Orange County residents, long plagued by traffic congestion, delays and poor planning, got an opportunity to offer their ideas on how they would like to see public transit issues addressed along State Road 50, perhaps for generations to come.
In three separate interactive community workshops last week, LYNX consultants solicited input from residents on an area that includes a 27-mile stretch of State Road 50 between Orange County/Lake County line and Alafaya Trail (SR 434), as well as, a three-mile stretch of Alafaya Trail itself, between SR 50 and the University of Central Florida.
Called the “SR50/UCF Connector Alternatives Analysis,” the study area runs east-west through the heart of Central Florida and is home to nearly 200,000 residents, connecting them to jobs, shopping, education and other activities.
“We are trying to get ideas and input from the community on different modes of transit technologies that are compatible with this corridor’s constraints and needs,” said Mary Taylor Raulerson, Principal Planner at Kittelson & Associates, a local transportation and engineering firm hired by LYNX to undertake the Study.
The different transit technologies being considered, include enhanced buses, rapid transit buses, modern streetcars and light rail transit. Residents also had an opportunity to identify those needs, goals and objectives most important to them that they would like any new transit option to address.
“What characteristics of transit do people like? Is it most important it’s on time or would they like to track the bus on their cell phone? Is it most important that it comes right by their house? What’s most important to them?,” Raulerson explained.
The Study is also looking at a number of different alignments taking on board new developments such as, the Creative Village and Orlando City Soccer stadium, as well as, the introduction of SunRail and the ongoing expansion of LYMMO.
Funded by a $1.3 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Study will conclude by the summer, later this year. Depending on the level of community support, Raulerson says, new modes of transit along SR 50 could be in place over the next 4-5 years.
Although improved public transit might be a few years out, Derrick Wallace, one of the candidates in the race for Orange County Commissioner District 6, seeking to represent hundreds of mostly low-income people who face daily public transportation challenges, is seized of the Study’s importance. He attended the interactive community workshop downtown Orlando to offer his own input, last Thursday.
“I am very aware of the transit challenges many residents in District 6 face and that’s why improved public transportation infrastructure is one of my campaign priorities,” he said. “Which ever new mode of transit is eventually agreed to and implemented, it will vastly improve the connections between communities on the west side to jobs, training and other services.”
Wallace also said, “enhanced public transit along the SR 50 corridor will encourage more economic and social activities, thus helping to create stronger neighborhoods that are stable and productive.”
Virginia Whittington, another candidate in the race for Orange County Commissioner, District 6, who also attended one of the open house sessions, hailed the State Road 50 Corridor Study, underway.
“I have spoken to residents who work at the theme parks in the tourism industry and their commute by transit from the west side is two hours or more,” she said. “That’s unacceptable. It takes away from quality time with their families and they suffer because they are on the bus for that length of time.”
Residents who still wish to share their thoughts and help improve State Road 50 should visit: www.LYNXSR50.com.
