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Traffic-choked Orlando eager for U.S. funds
Associated Press
Published August 12, 2005
ORLANDO - Rosemary Chitty has lived here since the 1950s - before there was a Walt Disney World or Universal Studios, more than one shopping mall or even an interstate highway. Before the region skyrocketed to a tourist destination for 45-million people a year.
As a Lynx bus driver for eight of those years, she has seen the result of that popularity - a miserably overtaxed transportation system that has turned highways into parking lots.
"It's gotten progressively worse," she said. "These roads weren't built for all the people we have."
The $286.4-billion highway and mass transit package signed this week by President Bush won't instantly solve the problem, but Orlando is one of several cities that will benefit from Florida's $8.6-billion share.
It includes $9-million for the Lynx bus program, which is expected to add 30 buses to the 237 the system has now, improvements to an expressway interchange near Orlando International Airport and two lanes to alleviate traffic in a district constantly jammed with visitors and commuters.
Meanwhile, Orlando drivers get by as best they can.
Seasoned commuters have learned which indirect roads to use because they encounter fewer stoplights or less traffic. Some have arranged with employers to start work earlier or later. Some roads are avoided at all times.
"I-4 and Lee Road, and I-4 and (State Road) 434," said Paul Cayward, a truck driver for an office furniture company, when asked about the worst spots.
Metropolitan Orlando more than doubled in population in 50 years, and today has more than 1.8-million residents. On any given day the population is increased by 100,000 tourists, and Orlando is the nation's No. 1 car rental market. An estimated 40,000 new cars pack area roads each year, and the population is expected to top 2.2-million by 2025.
This week, Orange County, the last holdout of four counties trying to start a commuter rail system, pledged to support its part of a $473-million plan that could run trains on existing CSX Transportation tracks from southern Volusia County to Orlando by 2009.
[Last modified August 12, 2005, 00:45:04]
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