Upon taking the official oath of office on January 4, newly elected Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs now serves as chairwoman of the I-Drive Master Transit & Improvement District governing board.
Assuming the role from former Mayor Rich Crotty, Jacobs joins commissioners Samuel B. Ings, City of Orlando-District 6 and Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell, Orange County-District 6 on the governing board.
The District is also served by a five-member advisory board. Three members are appointed by Orange County and two by the City of Orlando. Current members are Chairman Alan Villaverde of the Peabody Orlando; Vice Chairwoman Sibille Pritchard of Orlando Plaza Partners; Harris Rosen of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Inc.; Richard Van Slyke of Busch Properties and Charles Gundacker of Universal Orlando.
Created in 1992, the prototype taxing district was formed under a public-private initiative with Orange County, the City of Orlando and the businesses of the International Drive Resort Area. Recognized as an outstanding example of cooperation between three distinct entities, it is now used by other regions as a model. The district is comprised of three separate Municipal Service Taxing Units (MSTU) that are jointly operated under this unique partnership by the governing Board and advisory board.
Luann Brooks, executive director of the District, says “the next several years are vitally important to the area as major decisions are made on transportation issues that will impact the future of Central Florida.”
The District is charged with planning, designing, and operating a transit service exclusive to the I-Drive area businesses that are within the boundaries of the District taxing units, as well as the marketing and promotional efforts of area businesses as a single, cohesive destination. Recommendations are made to local and state government agencies to reduce traffic congestion, enhance pedestrian safety and increase overall mobility and security for the entire District. For more information, visit www.internationaldriveorlando.com.
