Orlando Outlook

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by FLAWDA-FELLA

Cool to see that Orlando may be getting some more rail activity in the future.

If Metro Plan Orlando votes yes, we could have construction on the Maglev line in Summer of 2013

[jzquince69]

Well, if OIA makes million$ per year on car rental fees, then they'll probably make Maglev pay them $$$ to offset lost car rental fee revenue. then, they won't be able to afford it, and the plan will probably be voted down. likely scenario. don't forget Mears' influence.

[spenser1058]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

Well, if OIA makes million$ per year on car rental fees, then they'll probably make Maglev pay them $$$ to offset lost car rental fee revenue. then, they won't be able to afford it, and the plan will probably be voted down. likely scenario. don't forget Mears' influence.

Thank you for this. If wishes were horses, then beggars could ride (or float magnetically above the landscape.) This hoary chestnut just keeps popping up and never gets any, um, traction. I don't really see much that has changed to make this happen now.

[Dale]

Orlando must have more rail lines u/c or proposed than any other metro in the US. Aside from SunRail and this maglev, there is the FEC system. And isn't there a proposal for a monorail in the Lake Nona area ?

All of this in lil' ol' podunk.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by Dale

Orlando must have more rail lines u/c or proposed than any other metro in the US. Aside from SunRail and this maglev, there is the FEC system. And isn't there a proposal for a monorail in the Lake Nona area ?

All of this in lil' ol' podunk.

Yup. Don't forget about the Orange Blossom Express.

[Dale]

Originally Posted by ThatFloridaDude

Yup. Don't forget about the Orange Blossom Express.

Right, that too. And as I understand it, it is likely to come to fruition. So, likely systems include:

SunRail
OBE
FEC

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

Well, if OIA makes million$ per year on car rental fees, then they'll probably make Maglev pay them $$$ to offset lost car rental fee revenue. then, they won't be able to afford it, and the plan will probably be voted down. likely scenario. don't forget Mears' influence.

The idea is to create a Mass Transit system in which it'll get more people off the road. IF they vote no, IMO it goes to show the direction this city is going on. If the airport is that damn stingy then maybe they need to find some alternatives

Also the amount of tourist that catch buses to Disney and Lynx , I don't see why Orlando Airport would be upset about losing taxi and rental car money? IF anything they could have a portion of the rails $13 ticket go toward the airport if its that serious to them.

I might add too, i remember reading where the airport wasn't against the idea they just wanted FDOT and METROPLAN ORLANDO to further study it.

We talking about improving transportation, this is a start. Light rail sure as heck isn't coming, neither is any local transit in shape or from of monorail or elevated rail.

I'd really like to see this city take the right step in transportation in my lifetime.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by Dale

Right, that too. And as I understand it, it is likely to come to fruition. So, likely systems include:

SunRail
OBE
FEC

Not a bad list in the span of 4-5 years for Orlando. Not a bad list at all. Then hopefully by 2020 if all of these come about construction on missing links and other pieces are happening or have happened.

Do you have any other info on the Orange Blossom Express?

[jzquince69]

It's just my theory. I hope I'm wrong. Remember, OIA's car rental volume is the busiest in the world. that's a lot of revenue.

However, it's not like Maglev is the lone isolated rail line being proposed in Orlando. The situation is different now.

I mean, OIA themselves came up with the Intermodal center last year to handle HSR, CRT, and LRT, etc.

So, this shouldn't be any different. A train (any train) eventually making port into airport property is inevitable, between Sunrail ala Taft and FEC. Maglev is the third potential line to propose doing so. So, based on all this, they will probably vote to do it.

Except for the fact that Sunrail is not a rental threat. FEC will generate more rental business by dumping South Floridians at OIA. Maglev will take rental business away since it goes in the direction of I-Drive.

Except, if they end the first phase at OCCC, and the study shows a comparison of convention travelers versus Disney travelers and they show that most all Disney travelers will still rent cars at OIA, then they won't see it as a threat to that bulk of rental fee revenue; it might instead only eat into rental revenue by 10-15% or so.

Man, this is like the left brain battling the right brain.

Maybe they'll give it the ok, then demand to see their revenue sheet once the project gets traction, and make a deal that they'll start charging them docking fees or what have you once they start making certain profits; because Maglev's profit margin will directly correlate with rental fee losses.

Man, I'm going to contact GOAA and get a job in their finance department! lol.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Maglev was approved unanimously

[Dale]

Wow! Little O-Town is becoming the rail capital of America.

[Lakelander]

I'll believe the maglev thing when it actually breaks ground. The history of the guy behind it isn't a good one. Ask Norfolk. Also, how much does it currently cost to catch a shuttle bus or cab between the airport and convention center. $13 per person on the maglev sounds pretty expensive. For a family of four, you'd be shuttling out over $100 bucks for round trip tickets.

[Dale]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

I'll believe the maglev thing when it actually breaks ground. The history of the guy behind it isn't a good one. Ask Norfolk. Also, how much does it currently cost to catch a shuttle bus or cab between the airport and convention center. $13 per person on the maglev sounds pretty expensive. For a family of four, you'd be shuttling out over $100 bucks for round trip tickets.

Yeah, but now you're talking like a suburban hick. Don't you like nice things ?

[Lakelander]

Lol, I guess so! I'd totally be willing to get raped regularly on ticket prices for a 10 mile ride.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

I'll believe the maglev thing when it actually breaks ground. The history of the guy behind it isn't a good one. Ask Norfolk. Also, how much does it currently cost to catch a shuttle bus or cab between the airport and convention center. $13 per person on the maglev sounds pretty expensive. For a family of four, you'd be shuttling out over $100 bucks for round trip tickets.

Well it certainly beats traffic. Another thing is it beats the hour trip on route 42. It beats waiting one hour on route 111. it levels out to the 10 + cab ride.

[Lakelander]

^Is this a circus ride or a real transit solution? Traffic isn't that bad to justify the proposed fare. Also, there's no reason you can't streamline a bus for more effective passenger service. There's no way this thing will generate decent continuous ridership raping its passengers on a short 10-mile ride.

[jzquince69]

Great question. I was just remarking to a colleague yesterday that he should forget this "experimental" technology and just contact Bombardier and get Disney's trains- even ones which are 12 years old, and use those and build it cheaper and more reliable, because in the end, I assume feasibility is more important. Would those trains be cheaper?

[Dale]

It could be viewed as a circus ride. Think about it: people fly, from halfway around the world, to pay $100 to see a circus (Disney).

It's a novel way of beating traffic. And as long as someone else is paying for it ...

[Lakelander]

I'm of the belief that mass transit on public ROW should be practical and made for everyday use by all segments of the population. Sunrail = practical; AAF = practical; Orange Blossom Express = practical; 50 mph Maglev only 10 miles long with $13 fare by a guy with a history of failure = bat shit looney. Bat shit looney is a huge risk because it has to potential to set transit back in this state a generation when it fails. Don't believe me? Check out the history of the Jax Skyway.

[Dale]

Hey, you're not the only Florida city that gets to have a failed Jax Skyway!