03.07.2024

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Sunrise 6:45 a.m. | Sunset 6:32 p.m.

Planes, trains, and automobiles

Planes, trains, and automobiles: The state of transportation in Lakeland

An Avelo Aircraft sits on the tarmac with the word "Avelo" painted on its side

You could soon take off on a plane without having to leave Lakeland. | Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Avelo Air

Need a map for the major changes coming to Lakeland’s roads, rails, and airport? Stay updated on these local transportation changes — as well as what could be coming down the pipeline.

Planes

Avelo Airlines plans to begin passenger service from Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) around mid-2024. Its first destinations are still under wraps, but our readers hope places like New Haven, CT and Wilmington, DE will be announced soon.

Meanwhile, LAL is making around $3.4 million worth of improvements + additions to the terminal to add security screening checkpoints, plus parking for both passengers and planes. The city also recently approved a five-year agreement with Avis Budget Car Rentals.

Photo of a SunRail train — It would cost around $27 million per mile to extend SunRail west.
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Photo via @tnaspen

Trains

Polk residents could soon ride the rails on a SunRail train. The possible extension project entered the project development and environment phase in October 2023, and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) started seeking out firms to study the extension in January before starting on designs.

If approved, SunRail could extend its western limits from the Poinciana station to Lakeland, with a price tag of up to $1.08 billion. The Polk Transportation Planning Organization is also seeking funds to build a Lakeland Intermodal Center near downtown, which could include train and bus stations.

A time-lapse photo of car lights at night on I-4. The interstate is separated by a median and lined by streetlights. — Get your SunPass ready — FDOT also plans to add express lanes to I-4.
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Photo by @j.j_photography95

Automobiles

The TPO recently shared its 2023 Year in Review, which includes 34 priority projects. The top priority is reconstructing the interchange between I-4 and State Road 33.

Highways 98 + 92 are also due for upgrades, and construction on West Pipkin Road continues — eastbound lanes are set to reopen this month after being pushed back from January.

Another high priority is adding lanes to I-4 from Highway 27 to the Osceola County line (think: Championsgate). FDOT has earmarked $635 million from the Moving Florida Forward initiative for this project, but work isn’t scheduled to begin until 2027.

Events

Thursday, March 7

Access Art | Thursday, March 7 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland | Free | Register for this interactive art tour and activity for individuals with special needs and their guardians or caretakers.
The Reserve Book Club | Thursday, March 7 | 5:30-6:50 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Meet with other readers to discuss “Maame” by Jessica George.
Symphony Strings Concert | Thursday, March 7 | 7 p.m. | Harrison School for the Arts, 750 Hollingsworth Rd., Lakeland | $9-$12 | The Harrison Chamber and Philharmonic Orchestras will perform alongside three school alumni.

Friday, March 8

Yoga for Beginners | Friday, March 8 | 10-11 a.m. | Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $5 | Bring your mat and water to this class for all levels of yogis 16 or older — locations vary by day.
Exploration Station | Friday, March 8 | 2-4 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Create pressed flower bookmarks and check out a book from Barney’s Library at the Nature Center Classroom.

Saturday, March 9

4 Lap Clover 5K | Saturday, March 9 | 7:30-10 a.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | $40 | Wear your greenest outfit for this run around Lake Wire, then celebrate with a free pint at Swan Brewing.
Spring Obsession | Saturday, March 9 | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | Munn Park, 201 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free entry | Shop for plants and get tips for beautifying your garden.
Open Mic Second Saturdays | Saturday, March 9 | 7 p.m. | Quinteassence, 839 N. Massachusetts Ave., Ste. 101, Lakeland | Free entry | Show off your spoken word, poetry, visual art, or musical talents.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Number

$17.5 million. That’s how much federal funding Polk County legislators requested for road projects. In addition to widening Kathleen Road, projects include improvements in Winter Haven and Davenport. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Community

Want to know which trends are impacting our community? Register for the State of the County meeting on Thursday, April 25 at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (1891 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven). Speakers include County Manager Bill Beasley, PCPS Superintendent Frederick Heid, and more.

Open

There’s a new creative space for young makers. SPLAT Studio opened this weekend at the Florida Children’s Museum, offering educational art activities. Pro tip: It’s included with your ticket or membership.

Health

AdventHealth will use Lakeland Linder International Airport to station AirStar 1, its first air transport helicopter. The aircraft will be used to transport those in rural areas more quickly during a medical emergency. (Fox 13 News)

Concert

British performer Tom Cridland will bring the flashy fashion + piano prowess of Elton John to Lakeland on “Tom’s Elton Tribute US Tour.” Catch him tomorrow at the Polk Theatre at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $30. (Fox 13 News)

Job

Lakeland’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department is now hiring for seasonal summer roles. Check out the requirements for lifeguards, summer camp counselors + site leads, bus drivers, and tennis instructors.

Sports

Timothy Peoples, a senior wrestler at George Jenkins High School, won the Russ Mauger Mental Attitude award at last week’s state championships. The award goes to an athlete who shows great sportsmanship each season. (The Ledger)

Eat

WACO Kitchen has unveiled a new menu. Head to this restaurant at LAL airport to try new dishes like swordfish, chorizo fries, coconut lime panna cotta, and more.

Drink

Learn the art of making coffee at Ethos Roasters’ Brewing Experience. Tickets are now on sale for a newly added date on Wednesday, May 29. The class includes a coffee dripper, filters, and a bag of coffee to take home.

Try This

Artisan crafts, jewelry, home goods, art, plants, eats, drinks + more — Lakeside Second Sunday Market has it all. We recently checked out the monthly market (happening on, you guessed it, every second Sunday). See how our day went.*

Drink

Love coffee… but tired of paying Starbucks prices? Save a dollar on your morning (or afternoon) fix at Andrew’s Coffee, a drive-thru coffee shop serving up dozens of drinks for under $5. Psst: Word has it they beat Starbucks on quality, too. See their top 50 drinks for under $5.*

Pets

Wonder Paws’ Omega Max Drops for dogs are veterinarian recommended, support healthy joints, and reduce itchy skin and shedding. Get 15% off with code DQMRME3N.*

Development

Old school meets new school

Southwest Middle School is getting a new campus

A new lit sign for Southwest Middle School sits in front of its newly built, two-story administrative building. A US flag pole sits a few feet away from the sign.

Welcome to the new Southwest Middle, home of the Seminoles. | Photo via Polk County Public Schools

Southwest Middle School just got a glow up. Following a groundbreaking ceremony held in September 2022, Polk County Public Schools celebrated the opening of the refreshed campus this past Monday, March 4.

The goal of the $55 million+ campus modernization master plan was to update the entire school, which was founded in 1956. A new two-story building totaling more than 175,000 sqft includes:

Administrative offices
Classrooms + laboratories
Media center
Fine arts suite
Combined cafeteria + auditorium
Outdoor dining space

Students and teachers have been using the updated buildings since January 2024 — next, most of the older structures will be demolished, barring the original physical education facility, gym, and science building.

This isn’t the first modernization project PCPS has finished recently. It’s also updated Garner Academy, Mulberry High, and Bartow High. Next on the list: Elbert Elementary School in Winter Haven.

See more photos

The Buy

The Buy 3.07.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Your favorite pair of sneakers from Nordstrom Rack’s spring sneaker edit. We’re loving the prices on pairs from Cole Haan and Lacoste.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Connor

From the editor

Did you sign up for one of Ethos Roasters’ coffee brewing classes? We’re an Ethos house, so I always get a new bag at the farmers market when I’m running low. My favorites are the Crema and Planadas roasts — now I just need to learn their expertise for at-home brewing.

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