Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. Announces Plans for Private Passenger Rail Service in Florida

[ThatFloridaDude]

Cant wait to see how this pans out. Interesting

[Dale]

I keep waiting for the other shoe to dropped ... but this seems legit. Looks like the stars are lining up here. Airport to Tampa does nothing for me. Now, Orlando to Miami ... ?

[SkyDiveJunkee]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

I spoke to a colleague who showed me actual study area for the route after it hits southern Brevard. it is alive and well.

And where is it proposed? Airport?

[jzquince69]

yeah. it would make its way to the Taft spur and from there anybody's guess. I'm assuming the proposed intermodal center area.

Assumingly it will begin at the MIC.

Personally, I don't see why, once it reaches OIA, it can't continue up to the CSX track and go all the way to downtown Orl. But, it has limited stops, so, as long as Sunrail goes to the OIA, then, passengers could connect.

By comparison, Thalys goes into Central Sta in Amsterdam. You then have to take the intercity rail to Schiphol Airport. Not all cities have all trains or train systems going everywhere.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

yeah. it would make its way to the Taft spur and from there anybody's guess. I'm assuming the proposed intermodal center area.

Assumingly it will begin at the MIC.

Personally, I don't see why, once it reaches OIA, it can't continue up to the CSX track and go all the way to downtown Orl. But, it has limited stops, so, as long as Sunrail goes to the OIA, then, passengers could connect.

By comparison, Thalys goes into Central Sta in Amsterdam. You then have to take the intercity rail to Schiphol Airport. Not all cities have all trains or train systems going everywhere.

Call me retarted but I actually hope FEC stops at the airport. It'll cause SunRail and more Lynx Options to be available (Particularly Sun Rail), meaning more usage of the train!

[jzquince69]

good point. having it go to the airport would create a "need" to get Sunrail and/or those other systems up and running for the sake of connectivity.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

good point. having it go to the airport would create a "need" to get Sunrail and/or those other systems up and running for the sake of connectivity.

I'd love to see as much train interaction downtown, but I mean rightfully so, Sun Rail needs to connect the airport with the financial district, and this is a good way to force this option as well as forcing the Mag-Lev to get approved. Ultimately creating an inter modal center of some sort.

[jzquince69]

the MIC is at MIA and they are building the Metrorail connector to it as we speak; it might be done by now. Tri-Rail, not sure it it will have a station there or not.

The OIA Intermodal center will be very similar to the MIC, except that the consolidated rental car center is on Level 1 at OIA in the North Terminal (there is no South Terminal- yet). Also, it will connect to the North Terminal with a Tram (the line and bridge(s) is/are already built.

Also, b/c of its location, the proposed OIA Intermodal Center will also link Sunrail and the Maglev/LRT E-W line to OCCC/Sea World and/or WDW with the FEC and/or HSR if and when built. Everything will connect there pretty much, except the Orange Blossom Express (which I think would terminate at Lynx Central).

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

the MIC is at MIA and they are building the Metrorail connector to it as we speak; it might be done by now. Tri-Rail, not sure it it will have a station there or not.

The OIA Intermodal center will be very similar to the MIC, except that the consolidated rental car center is on Level 1 at OIA in the North Terminal (there is no South Terminal- yet). Also, it will connect to the North Terminal with a Tram (the line and bridge(s) is/are already built.

Also, b/c of its location, the proposed OIA Intermodal Center will also link Sunrail and the Maglev/LRT E-W line to OCCC/Sea World and/or WDW with the FEC and/or HSR if and when built. Everything will connect there pretty much, except the Orange Blossom Express (which I think would terminate at Lynx Central).

Ahhh to hell with Miami lol.

No but anyway I remember a while back when HSR was going to come and the inter modal center at OIA included light rail, HSR and Sun Rail. I'm right with you on that with the trams. I think it will provide a unique inter-connectivity to the airport as one will be forced to travel the entire airport or more of it than MIA. I just dont like the idea of having eveything in one place. People really don't need to experience the rest of the airport in Mia, won't be the same for OIA as it is very user friendly anyway.

Just as OBX won't connect at LCS but at Church Street station although LCS is he main terminal downtown. People will have to use LYMMO. if you follow what I mean.

[jzquince69]

yep. I forgot about that ala OBX... the rail line is south of Lynx Central where it connects with CSX line...

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

yep. I forgot about that ala OBX... the rail line is south of Lynx Central where it connects with CSX line...

Yesterday for the first time since the "TD-Waterhouse Centre" days, I seen a train using that line in downtown Orlando. (Very SLOW) but regardless, the line is sustainable.

I support OBX. I think the more passenger traffic you increase from all directions of the city center, the more foot traffic and inter-connectivity of smaller communities you increase in the city center- thus making a major region center which downtown seems on track to be.

How do you all feel about OBX? Do you think it will come to fruition now that FEC seems to be realistic as well as SunRail?

Think about it. One could get from Taveres to Miami without using a car or a shuttle. Just freaking awesome.

[jzquince69]

I think OBX should have a station in the following locations (more or less):
-Tavares, of course (where exactly is the terminus? it should be at FH Waterman or wherever the closest part of the rail line is.)
-Mount Dora
-Plymouth/Zellwood
-downtown Apopka;
-OBT & Clarcona-Ocoee Rd.;
-Lee Rd. & OBT;
-College Park near Princeton/ Lynx/ Walmart
-downtown Orlando.

I also am a big fan of this line. I had the idea of CRT on that line 8 years ago when I used 441 to commute from Cass. to Tavares.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

I think OBX should have a station in the following locations (more or less):
-Tavares, of course (where exactly is the terminus? it should be at FH Waterman or wherever the closest part of the rail line is.)
-Mount Dora
-Plymouth/Zellwood
-downtown Apopka;
-OBT & Clarcona-Ocoee Rd.;
-Lee Rd. & OBT;
-College Park near Princeton/ Lynx/ Walmart
-downtown Orlando.

I also am a big fan of this line. I had the idea of CRT on that line 8 years ago when I used 441 to commute from Cass. to Tavares.

Well why Zellwood?

OBT and Clarcona and OBT and Lee Road are not that far from one another. I doubt the OBT and Lee Road option though only because of that huge interchange and road extension.

My station List would consist as this:
Downtown Orlando
OBT and Silver Star
OBT and Lee Road as a Park And Ride On the South Side of OBT
OBT and Clarcona Road
OBT between Clarcona and Apopka
Downtown Apopka
Mount Dora
Tavares

Thats just remembering the drive from Oak Ridge to Apopka Every Morning.

[jzquince69]

I think I wanted Zellwood b/c there's such a huge expanse between Mount Dora/Eustis and Apopka.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

I think I wanted Zellwood b/c there's such a huge expanse between Mount Dora/Eustis and Apopka.

Well lets take a look at it.

For Orange Blossom Express

Apopka to Zellwood is 8 Miles 16 Minutes
Apopka to Mt Dora is 14 Miles 24 Minutes
Apopka to Tavares is 21 Miles 31 Minutes

Zellwood is small and I never really understood a station there. it's the oddball station for me. I don't see a problem with Traveling15-20 Miles On a Train Non Stop. If Mt Dora or Apopka Station are Park and Rides, then people of Zellwood should drive 8 miles either way to a park and ride to make trips on the train indeed faster without that extra Zellwood station and it would only help the cost be lower. Won't be much up keep or assistance at a station that won't be used as much as the others.

Thats only my opinion.

Now we take a look at a similar problem with SunRail stations Meadowoods.


For SunRail

Meadowoods to Sand Lake Road is 5 Miles 15 Minutes
Meadowoods to Osceola is 5 Miles 15 Minutes

So your telling me the people of Meadowoods cant drive 5 miles to a Park and Ride? see what Im getting at ?

Zellwood has 2,500 people which we clearly know less than 20% will use the rail nor is it a destination.

Meadowoods has 11,000 people (2000 census which my guess would be 12 or 13 k ) which quite a few hundred people may use this. We are talking about Cypress Creek and the awful Link 18 which takes forever on under built Orange Ave.

Now I can go for a Meadowoods stations but the studies and numbers had to show a large amount for usage for this to become a park and ride. If it were me I'd do without it just as I would do without the Zellwood station for OBX.

IF you think about it, in Orange County, SunRail will act as a light rail pretty much. The really long distance is between Orlando Health and Sand Lake, everything else is kinda close. I think this makes the train and passenger involvement extremely interactive. Not to mention the awful Orange Ave Link lines of 7,11,and 18.

One could leave LCS on SunRail and beat Link 18 to South Orange and North Osecola County by 30 minutes +.
One could leave LCS on SunRail and be at Orlando Health in minutes as opposed to 15-20 minutes on Link 7, 11, 18 or 40.
One could leave LCS on SunRail and be at the Sand Lake transfers to 42, 11 in about 20 minutes as opposed to 30-45 minutes..

I am most excited about the south End of the SunRail portion because it's the side of town I live on. Not only that parts of Orange Ave are at their capacity almost all times of day esp Rush Hours.


But back on track. Their is no official stop for Zellwood anyhow. Their is a stop at the Orlando Apopka Airport though which is about 6 miles from Apopka downtown and about 2 - 3 miles from Zellwood which is why I don't think their will be or is a a need for a Zellwood station.

Just my take on it though.

[jzquince69]

8 miles is a trek, depending on where you live. If a driver has to go through the trouble of driving 8 miles, their logic would dictate to just stay in their car and continue on. Timing-wise, by the time it takes to park and get to the platform, they could be halfway to downtown if they just stayed on the road and in their car, and could probably get to downtown before the actual train.

take Poinciana station. its not in Poinciana; its on JYP. I was just down there last week. it is a healthy trek down Pleasant Hill to get to the heart of that community where the Walmart is. that station makes sense as far as system cost goes and that's it. But if you live down in Poinciana, unless they set up a bussing system to get you to the station, forget it, you need to get in that car- and its no short trip either. the only way to fix this is to build a track, which is not really an option.

[ThatFloridaDude]

Originally Posted by jzquince69

8 miles is a trek, depending on where you live. If a driver has to go through the trouble of driving 8 miles, their logic would dictate to just stay in their car and continue on. Timing-wise, by the time it takes to park and get to the platform, they could be halfway to downtown if they just stayed on the road and in their car, and could probably get to downtown before the actual train.

take Poinciana station. its not in Poinciana; its on JYP. I was just down there last week. it is a healthy trek down Pleasant Hill to get to the heart of that community where the Walmart is. that station makes sense as far as system cost goes and that's it. But if you live down in Poinciana, unless they set up a bussing system to get you to the station, forget it, you need to get in that car- and its no short trip either. the only way to fix this is to build a track, which is not really an option.

I think the Poinciana Station will have expanded Lynx Routes if I recall. But they should definitely look into that area more. TBH i think thats why it's phase 2. I don't think they did a full study on that area, or they totally expected something else to happen with that area.

as far as Zellwood, it's not on the Map. Closest station for them will be the Orlando Apopka Airport.

[SkyDiveJunkee]

The location of the Poinciana Station is not the problem. The real issue is that Poinciana has not received the necessary feeder route it was promised decades ago from Cypress Parkway to OBT, thus commuters take the long trek down Poinciana Blvd / Pleasant Hill Rd with no alternatives.

It can take a Poinciana resident over an hour in each direction to get almost anywhere, and traffic can be downright oppressive. I think this will be one of the most widely used stations along the entire line.

[jzquince69]

yeah, at least Deltona has the DeBary station, which will be very successful I gather. It's right there.

Ah, Poinciana. If they could do this station right, this could be something special ala ridership.

[ThatFloridaDude]

You know, I kinda hope FEC does go downtown now. I think it would bring tourist downtown, since SunRail doesnt go to the airport yet FEC will.