Scott Powers
Orlando’s three Democratic members of Congress, U.S. Reps. Val Demings, Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy, have sent the White House a wish list of transportation projects that include I-4, Sunrail and the Orlando International Airport.
The trio sent the list Wednesday urging the administration of President Donald Trump to push the Central Florida package because of what they described as Orlando’s unique position.
“Central Florida – in particular the greater Orlando metropolitan area – is home to numerous high-profile destinations, venues and institutions, and therefore requires a world-class transportation infrastructure network to support the safe and efficient movement of residents and visitors,” the three lawmakers wrote.
The list they provided is essentially the consensus of local political, civic and transportation planning leaders in the Orlando area, though not all of the projects have universal backing. Among them:
– The Phase 2 expansion of the SunRail regional commuter train from DeBary to DeLand in Volusia County. This expansion is in the district of Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis of Port Orange, who is opposed to it.
– Phase 3 expansion of SunRail running east-and west between Meadow Woods and Orlando International Airport. This would connect the now entirely-north-south railroad to the airport’s Orlando Intermodal Transportation Facility, a multi-level train station now under construction.
– The I-4 “Ultimate Improvement Project,” now underway through most of Orlando and Seminole County, expanding that freeway out to its maximum capacity.
– Orlando Intermodal Transportation Facility at the airport.
– The planned second major terminal at Orlando International Airport, which would largely serve international flights. That facility is to be built next to the train station.
“The president has called on Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion infrastructure investment. We look forward working with the administration on this initiative, and we hope that these priority transportation infrastructure projects in our region will be included,” the three lawmakers concluded in a news release Wednesday.
2 comments
Steve Abney
March 17, 2017 at 12:52 pm
The current toll beltway around Orlando needs to be completed. And it needs to be renamed I-404. Major metro areas have interstate bypasses. It’s long past time that Orlando had one.
Steve Abney
March 17, 2017 at 12:55 pm
The current toll beltway around Orlando needs to be completed. And it should be renamed I-404, rather than have multiple state road numbers for portions. Major metro areas have Interstate System bypasses. It’s time Orlando joined them.
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