Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County and expressway authority brief Winter Springs on SR 452 connector and ask for short‑term gas‑tax contributions
Summary
Seminole County and the Central Florida Expressway Authority presented the proposed SR 452 (Seminole Connector), estimated at about $200 million, and asked Winter Springs to consider contributing a portion of the new 5¢ county gas‑tax revenue for the first 8–10 years to close a final funding gap; commissioners asked for more analysis and a staff work session.
Seminole County and the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) presented the proposed Seminole Connector (State Road 452) to the Winter Springs City Commission on May 11, describing regional congestion relief, direct airport access and potential economic development tied to the Sanford airport area.
County manager Darren Grama and CFX Executive Director Michelle Mikic said the roughly two‑mile elevated connector has an estimated all‑in cost of about $200 million. CFX and the county told city leaders CFX intends to provide about $150 million, the county has committed $25 million and is seeking another $25 million from partners to close the final funding gap. The county proposed that cities consider dedicating the city's share of the newly enacted 5¢ county gas tax to the project for a 8–10 year period; the county said any future outside funding or appropriations would proportionally reduce partner commitments.
Commissioners asked detailed questions about alternatives (widening existing corridors and intersection work), environmental and right‑of‑way impacts through wetlands, the project schedule (design procurement has begun with construction targeted later in the decade), and specific local benefits to Winter Springs. County and CFX staff said the region has limited corridor alternatives, that the PD&E (project development and environmental) work showed constrained options for widening Lake Mary Boulevard, and offered to hold staff work sessions to identify projects Winter Springs values and to explore how leveraged funds could be targeted to local priorities.
No binding commitment was sought at the meeting; county officials asked only that Winter Springs continue dialogue and allow city staff to meet with county/CFX staff to identify concrete shared projects and potential interlocal terms. The presentation drew public questions and requests for more information about how the 5¢ gas tax distribution is calculated and how funds would be protected for local priorities.
