Oviedo’s plan for roads, transit gets planning board approval

The possibility for a driverless shuttle system, public transportation that loops in the Oviedo Mall and large neighborhoods and ways to create safe shared lanes between cyclists and motor vehicles were the focus of the Oviedo Local Planning Agency Board’s discussion of the city’s proposed mobility plan on July 19.

The mobility plan aims to adjust future roadway and transit improvements to the city’s updated 25-year growth plan. The Oviedo City Council is expected to consider the mobility plan during its next scheduled meeting on Monday night.

Here’s a list of roadway projects the city proposed prioritizing

The city’s consultant presented a prioritized project list to the Local Planning Agency on July 19. Image courtesy of the City of Oviedo. Click on the image to enlarge.

The city’s consultant pitched an autonomous shuttle path connecting Oviedo on the Park and the historic downtown, or as it was called by the consultant, “Uptown Oviedo”. Lake Nona’s driverless shuttle system launched three years ago and the city of Altamonte Springs recently finished the design of its autonomous vehicle’s proposed path, with stops at the local hospital, SunRail station and the Altamonte Mall.

Conditions for approval added

LPA members approved the plan with the condition that staff further research incorporating an autonomous vehicle path connecting downtown Oviedo with the Oviedo Mall. The consultant said they hadn’t considered the connection because the path can only run on roads with speed limits of 25-miles-per-hour or less. The original pitch suggested that the Oviedo Boulevard speed limit be reduced from 30 to 25-miles-per-hour.

Another condition is that large neighborhoods be included in the circulator route.

“One section you all forgot: the majority of our population today lives in places like Live Oak and The Sanctuary and Alafaya Woods and Twin Rivers. So far, you haven’t addressed any of those issues of mobility to get them from that point to this point. So, with that statement, if it’s not in here I have a hard problem with it,” LPA Chairman Darrell Lopez said.

A 2-acre mobility hub, used as a bus stop, bicycle locker and rideshare pick-up, was recommended for the Oviedo Mall. LPA members also asked that something similar be considered near the Lake Live Oak and Sanctuary neighborhoods.

The mobility plan includes shared bike and motor vehicle lanes down the stretch of Oviedo Boulevard that connects Oviedo on the Park and the historic downtown. The LPA recommended increased safety measures, including definitive signs along the lanes signaling that they’re shared.

“…Maybe like a big, really clear LED sign that says ‘Bikes will share lanes with drivers,” LPA member David Pollack said.

The image highlights proposed roadway improvements between Oviedo on the Park and the historic downtown. Image is courtesy of the City of Oviedo. Click on the image to enlarge.

Where the money will come from

Funding for the projects and programs in the mobility plan is proposed to come from a mix of sources, one of which is a possible mobility fee, meant to replace the current transportation impact fund that’s set to expire in 2025. Assistant City Manager Patrick Kelly said both are collected from developers whose projects impact the roadways.

Another source is the Local Option Gas Tax, which Kelly said is administered countywide with each city receiving a portion of the total revenue.