Expanded sidewalks and bike trails, more pedestrian lighting and a slew of other safety features is coming to the roads around the University of Central Florida.

  • Orange County commission approved UCF traffic safety improvements
  • 259 crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists between 2006 and 2014
  • Expanded sidewalks, better lighting, intersection enhancements

Orange County Commissioners approved funding for new safety improvements Tuesday, in light of a study showing the most dangerous areas near UCF along Alafaya Trail and University Boulevard.

The study, which analyzed crash history and traffic volume over an 8-year period and found that Alafaya Trail in the UCF area alone had four times the statewide pedestrian crash average.

From January 2006 to July 2014, 259 crashes in the area involved pedestrians and cyclists. Eight of those were fatal.

Project managers conducted an initial presentation back in July and on Tuesday they shared their findings again with the commissioners, along with UCF President John Hitt.

Hitt voiced his concern for pedestrian safety, saying tens of thousands of lives could be in danger walking to and from UCF everyday.

"My sense is if we can provide better sidewalks and bike lanes that keep people on them longer, I think we will get away from some of the major risks we are encountering," Hitt said.

The plan will cost nearly $5 million and be implemented in phases.

The first phase will include:

  • More signage and UCF branding
  • Pedestrian fencing
  • Landscaping between the sidewalks and the edges of the curbs
  • Intersection enhancements at Alafaya Trail at University Boulevard
  • Better pedestrian lighting
  • A 10-foot pedestrian/bicycle path along the east side of Alafaya Trail
  • Signalized mid-block crosswalk

The second phase will include:

  • 8-foot sidewalks along the roads
  • Textured crosswalks at minor roadways and driveways
  • Additional landscaping outside the UCF area
  • Enhancements at the remaining intersections around UCF
  • Pedestrian lighting outside of the UCF area

"You've got a mix of pedestrian and bicycle traffic along with automobiles and trucks," Hitt said. "So anything we can do to better get ahold of the speed and provide more safety measures for pedestrians and bicyclists to think, we will be well rewarded for that."