Orlando picked to participate in driving study

ORLANDO, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The City of Orlando has announced that Orlando has been chosen as one of three cities to participate in the first-ever National Complete Streets Coalition's Safe Streets Academy. 

Together, engineers, planners, and related professionals will reportedly identify ways to make streets safer for all users while creating a fun destination that residents and businesses can both enjoy and benefit from. 

Curry Ford Road is being studied right now. Orlando's Transportation Director says that the road is one of the worst in the city when it comes to pedestrian crashes. 

Fox 35 reporter Dana Jay was on scene Thursday morning. She says that the program will change the traffic pattern of the street for about a month or so. They will reduce the number of lanes for cars and add a bike lane on Curry Ford Road between Bumby Avenue and Crystal Lake Drive.

This will reportedly allow experts to study the best way to make roads safer for everyone. They will send any information gathered onto a national organization called Smart Road America. 

Dana Jay also says that the City of Orlando actually won a grant to be part of the program. The lane changes will be coming into play in late March.

The city wants to hear from the community first so they will be hearing a meeting on Thursday night at the Dover Shores Community Center.