The impacts of Hurricane Ian were felt throughout the state, including Central Florida. Board Chairman Sean Parks stated in the October 13 board meeting, "He was proud to be part of the Central Florida community," and was impressed with the preparation and response of the region to the storm.

For CFX, damage to the expressways was relatively minor compared to others in the state with no significant damage to roadways, bridges, or signage. The main impacts were due to heavy rainfall, which forced CFX to temporarily close portions of the roadways due to flooding. CFX lost approximately $30 million in revenue due to temporary toll suspensions put in place by Governor DeSantis to aid evacuation efforts. In total, tolls were suspended 17 days, from September 27 at 5 p.m. until October 15 at 6 a.m.

Listed below are federal and local disaster recovery resources for residents in need of assistance in the aftermath of any storm.

Enjoy the convenience of online account management on your mobile phone. Save time, manage payments and monitor your E-PASS account activity anytime, anywhere. Download the E-PASS Mobile App for your Apple or Android phone to take advantage of fast, easy-to-use features like tracking toll discounts, checking your toll balance, adding funds to your account or resolving transaction alerts in real time.

If you prefer to manage your account from your desktop, E-PASS online account management makes it quick and easy to update your account information, including license plate and payment information.

We encourage you to take a few moments to log in to your E-PASS account and verify that all account information is accurate. This will help you avoid receiving future Pay By Plate toll invoices that can cost up to double on tolls. If you have any questions, please see our Frequently Asked Questions or call the Customer Service Center at 407-823-7277 or 1-800-353-7277. The call center is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-7:00p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Quickly add money to your existing E-PASS account using cash or credit/debit card at one of CFX’s drive-up customer service Reload Lanes. Also, tell your friends and family that they can open an E-PASS Account at the Reload Lanes. The Reload Lanes are open seven days a week from 6 a.m.- 8 p.m., learn more here.

Maintaining 125 miles of expressways, not to mention 361 bridges, 3,100 signs and over 11,000 highway lights, requires an extensive network of partnerships and a robust maintenance team. In his October update to the board, CFX Director of Maintenance Donald Budnovich shared that the CFX maintenance team, which includes CFX Road Rangers, along with partners Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Florida Highway Patrol, the Regional Traffic Management Center, and others work to deliver a safe and enjoyable travel experience for our customers.

Budnovich shared that maintenance team members are on the expressways daily to ensure customer safety. To view the board presentation, click here.

CFX is studying a potential new direct connection between SR 417 (Seminole Expressway) and the Orlando Sanford International Airport. This project was first identified as a need in a 2007 study, but was not pursued due to financial viability. Then in 2021, the Seminole Board of County Commissioners requested that CFX conduct another feasibility study to develop and evaluate transportation options for travelers needing a more direct route between SR 417 and the airport. The Concept, Feasibility, and Mobility (CF&M) Study is developing and evaluating transportation alternatives that will allow for better connectivity and ease future traffic growth in the area.

For more information, please visit the study webpage at Bit.ly/SR417AirportConnector.

CFX has kicked off a study evaluating a proposed half interchange on SR 429 at Binion Road. The new expressway ramps, from Binion Road to northbound SR 429 and from southbound SR 429 to Binion Road, would enhance access and mobility to southwest Apopka. Currently, the closest interchanges are three miles north at US 441 and three miles south at Ocoee-Apopka Road.

As part of the study, CFX will be holding a public meeting at Apopka High School on Thursday, November 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be in an open house format where the public will be able to view exhibits, ask questions and provide comments. For more information, visit the study webpage at bit.ly/SR429BinionRdIntPDE or email us at Construction@CFXway.com.

CFX SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM IN ACTION 

At the October Board meeting, CFX Director of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Bryan Homayouni shared a status update on the CFX Sustainability Plan. The plan includes sustainability projects throughout CFX-owned roadways, facilities and properties in the Central Florida region, such as a new solar system that converts sunlight to electricity and provides sustainable power to select parts of the CFX system. To learn more about the CFX Sustainability Plan and projects, view the board presentation here.

Have friends and family flying into Orlando International Airport and renting a car during their stay? Tell them about Visitor Toll Pass, a FREE loaner toll pass for rental car customers traveling roundtrip through the Orlando International Airport. With Visitor Toll Pass, you always pay the lowest toll rate throughout Florida with no hidden fees or surcharges. Remember when using Visitor Toll Pass it is important to opt out of the rental car toll program. Travelers can reserve a Visitor Toll Pass ahead of time or on the spot at the airport using the Visitor Toll Pass app available on Google Play and Apple App stores.

Finally! A toll pass that blends into your windshield. Uni is now available in black so you can drive in style while enjoying nonstop travel on toll roads in 19 states, from Florida to Maine and west to Minnesota. Plus, you are eligible for volume toll savings when traveling on CFX roads. You can even move Uni from car to car and use it to pay for parking at Orlando International Airport and Port Canaveral! Purchase Uni online at Amazon, at GoWithUni.com, at the CFX Walk-In Center, in the Reload Lanes, or via the E-PASS app.

Want to be sure you grab your GatorPass, KnightPass or NolePass in time for the next game? Order on Amazon today: GatorPass, KnightPass, NolePass. You can purchase your own by ordering on Amazon, by ordering online, via the E-PASS app, or at one of the campus bookstores at UF, UCF, or FSU. Click your team to view its football schedule: Gators, Knights or Seminoles.

Follow us on social media to keep up to date with your favorite teams!

Facebook: @MyGatorPass | @MyKnightPass | @MyNolePass

Twitter: @MyGatorPass | @MyKnightPass | @MyNolePass

Brightline’s Orlando extension project is more than 83% complete and work along SR 528 between Orlando International Airport and Brevard County is nearing completion. The new Narcoossee bridge and traffic shift associated with the new exit ramp was finished earlier this year and track work continues along the corridor south of SR 528. Freight cars can be seen on the track delivering ballast and other materials for this work. By the end of this year you’ll likely start to see Brightline trains testing along the corridor at speeds of up to 125 mph. The $2.7B project is expected to be completed in early 2023, with service to Orlando starting shortly thereafter. Click here to learn more.

On October 21st, FDOT opened the first Wekiva Parkway (SR 429) ramp at the interchange of Interstate 4 and SR 417, signaling the completion of Central Florida’s beltway is nearing its final stages. Nearly 23 miles of the parkway’s 25 miles have already been completed, helping to make travel more efficient and reducing commute times. CFX opened the last of its 10 miles of the parkway in 2018.

The new ramp enables those driving westbound on I-4 to take southbound/westbound SR 429 toward Mount Dora, Apopka, the theme parks, and I-4 heading toward Tampa. Project updates and information can be found on WekivaParkway.com.