The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) launched a toll rebate program on February 1, 2016 that offers a 99% rebate for public school buses traveling on CFX expressways carrying students from Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Brevard, Polk and Volusia counties.
CFX has been studying the idea for a year after Orange County Commissioner and CFX Governing Board Member Scott Boyd inquired about helping local school districts by waiving tolls for school buses carrying students on official school business. At the October 2015 CFX Board meeting, the 99% School Bus Toll Rebate program was presented and approved by a unanimous vote. Since then, CFX has outfitted over 2,000 public school buses in participating counties with a free E-PASS. The program is contingent on CFX exceeding its revenue projections by 2% in any given month.
“When we talk about having a regional Board looking at regional transportation solutions, this is the kind of thing we’re talking about,” said Lake County Commissioner and CFX Chairman Welton Cadwell. “When Commissioner Boyd brought this to our attention, it seemed like a no-brainer, so I’m happy that we were able to get it done to help the children of Central Florida. Our schools need all the help they can get, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer this relief to them so that they can direct funds they were using to pay tolls to education.”
Orange County Public Schools spokeswoman Lorena Hitchcock noted the school district spent approximately $240,000 in tolls last year. “These funds could be better spent in the classroom focused on teaching and learning,” she said.
“This is a great way to be a good community partner in Central Florida,” said Orange County Commissioner Scott Boyd, CFX’s vice-chairman. “The school districts in Central Florida have an important job to do with limited funds. Giving some money back to the schools is an exciting opportunity, and I’m happy we are able to do it.”
The Central Florida Expressway Authority’s jurisdiction includes Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. CFX is responsible for the construction, maintenance and operation of a 109-mile limited-access expressway system. It may also acquire, construct and equip rapid transit, trams and fixed guideways within its rights-of-way. CFX’s system includes State Road 408 (Spessard Holland East-West Expressway), State Road 528 (Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway), State Road 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay), State Road 429 (Daniel Webster Western Beltway), State Road 414 (John Land Apopka Expressway) and State Road 451.