ORLANDO, Fla. — WFTV found a new sign that the economy is turning around. New numbers show traffic is increasing on toll roads again and one expert on the economy said it's good news in time for the holidays that more people are getting back to work.
The expert told WFTV it's a good indicator of how the economy is doing right now.
When it took a nose-dive two years ago, traffic on toll roads dropped right along with it. But last month, an extra 84,000 cars passed through the Conway toll plaza on the 408 alone.
People who make a living on the road can tell you traffic and business is picking up, even on the toll roads where prices went up more than a year ago.
"Oh yes it has, thank God for that. So, more driving, more driving," driver Bill Ortiz told WFTV.
Around 700,000 more cars used the Expressway system in October than the same month in 2009. That's less than a three-percent increase, but UCF economist Sean Snaith says it's still a good sign.
"More florists making deliveries, more plumbers making service calls. That's consistent with an economy that is growing," Snaith said.
The toll plaza on the 417 at Curry Ford Road is the only one where traffic is mysteriously still declining.
The Expressway Authority thinks the answer might actually be a new shortcut for people who live around Avalon Park. Taking the new Innovation Way extension, WFTV hit one toll on the 528, but avoided the Curry Ford toll plaza and arrive at OIA in just about 15 minutes.
The old route, using the 408 and 417, took 11 minutes longer, even though it was 25 cents cheaper in tolls.
"I'd rather pay the toll than waste the gas," driver Tim Clark said.
Drivers in east Orange County said they're now looking for what's most convenient.
"It's so fast, get to the Florida Mall like that," driver Monica Brown said with a snap.
So far this year, revenue on the toll roads is up more than $85 million over last year, but critics of the toll hike point out traffic is still down from levels two years ago.
WFTV
