at Publix entrance to improve line of sight. Waiting for approval by Board of County Commissioners.

Questions/Answers:

Q: Will Alafaya Trail have lighting?

A: At the time the road is completed, there will be no lighting. The County discontinued the Lighting and Landscape Program back in 2009 due to the decline in our economy. Recently there have been discussions by the Board of County Commissioners to re-instate this program for the coming year. There have been other road projects which have occurred prior to the Alafaya project and those roads will receive funding ahead of ours. There has been no timeline established as of yet.

Q: Will Alafaya Trail have landscaping?

A: There will be minimal landscaping once the road is completed. There is a Roadway Median Tree Grant Program that communities, civic organizations and businesses may apply for that would consist of planting trees over a 1/2 mile area. Funding is up to $15,000 and is a dollar for dollar match. A maintenance agreement must also be signed. Once Alafaya is completed, I will host a community meeting to bring together the HOA's abutting the road to discuss the application process for these grants.

Q: When will Innovation Way be connected to the Beachline?

A: There are three entities involved in making this happen: Orange County, The Expressway Authority and International Corporate Park (ICP). I expect this project to move forward quickly because the interchange must be reconfigured to accommodate All-Aboard Florida (new train that connecting OIA to Miami in 2.5 hours).  All-Aboard Florida is beginning construction of the rail lines next year and expect to be fully operational by 2016.  

Q: How long is the widening of S.R. 50? And who is in charge?

A: The widening project of S.R. 50 is occurring between Dean Rd. and Old Cheney. This is an FDOT managed and funded project. It is scheduled to start later this year with a 3-5 year estimated completion date.  

Q: When will Woodbury Rd. be widened?

A: Currently Woodbury Rd. widening is cost prohibitive and is not scheduled in the short range project plan (five year). The major costs of the project will be the widening of the bridge over 408 and the cost to aquire right of ways. I have been in talks regarding short-term improvements to the intersection of Woodbury Rd. and Lake Underhill Rd. which is currently underway. FDOT has agreed to fund improvements to the intersection of Colonial Drive and Woodbury Rd. during the S.R. 50 improvements scheduled to begin later this year. 

Q: Why doesn't Orange County have a better relationship with O.U.C. and invest in improvements for our community? 

A: The County has a strong relationship with OUC and we are constantly working with them. 

Q: When traveling south along Alafaya Trail and approaching the new apartments under construction at the corner of Alafaya Trail and Avalon Park Blvd., will there be a southbound turn lane for motorists?  

A: Yes

Q: How do speed hump ballots get treated if they are not turned in?

A: They are factored as a 'no vote'. The vote is based upon 67% of ballots that are returned.

Q: Why aren't there additional speed signs for 35 mph along Avalon Park Blvd. headed westbound after the roundabout before Publix?

A: We have requested that Public Works assess for more signage.

Q: Is the presence of a radar speed trailer an indication that a speed change is coming?

A: No, it is simply a reminder of your speed.

Q: Will there be a stop sign installed at Tanja King and Phoenix?

A: This is still under evaluation.

Q: How many lanes will there be exiting Avalon Park Blvd. as you approach Alafaya Trail?

A: (2) Straight lanes and (1) right lane.  There will be no new left hand turn lane added in an effort to save trees per resident requests. Also, there are not enough left hand turns being made to warrant it.

Q: When traveling southbound along Alafaya Trail, will the 'No Left Turn' signs into Publix be permanent?

A: Once the widening project is complete, there will be a southbound directional left hand turn lane into Publix. However, when exiting Publix,it will not be possible to make a southbound or left hand turn onto Alafaya Trail. You will only be able to make a right onto northbound Alafaya.

Q: When requesting that a tree needs to be trimmed and it appears to be in the right of way, who do we contact?

A: You may report the matter to 3-1-1 or feel free to contact the District 4 office and we will handle.