Decide what’s next for Polk transportation

Join the Polk Transportation Planning Organization’s Envision 2050 meeting to help plan the future of local transportation.

LAL_west_pipkin_road_widening_APR2025

Let the TPO know how you feel about local transportation projects.

Photo via Google Maps

What could Polk transportation look like in the next 25 years? That’s for locals to decide. The Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) invites the public to the Envision 2050 forum to discuss the org’s long-range priorities.

The Envision 2050 plan will act as a blueprint for creating infrastructure + directing spending to get residents where they need to go, whether it’s by car, foot, bike, bus, or train.

The forum takes place virtually via Facebook livestream on Friday, June 20 from 12 to 2 p.m. Local experts and TPO planners will be on hand to explain the Envision 2050 plan, and there will be time for a Q+A at the end. You don’t need a Facebook account to watch the livestream, but you do need one to comment

Send in your transportation questions by email in advance, or take a survey and add your thoughts to the interactive map online.

Photo of a SunRail train

Keep an eye on FDOT’s project page for updates on the SunRail PD&E study.

Photo via @tnaspen

Before we step into the future, take a look at these projects that are currently in the works or recently completed in Polk County:

  • Roads — Congestion relief lanes opened on I-4 between US 27 and World Drive in April. Readers tell us they’ve made a big improvement in travel times.
  • Rail — The Florida Department of Transportation is conducting a Project Development and Environment study of a possible SunRail extension into Polk County. The proposed expansion would first include stops in Haines City, Loughman, and Davenport.
  • Trails — A pedestrian bridge over the CSX railroad tracks between Lake Wire + the New York Avenue cycle track is in the works, with plans to begin construction in March 2026.
More from LALtoday
Some gifts don’t fit under the tree — make a lasting impact by giving your loved ones a giftable experience instead of a physical present.
What were the top things you ate, drank, and did in 2025? We’re sharing editor and reader picks for you to try in the new year.
From airport news to real estate, these are the top stories our readers loved most this year.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
As Lakeland continues to grow, we’re keeping an eye on upcoming developments and recently opened businesses.
Your favorite hangouts can be just a hop, skip, and a jump away from this rare condo listing in downtown Lakeland.
Short answer: quite a bit. Get the quick updates you need to know about Polk County’s burn ban, water shortage, and an alternative supply project grant.
Dive into how nearly a century and a half of history is kept alive with historical markers around town.
Celebrate Lakeland Community Theatre and the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, which have reached 40 and 60 years in the local arts scene, respectively.
Jonathan Mott has qualified for three Olympic trials, coached hundreds of local runners, and competed all over the world. Here’s how you can follow in his fast footsteps.