- The Tolled First Coast Expressway Is Spurring Economic Development In Northeast Florida
- California Launches Smart Freeway Pilot To Address I-15 Congestion
- Briefer Still: Other Developments TRN Is Following
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The Tolled First Coast Expressway Is Spurring Economic Development In Northeast Florida
According to Northeast Florida economic development officials, the First Coast Expressway (SR 23) in metro Jacksonville is making a significant contribution to regional business and residential growth even though its final phase isn’t due for completion until 2031.
The $1.9 billion four-lane tollway will eventually extend 46 miles through three counties. Florida DOT and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise started construction in 2013 and opened phases one and two with all-electronic open-road toll systems in 2019 and 2025, respectively. The final 2.7-mile phase, which includes construction of a replacement bridge over the St. Johns River, is just getting underway.
The expressway has opened new areas to development and, by improving mobility, supported business growth, the manifestations of which include:
- Business openings and expressions of interest in the Cecil Commerce Center, a 17,000-acre manufacturing, logistics, and industrial aviation hub on Jacksonville’s Westside.
- Retail development around OakLeaf Plantation, a 6,400-acre master-planned community along the border between Jacksonville and unincorporated Clay County. One new facility is a 180,000-square-foot “next generation” Walmart Supercenter adjoining the expressway.
- Plans for construction of two industrial parks near Clay County mixed-use residential developments.
St. Johns County officials expect the area around final expressway phase to become a hub for light industrial, logistics, and flex‑industrial development. The economic development director commented, “The First Coast Expressway is one of the most significant infrastructure investments shaping the future of St. Johns County. More than a new transportation corridor, it represents a catalyst for how and where the county will grow — economically, geographically, and strategically.”
In addition to boosting the regional economy, the tollway has diverted an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 cars each day off of local roads.
Source: Jacksonville Daily Record
Economic & Social Considerations Affecting Transportation Florida Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Jacksonville (FL) Metropolitan Area Open-Road TollingCalifornia Launches Smart Freeway Pilot To Address I-15 Congestion
On June 1, the I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project led by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) went live. Developed in partnership with Caltrans, the Western Riverside Council of Governments, and the City of Temecula, the initiative implemented California’s first smart highway.
The pilot entered into full operation following a 90-day baseline data collection period. It is exploring the capability of intelligent transportation systems to mitigate the severe congestion on a non-tolled eight-mile segment of northbound I-15 between Temecula and the I-15/I-215 Interchange in Murrieta. Sensors installed along the corridor collect real-time data on traffic volumes, speeds, and travel times. A connected system of adaptive ramp meters “operate in coordination to optimize the rate of vehicles entering the freeway during peak hours” and digital signs “display recommended speeds in real-time to improve safety and traffic flow,” according to RCTC. The goal is to “to improve mainline traffic flow, reduce stop-and-go conditions, and enhance travel time reliability.”
The $33 million two-year pilot has received state and local financial support, but the federal government provided $27 million of the funding.
Sources: RCTC news release, CBS News Los Angeles
California Caltrans (CA Department of Transportation) Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Intelligent Traffic Management Systems Intelligent Transportation Systems Riverside County (CA) Transportation Commission (RCTC)Briefer Still: Other Developments TRN Is Following
Volusia County, Florida, Tests Barriers To Prevent Repetition Of Fatal Tollbooth Crash (Spectrum News 13)
Residents And Business Leaders Urge Laredo, Texas, City Council To Rethink Bridge Toll Hikes (KGNS News)
Commentary: More Tolling Is The Most Likely Way To Create Sustainable US Highway Funding (Autoblog.com)
USDOT Released 2026 National Freight Strategic Plan Focused On Six Strategic Goals (AASHTO Journal)
Ontario Will Take Responsibility For Maintaining Two Toronto Expressways And Keep Them Toll-Free (Ontario Government news release)
UK Ferry Operator Will Introduce ANPR-Based Electronic Tolling Next Month (BBC News)
Foreign Investors Propose Building Toll Road For Trucks Between Azerbaijan And Armenia (ARKA News Agency)
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