i_cre8

According to Orange County, an 8-story hotel.

I'm assuming you mean this (65MB doc): North-South Light Rail Draft

FDOT and Amtrak still bickering according to the Sentinel: article

CreativeVillageOrlando.com

Amen!

Obama and the Feds may all be for mass & rail transit, but if the local yahoos keep thumbing their noses at Federal funding (whatever the reason), then the Feds will simply divert the spending to another locale -- just as they've done before. I keep attempting to be positive about the possibility of SunRail; I just can't shake the feeling that this will die once again.

New URL for the project: SunRail.com

My understanding is the Hughey to I-4 W ramp will not open until the completion of the Events Center. Correct me if I'm wrong, though.

Orlando Sentinel video

Saw the design of the new PAC tonight -- let's just say that I think if there are any of you who enjoy the aesthetic of the "round building" may get a "hold-over" through the inspiration of the canopy/"sail" structure of the new PAC.

As of late, they've been referring to it as Millenia Lakes, if I'm not mistaken.

How timely... Forbes Ranks Orlando Area 4th Worst for Commuters (Perhaps more appropriate for the "Freeways..." thread, but considering what we stand to give up today, it seemed apropos for this specific thread.)

And today, sad to say, I'm beginning to believe that Orlando and indeed, all of Florida, is the nexus of mediocrity. I never thought I'd find myself second guessing my decision to move here from rural North Carolina. At least I could move back to Charlotte or Raleigh and be on the cusp of some great things happening! AND I miss Bojangle's!

Wait, are we talking about the Hyatt Regency across from Pointe Orlando?

Well all the clues rule out the Fairfield and Spring Hill that are going up next to Aquatica.

JetBlue announces new focus city at Orlando International Airport

Thanks, O'native! A blunt... mmmm.

You are correct that the majority of Sand Lake from John Young to the airport is in Orange County (rather than the city), but I think the tan in the map is only notating the rail study area, while the darker grayish area is simply notating airport property. I just looked up on a GIS map, and the city limits seem to pick up in spots along the south side of the Beach Line where Sand Lake/McCoy passes under and becomes Boggy Creek. It doesn't fully become Orlando until Daetwayler and Tradeport. The one caveat I can see is that the city of Belle Isle's limits span the north and south side of the Beach Line there where Sand Lake/McCoy passes under the BL. So, the rail would either have to go around those limits or pass through with their permission. Wasn't it them, along with Edgewater, who effectively killed the early '90s expressway connecting downtown with the airport?

How exactly they'd make it happen, I'm not sure, but I'd guess they're looking at the proposed route (below) labeled "Alternative 6", which would connect into the Sand Lake/Orange Ave. intermodal center.

From the Sentinel: MetroPlan calls for OCCC-OIA-Medical City rail route MetroPlan Orlando is calling a rail route connecting the OCCC to OIA, then to Lake Nona's Medical City their next priority! Woot!

Orlando Sentinel article on the grand opening of The Vue

For weekly updates from the Expressway Authority, Click here.

A lot of you really seem to have a knack for photography. Personally, I'd recommend you join and submit some of your shots to sites like iStockPhoto. You could at least make a little $ off your work.

Logistically, I don't know if it's possible, but I'd love to see a flyover for the people exiting westbound from I-4 at Sand Lake -- one that squeezes between the Whole Foods property and the on-ramp to westbound I-4 (from Sand Lake) and connects into Turkey Lake there at that curve between Whole Foods and Wal-Mart. That, at least, would allow people to bypass that Turkey Lake/Sand Lake intersection -- if their purpose is to visit anything on south Turkey Lake Road (the hospital, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, the condos, etc.). Better yet, an off-ramp from westbound I-4 that works in tandem with the Beach Line exit, but allows you to exit onto Turkey Lake.

As of mid-August: