Deltona staff briefed the City Commission on May 3 that the FY2026 transportation budget will include funding for studies and potential elevation work on Catalina Boulevard and El Cam Boulevard and listed recommended resurfacing streets by district.

John McKinney, finance director, said the Catalina and El Cam items are paired with a cost-share agreement to be considered with the Florida Department of Emergency Management; the state funding would be a FEMA pass-through for roadway elevation work.

Commissioners and staff debated whether raising El Cam or building a bridge is the better long-term solution. One commissioner urged consideration of a bridge, citing available grant opportunities and potential lower long-term costs compared with repeated road elevation. Another commissioner warned raising the road without enlarging culverts could create a “dam effect.” As one commissioner put it: “I have some concerns about building a road up, elevating the road and creating a dam, so to speak, and backing the water up farther north, when we get a severe storms as we did last year.”

Phyllis Wallace of Public Works said staff has submitted specific El Cam sections to DEM for consideration and listed the two areas where the city saw repeated flooding during the last storms. She noted the funding requested will be focused on targeted sections, not an entire roadway.

Staff said maps and street lists for proposed resurfacing will be included in the budget book and that if elevation projects proceed, the city will seek to avoid duplicative paving work by timing construction prudently.

Next steps: the commission will consider cost-share agreements at the next meeting and staff will incorporate study recommendations into the FY2026 CIP if agreements proceed.