County hosts second Reams Road meeting

Horizon West residents once again had a chance to share concerns about Reams Road during an Orange County community meeting Monday, June 26.

The meeting, hosted by District 1 Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson, featured several Orange County staff members involved with the projects, as well as emergency management personnel, including Raymond Williams, manager of the engineering division; Joe Kunkel, director of public works; Renzo Nastasi, transportation planning manager; Roberto Ng, project manager; Abdul Azim, senior engineer; and Dennis Ela, Orange County Sheriff’s Office captain in Sector 3.

Wilson said her engagement with residents in the area has revealed many different types of concerns.

“This area has been … a source of great anxiety and trouble for so many of us who love our area and our community and want to make sure that as it changes and improves in the future that we’re taking everything into consideration along the way,” she said. 

IMPROVEMENTS

The purpose of the Reams Road project is to widen Reams Road from south of Summerlake Park Boulevard to Taborfield Avenue. 

The proposed design includes two 11-foot-wide travel lanes in each direction separated by a raised median. In addition, a 5-foot-wide sidewalk is located on the south side of the roadway and a 14-foot-wide multi-use trail is planned along the north side of the roadway. 

The project also plans to incorporate drainage improvements, lighting, landscaping and a wildlife crossing. Right-of-way acquisition is needed for the roadway and stormwater improvements. 

For interim improvements, the county has installed a flashing wildlife crossing, trimmed down vegetation to maximize wildlife visibility, cut back vegetation over sidewalks, installed a speed feedback sign, and milled and resurfaced the roadway between Center and Newmarket drives. 

Currently, the project is in the design phase. Right-of-way acquisition also is taking place and is expected to run through the end of 2026. Construction is estimated to begin near the end of 2026. 

Williams said the Reams Road project is estimated to cost about $55 million. 

FICQUETTE ROAD

Ficquette Road is being widened to improve the level of service, enhance traffic operations and improve safety along the corridor. 

The project runs from south of the Reams Road/Summerlake Park Boulevard intersection to south of the Ingelnook Drive intersection. 

The proposed design includes two 11-foot-wide travel lanes in each direction separated by a raised grassed median. A shared-use trail will be provided on the west side, and a five-foot concrete sidewalk will be provided along the east side. 

The project will include realigning the existing S-curves at the Ficquette Road/Reams Road/Summerlake Park Boulevard intersection. Intersection improvement also will be provided at Old Thicket Trace, New Independence Parkway and the Deputy Scott Pine Community Park entrance. 

New stormwater retention ponds will be required and additional right-of-way is needed for the roadway and stormwater improvements. Lighting and landscaping also will be provided along the roadway corridor. 

The project is expected to finish final design halfway through this year. Right-of-way acquisition is ongoing and is expected to continue halfway through 2025. Construction will begin shortly after. 

Williams said the cost of the Ficquette Road project is estimated to be about $35 million. 

CRASH COURSE

Ng presented a map with the traffic engineering improvements in the area. Since 2018, there have been about 125 crashes along the corridor. Of those, there were two fatalities, nine severe crashes and 23 non-incapacitating crashes; the rest were minor.

Ng said the crashes did not take place in one specific area but rather throughout the corridor.

“All of Southwest Orange County is experiencing a lot of growth — and a lot of pains and aches as a result of that,” Ela said. “We actively work with all of the county partners and the School Board as well to try to come up cooperatively with a plan to keep everything cohesive, peaceful and keep traffic flowing and keep kids safe.”

Ng cited improvements added including signs, raised lane separators and span wire signals. 

Horizon West resident David Terry said although he appreciates the safety concerns being addressed, he believes the timing of the projects is off.

“This is because the county is late at getting this job done,” he said. “This is not about people’s behavior or anything else. This road should be done already. Twenty-one thousand cars should not be driving down these roads every day. This was irresponsible. … We shouldn’t be in this situation. We should be done already.”

Don Kendzior, naturalist and president of Noah’s Notes, a nonprofit environmental organization, said although he is happy with the long-term solutions presented for the wildlife in the area, his main concerns are the short-term solutions.

“If we don’t do something now, there’s going to be no wildlife to use a crossing in four years or so when the road is done,” he said. “There is literally no enforcement.”

Ela said he is limited in his resources and if he has to choose between a human life and a wild animal, it’s going to be a human life.

“I’m happy to interact with you and figure out the best times of day that we can selectively take care of some of your problems, but that requires a discussion,” he said. “Keep in mind that I am charged with human safety as a priority. That will not change.”