Wekiva Parkway

The regional planning organization of the Orlando area termed MetroPlan has approved the new Wekiva Parkway tollroad. Approval was regarded as more than a formality since the project was seen by some as taking money that has better uses. However the vote in favor was 17 to 2 according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The project is in a lightly developed northern section of the metro area but it will complete  belt route add well as providing improved mobility east-west across the north of the built-up area.

All at a high cost however of $1.7b for 25 miles.

Under the latest agreement between Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA) and Florida DOT/Turnpike the troubled regional authority will build just two of eight segments. The other six will be a state responsibility. And in order to get the state to take on the project OOCEA is agreeing to accelerate payments on an old loan from the state - called in the obscure language of these deals a 'lease purchase agreement' with the state.

Just weeks after OOCEA, the Orlando toller, defeated a move at the state legislature by Florida Turnpike to dismantle it and take over its network of tollroads in central Florida, all is apparently forgiven. The chair of the OOCEA Walter Ketcham announced before the holiday break that the state Turnpike had offered what he called a "meaningful partnership toward making the Wekiva Parkway a reality."

The Orlando Sentinel quotes top officials of the Orlando Orange County (Toll) Expressway Authority (OOCEA or Orlando Toll) as saying they are working on new plans for the Wekiva Parkway, a $2b 40km (25mi) highway in the northwest of the metro area, which would close the last gap in a belt route and, with a spur, make for the beginnings of an expressway west.

The Sentinel quotes OOCEA chairman and Orlando County mayor Rich Crotty: "Closing the loop is critical."