depechecureguyorl

^ Way to look at the OPTIMISTIC side of things!

^ LOL. I agree that w/the current legislature in control and Jeb behind the wheel, Fla HSR is already derailed and laying on the side of the CSX tracks allowing slow-moving, traffic halting, heart of the city clogging freight trains to pass by. Personally, I never agreed w/the proposed first leg anyway. Honestly, going from the Orlando Int'l Airport to downtown Tampa really wouldn't benefit any locals at all. I understand that getting tourists off of our roads is a concern to locals, but the train really wouldn't benefit the tourists who DRIVE here...I am way off base here? As for voting on the issue...why vote? Certainly, our voices are heard, but are they actually LISTENED to??? Oops! I forgot...I need a feeding tube to be heard by this State's electorate...but that's another thread.

Disney Road Paves Way to Skip I-4, Enter Park Walt Disney World is quietly building a new road onto its property that could siphon thousands of tourists a day off Interstate 4. The route would take visitors driving down the Interstate 75/Florida's Turnpike corridor into Disney from State Road 429, the Western Beltway toll road being built through western Orange County...

^ Agreed. Ripley's will focus on where the tourists are and that's I-Drive. IMO, it would require a lot of incentive money from Orlando for Ripley's to build the aquarium downtown.

If memory serves me, I believe the opposing commissioners were the exact same ones who killed Light Rail years ago (w/the exception of Hoenstine).

Orange weighs train deal as funding deadline looms Orange County commissioners might seek more public input before considering a deal for a Central Florida commuter train, but state officials say a delay now could put at risk hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal money -- and the train itself... Orange Commissioners Want Public Hearing

I have to agree with your last comment. In the past, Disney was the only thing to bring any National/Internation exposure to Orlando. Yes, Orlando is considered by many outside of Florida to already be a major city, but I think it's becoming a rising star only very recently. With the arrival of higher end hotels, upscale shopping districts, more culture, and higher wage jobs; not to mention Orlando Int'l Airport reaching the status of the largest (by passenger arrival) in the State, I think Orlando is now finally to achieve a more "grown up" image. I'm glad to say the CITIZENS of Orlando are making this happen...not the tourists (but their MONEY helps!)

Rep. John Mica kills planned I-4 toll lanes bill State must find another way to fix clogged freeway[ The sounds of singing and rejoicing are heard throughout Central Florida!!! 3 Cheers for JOHN MICA! No Toll Lanes on I-4

Although I'll refrain from obscure approximations regarding Tampa's metro/city population (and I'll leave out all the exclamation points too), that city is definitely up and coming in Florida. It's working on plans to build up it's downtown with more infill projects and it's also collaborating a regional effort to improve transportation. Another Florida city that comes to mind is Orlando. Yes, we all know it's well established tourism sector. However, the city is making great strides in the high tech & manufacturing industries. It too is also involved in regional efforts to improve transporation through commuter/light rail efforts and infill development projects. Outside of Florida, I'd have to wager Austin, TX with it's young population and impressive job growth, Charleston, SC, and Raliegh, NC.

Good signs all...and Crotty & Dyer are actually considering WORKING TOGETHER on something??? Have we entered a parallel universe and no one told me?!

^ Well said! I DID point out last week my concern for Crotty killing this proposal...one encouraging thing to note in the article, Crotty & Co are merely concerned about the specifics. They're not TOTALLY ready to kill this deal. However, you're right how they always cave in to I-Drive/Convention Center interests. $44M seems a little paltry compared to the hundreds of millions in taxpayer money those idiots paid for that behemoth of a concrete cavern on I-Drive. I didn't vote for Crotty in the last election and I will certainly not vote for him next time. As for my county commissioner, he's already received my email ranting about this!

Awesome pics! Downtown still looks rather sleepy, even w/the current construction. I think those pics show the calm before the storm...2006 will be the year of the cranes!

^ Not that I know of...the effort a few years back killed by Orange County was mostly funded by the Federal gov't, but the state would have had to kick in a large share as well. But that project involved a bullet-train system in the middle of I-4... I hope this happens. It would be the first successful Regional effort to releive traffic congestion. I like how the article points out the large costs of building more highways vs. the rather minimal cost of this commuter rail system. Not to mention it's on existing tracks. My only concer in Mayor "Sprawsville" Crotty killing Orange County's share, because there is no line going to the attractions area and his coveted "Downtown Orange County"/I-Drive area. I don't think I saw any mention of expansion lines to the attractions from downtown in the article???