Virginia Whittington, one of the candidates in the race for Orange County – District 6, believes that SunRail is a game changer and an essential component of the transportation system in Central Florida. But, she remains concerned about the need to get residents in District 6 who rely on public transit, more efficiently to work places not necessarily along the commuter rail line.
Whittington made these observations recently, during an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with West Orlando News Online.
“SunRail is by far an essential component of the transportation system in Central Florida. It is a game changer. It moves the needle to Central Florida, including Orange County, becoming a world-class location,” she said. “SunRail is bringing residents from the north and the south into the Central business district and it takes them back home.”
“My concern, or focus, is making sure that those that need to get to work have more efficient transportation to go to International Drive, to the airport, to Sea World and to the other attractions, without having to come to downtown Orlando to do so,” added Whittington, who is the Director of Regional Partnerships at MetroPlan Orlando, the regional transportation organization that plans the transportation future of Central Florida.
She also expressed her support for LYNX, and more broadly, transit, having a dedicated funding source, although she believes this may not occur in the near term.
“There is no person that I know of who does not think that the need [for a dedicated source of funding for LYNX and transit, generally] is there. How that need is met is the question. There are several options, but I don’t see it happening in the very near future. It’s needed, but it may not happen for some time,” she said.
Whittington also discussed several other issues, including the growing problem of homelessness, raising the minimum wage, crime reduction, child abuse and the creation of sustainable neighborhoods.
See the full interview with Virginia Whittington here.
