Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT's) commitment towards developing a comprehensive and multimodal regional transportation systems to modernize infrastructure and prepare for the future include:
The purpose of this project is to improve the safety, quality, and reliability of mobility in support of existing and future demand on the US 27 corridor in Highlands County. This study will address all modes of transportation and their users including passenger vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, and freight movements.
US 27 serves as the main arterial through Highlands County connecting the Heartland region Florida including the six counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee and the urbanized area of Highlands County including the cities of Sebring and Avon Park to South Florida. Daily traffic volumes through the Sebring and Avon Park communities are the highest within the study area. US 27 around Avon Park and northward are predicted to be at or near capacity by 2045, making the quality of transportation service unacceptable by FDOT standards. The 2045 cost feasible model includes network improvements to the north of the study area including the completion of the Central Polk Parkway East and the Poinciana Parkway Extension. These improvements will alleviate traffic on I-4 allowing for enhanced accessibility to US 27. To supplement this additional demand, the need to add capacity to the transportation system and identify alternative routes is increased. Highlands County has a higher growth potential than the model predicts, as population trends shift more inland, inland and rural communities become a more desirable and cost-effective alternative to coastal communities. Developing a greater understanding of the importance of connectivity between rural and urban areas is also important to meeting rural challenges in the corridor. The region also assumes employment growth around the major activity centers with the expansion of the Sebring Airport and the Airglades Airfield development immediately south of the study area. Highlands County will continue to experience an influx of new residents and