Taken while driving back up to Jacksonville yesterday:
Two blocks from the Amtrak station
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-nCRp8z2/0/M/P1640532-M.jpg)
The Amtrak station
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-HHHCfJg/0/M/P1640536-M.jpg)
Amtrak station's Sunrail platforms under construction
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-b3x2wPQ/0/M/P1640537-M.jpg)
Downtown performing arts center
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-JdvFz8q/0/M/P1640540-M.jpg)
Office building being converted into an Aloft Hotel
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-KmhfKHP/0/M/P1640544-M.jpg)
Church Street Station platforms under construction
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-Z4jXsn5/0/M/P1640545-M.jpg)
Church Street Station
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-f83xrLt/0/M/P1640546-M.jpg)
Lynx Central Station platforms under construction
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-4zZ25w4/0/M/P1640554-M.jpg)
apartment tower under construction
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-S7FfqXw/0/XL/P1640556-XL.jpg)
Pollack Shores' Steel House apartment development. Pollack will be developing the Riverside Park project in Brooklyn.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-shLs3Gd/0/M/P1640557-M.jpg)
Steel House
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-P8CGPXd/0/M/P1640559-M.jpg)
An infill mixed use development on Orange Avenue, just north of Colonial.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-CfkVnpf/0/M/P1640562-M.jpg)
Florida Hospital's sunrail platforms under construction and a medical tower beginning to rise next to it.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-XHq6vjw/0/M/P1640564-M.jpg)
Florida Hospital
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Transit/Orlando-Sunrail-Construction/i-XXmKRGZ/0/M/P1640571-M.jpg)
I seen some last week when I was down there as well when I was driving through Altamonte
I checked out the new stations going up in Altamonte, Kissimmee, Sanford and I saw the one in DeBary by chance when an accident on I-4 caused me to divert through Benson's Junction last weekend.
They really need to get this out to the airport. A higher speed connection between Sanford and MCO is needed.
I am excited for SunRail, I think this is a great opportunity for greater Orlando and it is going to bring some cohesion to central Florida.
They are studying the idea of another route out to Tavares to the northwest. Don't think it will fly personally. CFR has not invested in the infra (its a 5-10mph railroad) so it would cost a lot to bring it up to spec and the route just doesn't have what the I-4 corridor has.
This rail line is going to skyrocket Orlando in terms of urban infill. People think its been poppin the last few years, just wait until the corridor is up and running.
I ran into a planner from Orlando at last week's Vanguard conference in Cleveland who believes Sunrail will be a bust. His reasoning is that the stations aren't in the most ideal locations. I guess only time will tell.
^Basically everyone I know in Orlando that has an opinion on it is skeptical. I don't know if it's for specific reasons or they're just skeptical of rail in Central Florida in general.
I think it works for 5 years...but once the I-4 construction is done and 10+ lanes are available for use, I'm skeptical that people will stay on the train
They really need HSR between International Drive and the Disney properties.
I-4 East is a disaster between Vineland-Apopka and Sand Lake between 4:30PM and 7PM with rental cars, shuttle buses and out of state family vans all making the dinner rush back to the cheap hotels by the Convention Center.
HSR for such a short distance? If AAF expands to Tampa, it's logical that particular segment could include stops in both locations, assuming it's in the median of the Beach Line and I-4.
Perhaps not HSR by strict definition....try "a high repetition people mover".
What I really meant was fast, often, automated transport.
Quote from: tufsu1 on June 17, 2013, 08:34:09 PM
I think it works for 5 years...but once the I-4 construction is done and 10+ lanes are available for use, I'm skeptical that people will stay on the train
Tri-Rail was supposed to be temporary, but the construction on I-95 never stopped, and neither did the new riders. During rush hour, traffic is stil stop and go even with 5 lanes in each direction.