prfsc

Recent data ( https://www.bestplaces.net/transportation/zip-code/florida/poinciana/34759 )  shows that Poinciana commuters spend more time stuck in traffic than commuters elsewhere in Central Florida, Florida or elsewhere in the United States. 54% of Poinciana commuters spend more than two hours every day stuck in traffic trying to earn a living to support their families. Osceola County traffic data ( https://www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/transportation-transit/traffic-counts-map.stml ) shows that the biggest source of traffic congestion for Poinciana is Cypress Parkway. That problem was identified in a 2013 study conducted by Florida Department of Transportation recommending the  Southport Connector project be built to help the Poinciana commute situation. Yet that project remains stalled today because of a Federal Civil Right complaint filed in October 2022 by a Solivita person opposing the project.

Recent Congressional Inquiries filed by Representative Darren Soto  ( https://prfsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/The-Honorable-Darren-Soto_Keith-Laytham_DOT-Response_Redacted.pdf  ) and Senator Marco Rubio ( https://prfsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Laytham_Keith-DOTResponse5.13.24.pdf ) show that contrary to claims made by the person who filed the complaint the Federal Highway Administration still is in the preliminary stage of investigating the complaint. The preliminary investigation will determine whether to accept the complaint for investigation, dismiss it or refer to another agency.

It has been 20 months since the complaint was filed and according to the response to the congressional inquiry the complaint remains under preliminary investigation. How can this be helping the people of Poinciana?

With the help of Congessman Sota and Senator Rudio I was recently able to speak with the program analyst conducting the preliminary investigation. He stated that the reason for the delay has been the number of such complaints that have been filed nationwide. At his request I provided him with some data about the Poinciana Cypress Parkway traffic situation. ( https://prfsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Data-provided-to-Federal-Civil-Rights-Complaint-Evaluation.pdf )

The data confirms that 10 years after the original FDOT study was conducted the need to build the Southport Connector to relieve the Poinciana commute problems remains stronger than ever. The data shows that the proposed alternative of adding additional lanes to Cypress Parkway will not solve the problem. The data also shows that the only solution to congestion at the Cypress Parkway intersections will be to build elevated flyovers for Cypress Parkway intersections to allow through traffic to pass without stopping at red lights.

The data provided is what it is. The facts are the facts. The only way to solve the Poinciana commute problems is to add additional elevated lanes to Cypress Parkway. Just like the 2013 study identified the only solution is to build a limited access elevated expressway on Cypress Parkway allowing another way in and out of Poinciana connecting to Florida Turnpike which is the major north/ south highway feeding into the Orlando area.

Hopefully this complaint will soon be resolved. How can building the only solution that can relieve Cypress Parkway congestion be a denial of civil rights for the working people of Poinciana?