Residents not warming to CFX Southport Connector plan
Dear Editor:
In regards to the story, “Residents warming to revamped Southport Connector plan” (Dec. 12), residents are not warming up to the plan. Why?
1.The 2018 Concept, Feasibility and Mobility Study concluded that it “will be disruptive to the environment, existing agricultural land uses, and the Poinciana community.” CFX has not explained why it is no longer disruptive.
2. CFX’s Southport Connector Expressway Traffic Conditions slide for 2050 shows Cypress Parkway, even with three lanes, has Level of Service grades of ‘C’ and ‘D’, hence Cypress Parkway remains as congested as it is currently.
3. At the Informal Open House, some attendees were told that the studies would be done in-house, the results may be ignored, and there is no guarantee that the CFX Board will approve this current proposal.
4. With the elimination of the entrance ramp before Publix, vehicles traveling from Pleasant Hill to I-4 will stay on Cypress Parkway through the town center to the entrance ramp past the hospital. With the elimination of the exit ramp by Walmart, vehicles traveling from Poinciana Parkway will exit before the hospital into Cypress Parkway traffic and travel through the town center to Pleasant Hill. Thus, the expressway does not take traffic off Cypress Parkway.
5. Per the Public Involvement Officer, only the traffic on Cypress Parkway was considered. Traffic on Pleasant Hill will increase as more vehicles travel on it to get to the Southport Connector, yet Pleasant Hill from Cypress Parkway to Poinciana Boulevard is graded ‘D’ on Osceola County’s 2024 Network Roadway Capacity Report and there are no plans to improve it on the 2045 projection. And, CFX has no data to support the Social and Economic Impact claims on its website. Business owners/managers and employees canvassed in summer of 2023 and spring of 2024 are worried about loss of business, layoffs, and store closures.
This expressway is not the solution to the traffic congestion in Poinciana.
Carol Kirsch
Poinciana
Not giving up on saving Cypress Parkway
Dear Editor:
After Lita Epstein and a small group of SCAR community outreach volunteers met with the planning and engineering personnel at CFX, she, without consulting other SCAR members, announced to the Solivita Board of Directors, of which she is Secretary, that she felt the plans she just reviewed were acceptable. It was her opinion that the alternative route planned, along Poinciana Boulevard was no longer viable since Osceola County’s widening of that route used up all available right-of-way.
The working volunteers who were instrumental in meeting with the business leaders of Poinciana had never given up on their principle goal; “Save Cypress Parkway” That was and still is a driving commitment of the volunteer outreach group. They were the first to call the CFX Southport Connector “The Great Wall of Poinciana.” This group personally met with over 100 business owners, managers, and employees whose income will be forever destroyed if the destruction is permitted. The outreach group continue to hold community information presentations at the library and at businesses who support their mission.
The current CFX plans include the widening of Cypress Parkway to three lanes in each direction with sidewalks and bike lanes. This is the configuration rejected by the CFX engineers at their 2023 presentation at Valencia College. At that presentation they said there was not room enough along Cypress Parkway to accommodate that plan. There was also a discussion concerning improvements to be made at several local intersections as well as widening Marigold to improve traffic flow. The working group recognizes the game being played, warning Epstein and her original “board’ that until Osceola County Commissioner, and Chair of the CFX Administration, Brandon Arrington, approves the funds for these latest proposed plans, they are not funded and not commitments. Just more smoke and mirrors to confuse the residents of Poinciana.
The Volunteer Outreach Group will continue to oppose the destruction of Cypress Parkway. Their goal is to save employment along Cypress Parkway, protect the businesses that will be adversely affected, and to bring together all those who are willing to save this community for the future of all residents.
Bill Dalton
Kissimmee
