WAJAS

Redevelopment of an old hotel property on I-Drive. The developer is also moving their headquarters to the area. Orlando International Drive property sold to Atlanta's Del American Real Estate Group - Orlando Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

I like it. More workers in SODO => more supporting business => more residences => higher city revenues => better services* *This is extremely simplified.

I appreciate them braking up the plot. Looks good to me so far. I don't expect high density this far north.

Is there a site plan somewhere?

The spur could still be in use and be used by Sunrail. CSX and other freight activities are already relegated to hours when Sunrail doesn't operate. I don't know about "The Deland House." Maybe that's a deal breaker.

Does that still hold true when the Governorship and one Senate seat are up for re-election? Genuinely asking

Looks like its the right location. DeLand-Station-Concept.pdf DeLand Env Concept.indd (sunrail.com)

What does a not-full station mean? Is there still parking, bus depots, and digital signage?

I recommend taking a read at the approved minutes from the October Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission meeting (CRFC). I have many opinions on what occurred, including the perceived inconsistency in FDOT's comments from earlier and their current position. Not to mention, the Volusia County representative seemed to not immediately understand that the funds, if not used for Phase 2 North, would not necessarily be used for SunRail, and that FDOT would not commit to where the funds would be moved to. Agenda 02-04-2021 FINAL (sunrail.com)

lol, @AmIReal beat you too it.

I don't know to be honest. They either lease, purchased, or have a ROW share agreement with FDOT, CFXA, and GOAA (Greater Orlando Aviation Authority) throughout the route. Hopefully, Brightline's reps have more information at the meeting that we can base our speculation off of. Otherwise, we will need to wait for that study to be finished to have a good idea of what's likely to occur.

You're right that they couldn't operate on the same tracks, but it's currently unclear if Brightline will allow shared use of the tracks or simplify offer the ROW. The early designs for the shared corridor from the OUC interchange to the 417 included exclusive trackage for each. Also, with the addition of the I-Drive Chamber's comments, the likelihood that light rail is used for the whole route increases. Commuter rail is meant to carry more people over longer distances with lower frequencies. Light rail has lower capacity trains with lower amenities that is counteracted by higher frequencies. Generally, the optimized frequency for demand for commuter rail is lower than for light rail.

The pessimism is starting to become a bit much. I appreciate the critical debate on the politicians and reps, but the hyperbole is unnecessary.

An update on the Brightline proposal from the Biz Journal: Miami passenger train Brightline wants to share airport Orlando SunRail corridor - Orlando Business Journal (bizjournals.com) "The proposal is slated to go before SunRail's Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission on Feb. 4" "The International Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce in November 2020 sent a letter to commuter rail commission member and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, requesting the proposed east/west alignment include a connection to Orlando's International Drive tourism and entertainment district." Looks like I-Drive Chamber is trying to force this to become a larger project. I'm all for it! Hopefully, this also forces the conversion to light rail for faster and more frequent service along the east-west route. The Sunrail mainline would stay commuter rail of course for a variety or reasons, like ROW limitations and the longer distance.

Let's get down to brass tax. If you all want a proper transit system, then you are not going to get it from Brightline's proposal and the generosity of the Florida/Federal governments alone. In almost every successful modern area with transit, the region has a dedicated funding source that is above the current cost to operate the transit system. This allows the excess funds to be used to study and (overtime) pay the capital necessary to expand and improve the system, and it also allows the transit provider to make decisions guided by yet not forced from a city or county government. This leads to smarter route selection that is not guided by politics. If you want Orlando to have a proper transit system, then you need a dedicated funding source. I'll be sure to advocate when it comes up again in 2022 or 2024, but this is the reality of the "pipe dream" that many of us have. Innovation Way is a stop because its one of the only areas with residential anywhere along that portion of the route. It's also because the OCCC really likes the idea of Innovation Way becoming a thing, so its a better pitch. Also, none of the current stops (beside the obvious) are anywhere close to final. It's also important to point out that a route like this makes no sense for commuter rail. It honestly should be light rail.

Might want to tag the people in charge. @Neo

Wrong location. This is the block. Looks like its mostly a place called Westartwalls. The graffiti there is honestly beautiful. I might drop by sometime to take a look. Facebook: Westartdistrict - Home | Facebook They look to be a City of Orlando project, so I wonder what happened that caused them to sell the property. Honestly, this seems like a block that doesn't really need the kind of redevelopment that The Adele is. EDIT: @AmIReal looks like we had the same thought at the same time. haha

What's currently there?

From that OIA Connector report I just referenced, the following is a map of the viable alternatives. Alternatives 3,4 are LRT. Alternatives 2,6 are BRT. This is a further development of a previous study with more alternatives, which is why the numbers aren't consecutive. This further developed alternative is the selected alternative, which is a combo of some of the previous alternatives. Sadly, the selected alternative was BRT due to costs.

There have been studies in the past on this. It's the kind of thing that would be more certain with a dedicated funding source. Generally, the line would go between OIA and OCCC through Sandlake. Here's a recent study on the OIA Connector (the corridor along I-Drive and to OIA). It includes the current preferred alternative. You'll notice that they recommended BRT instead of LRT due to costs: arch 2013 (metroplanorlando.org) Here's the most recent SunRail Phase 3 Study. It includes info on the shuttle service and the preferred alternative: 3515-2018-05 Project Development and Environment Study .pdf (cflroads.com) Here's an FDOT report circa 2010 on the multiple rail corridors under investigation for Orlando. You'll notice many past projects like the Original LRT proposal from the early 2000s, Florida High Speed Rail, and OBX as well as current ones like SunRail and the OIA Connector: [Attached] If you want to find the studies and reports on these projects, then use the most used name (like "OIA Connector," "Sunrail Phase 3 Airport") followed by "Study," "Report," "Alternatives Analysis," "Locally Preferred Alternative," "PD&E," "PDF," etc. depending on what you're looking for. CF_Rail_System_Concept_Plan_Booklet.pdf

The S goes between Times Square and Grand Central, but yeah. It's also not the only S train in the MTA. The S just describes the shuttle services, which there are about 3 of depending on when you look.

The current version (pre-Brightline proposal) was a shuttle service between OIA and a new transfer station just north of the Y-interchange with the mainline. This was done b/c the desired frequency (15 mins) would have required triple tracking to Meadow Woods or Sandlake, which would have increased the cost significantly. To get to OIA from wherever on Sunrail, you'd take the train to the OIA transfer station, then take the shuttle train to OIA. Brightline's proposal seems to abandon the transfer station and shuttle service. A single east-west Sunrail line from Innovation Way to Disney would replace it. Intermediate stops are proposed to be at OIA, Meadow Woods (Mainline transfer) and Hunter's Creek. This is just a proposal that hasn't been through any studies as far as we know, so it is very likely to change.

Yeah, supersonic commercial flight has been in the cards again for a few years now, but don't expect anything that will directly effect us for about a decade at least. Look into the X-59 plane, its testing low-sonic boom supersonic aerofoil design, which is necessary for supersonic commercial travel over land.

This confusion stems from differing proposals from CFRC (Sunrail Commision), FDOT, Orange County, and Brightline. It seems the most recent and most likely proposal is from Brightline and will be formally presented to the CFRC during their meeting on February 4th. We'll know more then.

I think he thought the funds would have been better spent on the OIA extension, which I agree with based on the ridership projections. On the bright side, once this is over they'll be able to focus on future projects.