The Citrus Connections announced today it will reduce bus services starting Monday because ridership has dropped and some drivers are choosing to self-isolate during the coronavirus crisis. While the announcement listed no specific routes, it suggests riders check for updated information via: More
Negotiations for Virgin Trains USA to obtain the right-of-way along I-4 it needs for an Orlando-to-Tampa Brightline express rail service are on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. Local officials hope that the Central Florida rail line would eventually include a Lakeland stop.
After a swan and an ibis were hit and killed by cars on Lake Morton Drive last week, city officials have increased police patrols and are considering adding two raised crosswalks and more 20-mph signs along the highly traveled road.
Plans are in the works to expand the home of the NOAA Hurricane Hunters at Lakeland Linder International Airport to accommodate two new aircraft and 50 to 75 more employees. More
Workers this morning put final touches on the Heritage Plaza Parking Garage as it opened to the public for the first time. The streets surrounding the garage — Kentucky Avenue, Orange Street and Tennessee Avenue — have been resurfaced and are again open to traffic. More
Traffic counters were placed in 90+ locations south of downtown recently (map of locations) to gather data on traffic counts, travel times and vehicle types before the upcoming one-year test of the South Florida Avenue “road diet.” So the timing is good for an update on the Ariana-to-Lime Street narrowing of the roadway. Construction is expected to begin around May in prep for the one-year test scheduled to start around October.
In an effort to increase safety for students walking to Kathleen High Schools and others heading to public transportation, Polk officials are considering changes to Chestnut Road (map) between Memorial Boulevard and New Tampa Highway. The road would become one-way northbound separated by a concrete divider from a two-way multi-use path occupying the current southbound lane. People can learn more and give opinions at a public meeting Tuesday 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Trinity Life Church of God, 1942 W. Memorial Blvd. | Public notice
Residents interested in learning more about the future of Lakeland Linder Airport will have a chance to ask questions and voice opinions at a public meeting Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the airport terminal. Topics addressed in the airport’s 20-year master plan include runway expansion, and the airport director encourages potential homeowners in fast-growing southwest Lakeland to “know what’s happening before they buy a home” | City of Lakeland news release
A short followup on our Friday article about a young couple who wants to introduce electric scooter rentals to Lakeland, focused on downtown, Florida Southern College and routes between the two:
The couple, Jed Irvine and Latisha Forsberg, came to Monday’s City Commission meeting to answer commissioners’ questions about Leaf, the business they started in Duluth, Minn., last summer and they’d like to move to Florida during winters. More
Dreams of more vibrant development to the west of downtown Lakeland got a boost today when city commissioners signaled they’d like to see a transportation hub built just north of the RP Funding Center in the next five to 10 years. More
