The First Attempt at Light Rail in Orlando

THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT LIGHT RAIL The first proposal would have built a line from I- Drive to Orlando. This would have been phase one for a regional system from Deltona to Celebration. The plan had won Federal approval for funding and wouldf have opened a pipeline for Federal Transit Dollars. THE ROUTE The route started at Sea World and ran along International Drive to the CSX Main south of Downtown Orlando. It then would have followed the CSX rail route to Downtown. There it would have stopped near Church Street Station/ THE BATTLE LINES AX THE TAX This organzation at www.axthetax.org is a group that fights against new taxes. However the Light Rail Proposal did not involve a raising of taxes in the area. Armed with access to a radio station and spending $$$ they mounted an attack against the proposal though they could not offer any better ideas. They seem to be against anything that involves a rail project claiming that rail does not ease traffic jams. They also failed to protest a proposal to increase gas taxes in Orlando a short time after the Light Rail idea was defeated. A CERTAIN ORLANDO LAWYER This person who also is armed with $$$ came out against the plan. Why? Well he owns a business on I-Drive that he felt that he would loose money during the construction process on International Drive.  He even helped fund adds calling the Light Rail proposal "The Crime Train" though he had no stats to back it up. He also stated that he heard of LA Gangs riding the Monorail at Diseny. This was unfounded. However again, he had no alternatives to solve the traffic problem. ORLANDO MAYOR GLENDA HOOD Mayor Hood fought for the Light Rail proposal to the bitter end and supports proposals that are now being considered. She also was supported by Congressman John Mica and the Orlando City Council also supported the project. She saw that I-4 was not getting any better and we need to start on transit now. THE VOTE At the last minute the Orange County Board of County Commisioners reversed thier vote on the project. Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood tried to save the project by only building the route from a Mall near where I Drive and the Turnpike meet to downtown. But fighting among Orlando City Council members caused the state to pull their support and the project died. FOOTNOTES International Drive continues to battle traffic and the section of I-4 suffers the worst of the traffic jams than any other part of I-4 in Orlando. Planners are struggling with ideas to do something about the I Drive crunch. However any proposal along I Drive will have to be funded locally as Federal Funding can only apply to commuter type routes. By defeating the Light Rail project 45 MILLION of our money was wasted. 45 Million dollars was used to study and approve the first proposed route. Not only that but the Feds and the State were going to pick 75% of the total cost. More wasted money. RETURN TO MAIN PAGE