I thought this article applied to Jacksonville because it shows how you can engage large employers to improve connectivity. They are even promoting UberX. This is the kind of connectivity that a future All Aboard Florida or First Coast Commuter Rail would need to have to drive success.
Per the Orlando Business Journal:
How SunRail is gearing up for ridership rush due to I-4 Ultimate revamp
Metro Orlando's commuter rail August ridership numbers are lower than average but all that's expected to change come February, when one of the state's largest road construction projects will get its start.
(http://media.bizj.us/view/img/2566381/sunrail-preview*304xx1434-956-0-60.jpg)
The massive $2.3 billion I-4 Ultimate project — rebuilding, beautifying and adding tolled express lanes along 21 miles of one of Central Florida's busiest highways — means that commuters who typically ride the stretch from west of Kirkman Road in Orange County to east of State Road 434 in Seminole County are in for a big headache.
But the $1.3 billion SunRail is expected to play a pretty big role in this whole six-year construction project. In fact, one of the reasons the Florida Department of Transportation pushed so hard to get Phase 1 rolling on May 1 was to allow folks time to get used to the train schedules and connections so that they would be familiar with riding the passenger rail once construction starts on I-4.
Now SunRail did experience somewhat of a slowdown in boardings last month, FDOT statistics showed. After averaging 4,170 daily boardings in June and July — close to the first-year goal of 4,300 riders the system had anticipated — August's average was just 3,982. FDOT attributed the decline to school being back in session, thereby dropping the number of leisure riders, as well as a computer glitch that miscalculated ridership numbers.
Nevertheless, SunRail officials have plans in place to handle the anticipated ridership rush that may result from construction starting on I-4: "We have the option to add a third passenger car to the trains, as we did during free service, and as we have during certain peak times during revenue service," said FDOT spokesman Steve Olson.
For those who haven't yet ridden SunRail and aren't familiar with how to connect on that "last mile" from the station to final destination, options can range from using ride-share services like UberX to using the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority Lynx public bus service. Also in downtown Orlando, the free Lymmo circulator bus service currently runs the Orange Line from Lynx Central Station to City Hall, and the Grapefruit Line from Amway Center to Lake Eola. Soon to come is the Lime Line, which will operate from Creative Village to Amway Center.
Here's a look at what's available for some of the stations where walking or a quick ride aren't an option:
Lake Mary provides a 50 percent discount to businesses renting a Lynx vanpool.
Seminole County fleet vehicles at Five Points Operations complex
City of Sanford provides CRA-funded shuttle to downtown Sanford every 20 minutes between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Vanpools run to the following organizations: Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI), Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT), Winter Park Memorial Hospital and SouthPark Center Loop.
Orlando Health provides complimentary shuttle from the SunRail/Amtrak station to its Orlando Regional Medical Center campus and the area around the SoDo Orlando shopping center in the Downtown South district.
Meanwhile, discussions are underway between the city of Maitland, Orange County and managers and employers at the Maitland Center for connections to the station.
FDOT render of the new Ivanhoe Bridge in Orlando after the I-4 Ultimate is completed.
(http://www.trbimg.com/img-555dd5e2/turbine/os-i-4-ultimate-renderings-orlando-florida-pg-012/1300/1300x731)
I wonder what FDOT is doing to better integrate I-4 into the downtown area from the pedestrian level (under the elevated portion)?
Quote from: thelakelander on January 14, 2016, 10:24:08 PM
I wonder what FDOT is doing to better integrate I-4 into the downtown area from the pedestrian level (under the elevated portion)?
lots of stuff. There are plans for a linear park. Some of it will be funded locally by the CRA, and some by FDOT