ORLANDO, Fla. – Osceola County has experienced significant growth over the past decade, bringing more cars to the roads, increased traffic congestion, and longer commute times.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority will meet today to discuss how to manage this rapid growth. On the meeting’s agenda is a review of Osceola County’s population, which has exceeded projections, and an evaluation of infrastructure needs to alleviate traffic.
[VIDEO BELOW: What is a ‘No Zone’ when it comes to traffic?]
Residents have noticed the influx of newcomers in recent years.
“I’ve been here since probably ’93,” Todd Marengo said. “It’s been growing. I mean, it’s a clean environment.”
They have also seen all the traffic that has come with the new residents.
“Oh, it’s horrible,” Quanisha Thompson said about the daily congestion.
“First thing in the morning, usually in the afternoons. It’s the worst,” Marengo added.
[WATCH: This group tells Florida cities how much growth they need to account for]
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Osceola County’s population was 172,531. By 2025, it was projected to reach 410,000, but it has actually grown to 468,058.
“I work in the new construction. So all the new homes definitely bring a lot of people in,” Osceola County resident Dylan Goodman said. ”I remember the Narcoossee, Lake Nona area, about six, seven years ago, it was just cow pastures. Now you’ve got a whole new world out there, and there’s not a good time to drive up and down that stretch.”
Osceola County is expected to continue growing, potentially doubling its population by 2040.
News 6’s Osceola Community Correspondent Laverne McGee reported in June that several new road projects were on the way to deal with the traffic congestion, funded in part by increased mobility impact fees on new building projects.
[WATCH: Here’s when Osceola County drivers could see roadwork projects completed]
Many who face daily traffic delays say they are glad the county’s growth is being addressed, even if solutions will not come quickly.
“I would say there’s really nothing you could do but have 20-lane roads,” Goodman said.
“It’s just a time constraint issue with that. So it’s going to be like that for a while,” Marengo added.
The expressway authority will also receive an update on the Southport Connector project, a proposed 15-mile expressway connecting Poinciana Parkway with Florida’s Turnpike.
Public hearings for the Southport Connector project are scheduled for next month. The expressway authority meeting is set for 9 a.m. today.
[READ agenda and documents for Central Florida Express Authority’s meeting]