property
Transport Upgrade Creating New Commuter Suburb East of Tallahassee
A $52 million road widening and bus lane project along Apalachee Parkway will open in 2027 and shift housing demand toward the Miccosukee Road corridor.
How we reported this
The Florida Department of Transportation will finish four new express bus lanes and two additional through lanes on Apalachee Parkway between Capital Circle and the Miccosukee Road intersection by March 2027.
The change arrives as Tallahassee home prices have climbed 11 percent since January and office vacancy downtown sits at 14 percent, pushing workers to seek housing farther from the Capitol complex.
StarMetro already runs Route 20 along the same corridor, and the new dedicated lanes will cut the current 28-minute ride from the parkway to the corner of Monroe Street and College Avenue to 16 minutes during peak hours. Residents near the new Southwood Elementary School on Southwood Drive and employees at the nearby Florida Department of Environmental Protection headquarters on Commonwealth Boulevard will gain the quickest access.
Leon County property records show 187 single-family permits issued along the Miccosukee corridor in the first half of 2026, up from 92 in the same period last year. Average sale prices for homes within one mile of the future bus stops reached $318,000 in June, compared with $274,000 citywide.
Builders already moving lots
Two national builders have optioned 64 acres between Miccosukee Road and the future bus stops. One project will deliver 210 townhomes priced from $289,000, with the first units scheduled for occupancy in late 2028. A separate 180-unit apartment complex will include ground-floor retail facing the new transit stops.
City planners expect the added housing to increase weekday traffic on Apalachee Parkway by roughly 4,200 vehicles but project the express lanes will absorb most of the new riders during morning and evening peaks.
Next steps for buyers and commuters
StarMetro will begin selling monthly passes for the new express service in January 2027 at $68, with stops at the existing park-and-ride lot on Apalachee Parkway east of Capital Circle. Prospective buyers can review approved site plans at the Leon County Planning Department office on Meridian Street before the next public hearing scheduled for September.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.