Escape lanes in place to help Longwood drivers avoid a train crash

Longwood, Fla. — Extra lanes are now in place on North Ronald Reagan Boulevard and West Bay Avenue, in Longwood, to allow drivers to get out of the way of an oncoming train.

Sunrail, Amtrack  and CSX all use the tracks at that location, where accidents have happened in the past.

So the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the and the City of Longwood worked as partners to build the first of it kind emergency maneuver to prevent future accidents.

The extra lanes are part of a project that includes $1.4 million dollars-worth of overall improvement work along Ronald Reagan and County Road 427.

The Escape Lanes are only to be used if a vehicle is stuck on the tracks due to a traffic back up or a break-down.

Keep in mind that stopping on the tracks is against the law and could net you a ticket near $250.

Longwood police also say it is illegal to park in the escape lanes, they are for emergency use only.