- January 21, 2025
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When it comes to road programs, the list of needs Volusia County is long and the sources of funding are short.
A total of 21 projects part of the county's Five-Year Road Program are underway, in addition to the 10 new projects approved to be added to the list by the County Council last month. But the list isn't a comprehensive list of infrastructure needs in the county.
"The road program is not a list of all the road projects that need to be done at the county," said County Engineer Tadd Kasbeer. "It's a list of 'these are the road program projects that we have money for.' Modified that, like I said this year, because funding is a little bit more scarce versus the cost to construct, so we adjusted it to be more of a priority list. So it is becoming more of ,'OK what we can reasonably do and accomplish.'"
Of the 21 current projects, five are located within Impact Fee Zone 1 (which includes Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Holly Hill and Port Orange). They are: the widening of Williamson Boulevard to four lanes from Strickland Range Road to Hand Avenue; the widening of Williamson Boulevard through that intersection and the addition of a traffic signal; the addition of more turn lanes to the intersection of LPGA Boulevard and Clyde Morris Boulevard; improvements to LPGA Boulevard west of the interstate; and a study for the widening of Taylor Branch Road from Dunlawton Avenue to Clyde Morris Boulevard.
Since Volusia doesn't use property taxes to fund road projects, there are four primary funding sources: State and federal grants; impact fees, generated by new development for capacity projects in their respective zones; proportionate fair share dollars, also generated by new development "in congested traffic areas" for capacity projects within their zones; and the 12-cent gas tax, which generates about $6 million a year for road improvements.
"The local option gas tax, while it has increased over time, it's still generally below the cost of living," Kasbeer said."... But when you compare that to what material costs are, those are a lot higher now than they were before. So while we have the same amount of money, our buying power is really reduced overall."
It generally costs the county about $5 million to add two lanes to one mile of road. With proportionate fair share dollars varying due to development year by year, impact fees and the gas tax are the most reliable sources of funding, Kasbeer said. Progress is slow, particularly as road project costs are considerable. The Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge project in Daytona Beach, which was completed in 2020, cost $48 million.
"We do our best to work our way down that list with the money have available. The expectation is that we will get all the way through that list. It's just a question of when."
Tadd Kasbeer, Volusia County engineer
Of the 14 projects included in the five-year road program in 2016, 11 have been completed. In addition to the Veterans Memorial Bridge, some of the completed projects include the widening of LPGA Boulevard to four lanes from Jimmy Ann Drive to Derbyshire Road, the reconstruction of Orange Avenue from Nova Road to Beach Street and the South Williamson Boulevard Extension from Airport Road to Pioneer Trail in Port Orange.
"We do our best to work our way down that list with the money have available," Kasbeer said. "The expectation is that we will get all the way through that list. It's just a question of when."
Growth in Impact Fee Zone 1 is evident, Kasbeer said. Development occurs quicker than road construction, but Kasbeer said that, while he can't predict the future, the county is aware of the large developments — like Avalon Park Daytona —that will impact the traffic corridors in Zone 1.
"The question will be what improvements, what infrastructures, [can be] put in place to help offset that traffic," Kasbeer said. "And our philosophy is that the more alternate routes, the better. The more opportunities for vehicles to find their way, the better off the system, the network is going to be."
