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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Daytona Beach on Friday with two announcements he said will shape the future of transportation.
DeSantis made the announcements at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Center for Advanced Air Mobility, joined by Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue and Embry-Riddle President Dr. Barry Butler.
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Highlighting Florida’s growing role in advanced air mobility technology, DeSantis announced a $56 million road improvement project along Clyde Morris Boulevard in Daytona Beach.
The fully funded project covers three miles of improvements, including a pedestrian tunnel, redesigned intersections, new medians, drainage modifications and a resurfaced roadway — starting two years ahead of schedule.
DeSantis also highlighted Florida’s partnership with Embry-Riddle to build a workforce for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs, calling them a potential solution for congested travel corridors.
“If you land in Tampa Airport and you want to go to Disney World or Universal, you could potentially just leapfrog I-4 entirely,” DeSantis said.
He added that eVTOL taxi service could launch within the next year, with test flights at the SunTrax facility in Polk County expected by the end of 2026. DeSantis noted the aircraft could eventually be used for medical transport, disaster response and law enforcement.
FDOT also announced a partnership with Embry-Riddle to develop a workforce for the next generation of transportation technology, alongside Polk State College near the SunTrax facility.
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Gov. DeSantis announces $56M road upgrade, air mobility partnership at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – clickorlando.com
