Driving CFX: June/July 2020

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JUNE/JULY 2020 | ISSUE 64

COVID-19 UPDATE

CFX continues to monitor ongoing developments surrounding COVID-19 and take the appropriate safety precautions. Following local government’s phased opening plan, CFX resumed full operations of staffed toll booths and drive-up customer service Reload Lanes on June 1. The walk-in E-PASS Customer Service Center and the CFX headquarters remain temporarily closed to the public until further notice.

Follow updates on CFX's COVID-19 Updates page as well as Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on the latest information.

During the June Board meeting, the CFX Governing Board voted unanimously to approve a five-year, $2.7 billion dollar work plan. The Five-Year Work Plan is part of CFX’s budget process and serves as an important tool for CFX to effectively manage system improvements and necessary expansion to CFX’s 125-mile expressway system.

The plan includes 15 road widening projects, the Poinciana Parkway extension project, the Lake/Orange Expressway project, and CFX’s environmental sustainability program. Read the press release about the Five-Year Work Plan here .

POINCIANA PARKWAY NOW INCLUDED IN VOLUME DISCOUNTS

Osceola County drivers who frequently travel Poinciana Parkway have something to celebrate—Poinciana Parkway tolls now count toward E-PASS's exclusive volume discounts. With E-PASS, the more you drive, the more you save. Read about all E-PASS discounts here .

A new toll rate, the Pay By Plate rate, took effect July 1 on CFX roads. Drivers who prefer to receive an invoice in the mail are now being billed at the new Pay By Plate toll rate; previously, Pay By Plate customers paid the cash rate plus 20 cents in administration fees. Due to the increasing cost to collect tolls from drivers who choose not to use an electronic transponder or cash, the new rate is double the electronic toll rate. E-PASS is the most cost effective payment option.

Drivers have three options for paying tolls:

Pay electronically with E-PASS or similar prepaid toll program (lowest toll rate)
Pay cash at toll booths and coin machines
Pay by toll bill at the new Pay By Plate rate (highest toll rate)

Please note: This rate also applies to E-PASS drivers without enough funds in their E-PASS account to cover their tolls – if you have E-PASS, make sure your account has funds and your information is up-to-date, including your address and license plate number.

Spread the word! With E-PASS you always pay the lowest toll rate and save even more with exclusive local toll discounts . No other transponder offers you lower rates on Central Florida expressways.

Pay By Plate customers now have an easier way to pay toll invoices using their smartphone. With the newly released Pay By Plate app feature on the E-PASS app, customers simply download E-PASS Toll app on the App Store or Google Play Store , select “Pay Your Toll Invoice,” and input their Pay By Plate reference number and license plate number to pay any outstanding toll bills. This new feature offers customers the added convenience of choosing to pay with a credit card, a debit card, or their Apple Pay or Google Pay account.

Pay By Plate customers who download the app and sign up for E-PASS will instantly receive up to 40% off their total outstanding toll balance.

Whether you’re headed across town or up the east coast, Uni lets you travel nonstop on toll roads in 18 states with just one toll account, from Florida to Maine and west to Illinois. Drivers with Uni receive all the benefits of E-PASS—including savings over cash and Pay By Plate rates, plus volume discounts on CFX expressways.

Uni, initially launched as E-PASS Xtra, offers all the same benefits and features with newer, future-ready toll technologies. Own an E-PASS Xtra? Your transponder will continue to work throughout 18 states and be fully supported as part of the E-PASS family of products.

Learn more and order Uni at GoWithUni.com .

In partnership with Orange County, a $2.3 million signal installation project at New Independence Parkway and SR 429 in Winter Garden is complete ahead of schedule.

CFX and Orange County installed new traffic signals to enhance safety and direct traffic for vehicles entering and exiting SR 429, while new pedestrian signals were installed at the southbound SR 429 exit ramp to New Independence Parkway.

Read more here .

The Florida Department of Transportation in partnership with CFX opened a series of new flyover ramps at the I-4/SR 408 interchange in May.

The new interchange configuration features wider and longer ramps, and each movement between I-4 and SR 408 has a dedicated ramp to allow drivers to "fly" between the two major roads. You can view an interactive map of the new configuration at the I-4 Ultimate website .

PUBLIC MEETINGS GO VIRTUAL

CFX continues to welcome public input in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak and is now holding public meetings virtually. At its first virtual public meeting in June, CFX's pre-construction SR 417 Corridor Widening Project presentation focused on the project's first two segments, spanning 7.8 miles from International Drive to Landstar Boulevard. CFX answered questions in real time from the 68 participants who joined the online event. You can read more about the 5-segment, 22-mile project and watch the meeting presentation here .

Upcoming Public Meetings

The next virtual public meeting about the SR 417 Corridor Widening Project will take place on July 22. The pre-construction presentation will focus on Segment 3, from Landstar Boulevard to Boggy Creek Road. Meeting and attendance information can be found here.

A pre-construction virtual public meeting is scheduled July 29 for the Poinciana Parkway Widening Project from County Road 580/Cypress Parkway to Ronald Reagan Parkway.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Noticed something new at the Dean Road and University Road toll plazas? Wraps on the toll booths near the University of Central Florida campus celebrate Orlando’s hometown team, the UCF Knights.

Want to take the team spirit with you? Get a KnightPass toll sticker at GetKnightPass.com . Charge on!

DO YOUR PART TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE

In a collaborative effort, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced a new communications campaign, "Safer, Stronger, Together" to help businesses and residents do their part abiding by CDC guidelines for a safe reopening for all. This campaign came out of the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force and was developed by Visit Orlando and the Orlando Economic Partnership. It asks businesses and citizens to "Do Their Part" by making the "Promise" below:

As a business serving you, we promise to:

Have hand sanitizer available
Wear face coverings
Practice good hygiene
Follow social distancing and capacity guidelines
Follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting
Train employees on COVID-19 safety procedures

As a guest, I promise to:

Wash or sanitize hands before entering a business
Wear face coverings
Follow social distancing guidelines
Not enter a business if I am sick, have a fever or other symptoms
Avoid physical contact with staff and other guests
Use a credit or debit card whenever possible

You can learn more and access a business toolkit at www.DoYourPartORL.com including flyers, posters, digital banners, and social media graphics available in English, Spanish and Creole.

DID YOU KNOW?

No doubt you've noticed the beautiful trees, bright flowers and lush plants framing CFX roads - but did you know that there's more to our natural enhancements than a nice view? The landscaping along our expressways is purposefully designed to benefit the local environment.

Click here to read more about CFX's landscaping, sustainability efforts and the awards the CFX landscaping team has earned.