Transportation Projects Keep Greater Daytona on the Move

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Maryam Ghyabi-White was born in Iran and eventually immigrated to the U.S., settling in Volusia County. Today, she is president and CEO of Ghyabi Consulting & Management, which is based in Ormond Beach and considered among the top transportation engineering companies in the U.S. 

“Volusia County will forever be in my heart,” she says. “I work a lot of hours with meetings and planning related to transportation, and I have a total commitment toward always improving the traffic situations in Volusia County and the Greater Daytona region.” 

Ghyabi-White has a master’s degree in civil engineering and is also an adjunct professor of civil engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. With her Ghyabi Consulting & Management firm, she is involved with public infrastructure and transportation projects in Daytona Beach and Volusia County that are strategically developed to create more efficient ways for commuters and commercial transit to get where they need to be. 

“I work with many engineers on projects – one might be strong in traffic maintenance, one in surveying, one in drainage issues, another in structural engineering and so on,” she says. “I also work with city, county, state, chamber and economic development officials, with everyone coming together to improve ways to move people and goods.” 

Multimillion-Dollar Deals 

Ghyabi-White says she has worked on many area projects that make her proud, including an effort to widen Interstate 95 from four lanes to six lanes north of State Route 44 to north of U.S. 92 (International Speedway Boulevard). That project also included reconstruction of the I-95 interchange connecting with I-4 and U.S. Highway 92, and it encompassed more than 12 miles of roadway and 20 bridge replacements. 

She was also instrumental in helping to secure $340 million for Ormond Beach and Volusia County from the Florida governor’s Moving Florida Forward initiative for improvements to the U.S. 1/I-95 interchange. In addition, Ghyabi-White has worked on improving truck stops for truckers, focusing on alleviating traffic backups. 

“I’m also proud of the planning for East International Speedway Boulevard, with safety and beautification construction underway on this main gateway to the beach in Daytona,” she says. “It involves eight blocks of roadway from Halifax to Atlantic avenues and should be completed later in 2024.” 

Improving Access for Businesses and Commuters 

Another thought leader behind some of the region’s most significant infrastructure projects is Sans Lassiter, president and founder of LTG (formerly Lassiter Transportation Group) in Ormond Beach. Lassiter has a master’s degree in civil engineering transportation and has spent 45 years planning infrastructure improvements throughout Florida. Founded in 2002, LTG now has over 30 employees. 

“Growth continues to come to Volusia County and all of Florida, so transportation needs to keep up with improved roadways, good traffic signals, roadway lighting and more,” he says. 

Regional projects that recently involved LTG include improvements to the Buc-ee’s travel stop, the One Daytona entertainment development, the Destination Daytona business complex and the Latitude Margaritaville community. 

“We are also involved with the I-4 connector to U.S. 92, helping to plan and design it for a full interchange that will serve a future 5 million-square-foot SunGate Logistics Park in SunGate,” he says. 

Making a Lasting Impact 

Lassiter adds that LTG is also helping with the preliminary design for major improvements to the I-95/State Route 442 (Indian River Boulevard) interchange in Edgewater. Another project involves a southerly extension of Williamson Boulevard from the border of Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach to Edgewater. 

“What might surprise people about this industry is that it can take 20 years to study, design, purchase the rights-of-way and construct a major interchange improvement,” Lassiter says. “Another surprising point is that when considering future planned roadway improvements to address safety and congestion, more than half of the project cost can be for the purchase of right-of-way properties alone.” 

Lassiter adds that the Volusia County transportation system is an increasingly attractive quality-of-life asset to residents, existing businesses and companies relocating to the area. 

“This region has two major interstates, two major railroad systems, a commercial airport and convenient access to seaports along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico,” he says. “Improvements are always being made in transportation.” 

Coming Soon: Downtown DeBary

DeBary, incorporated in 1993, is undertaking a major development project on the heels of its 30th birthday. A groundbreaking ceremony took place in January 2024 on the $500 million DeBary Main Street project, which will involve constructing a downtown from scratch on 50-plus acres across from the DeBary SunRail station. Until now, DeBary has never had a downtown district. 

Shari Simmans, DeBary’s director of economic development, communications and government affairs, says the project will include stormwater systems to prevent previous flooding issues. 

DeBary Main Street is the result of longtime planning and backing by the City Council and City Manager Carmen Rosamonda. The project will include 270 townhomes, 470 apartments and 55,000 square feet of retail. Amenities will include paver roads, ponds, palm trees and a community gathering space. 

“The apartment buildings will have the first floors being all retail, while 36 of the 270 townhomes will be live/work units with first floor retail/services,” Simmans says. “The overall planning also includes parks, trails and green spaces.” 

Simmans says that while this is an economic development project, DeBary also directs much attention to sustainability issues. 

“For example, all developers are required to put in trails and green spaces,” she says. “In addition, the city bought 170 acres of riverfront property in 2023 about a mile from Main Street that was zoned for housing, but it will now become a nature park.” 

Simmans adds that the city also purchased more than 200 acres of wetlands to help the ecosystem. “This focus on intentional, sustainable development ensures that DeBary, naturally, is more than you imagined,” she says.