New Light Rail from OIA to OCCC

[joelkfla]

Orlando's channel 9 is reporting that final approvals have been given to a light rail line between OIA & Orange County Convention Center, also stopping at Florida Mall. The line would be privately financed and operated, by Spanish company Global Via. Construction is expected to start by the end of the year, with the line opening in 2018. The station reports that fare is expected to be around $20 for a 15-minute ride.

The developers have said they also hope to extend the line to Port Canaveral in the future.

This replaces the proposed experimental maglev train that was nixed by airport officials last year.

There is no tax money involved, so the only roadblock appears to be if the developer develops cold feet.

 

[seashoreCM]

I would say that a $20. fare is much too high to attract general interest.

I would say that more than 4 out of 5 riders would need to wait for and transfer to something else, and pay another fare, to complete their journeys (to a hotel, to a theme park, etc.).

 

[betterbutter]

It will be very attractive to people traveling to the area for conventions, particularly those from cities that have good public transit systems. Keep in mind that over half of the people who come through MCO each year are not families on vacation but rather locals and business travelers, by 3:1 the last stat I saw.

 

[Minnesota!]

Ouch, on the price! I mean, probably cheaper than a taxi, and I prefer the train option over a taxi option. But, how many of the travelers coming from OIA are going to the Convention Center? And of those people, how many are going to take the train?

 

[betterbutter]

Based on the latest available statistics, 663,436 people flew into the Orlando international Airport specifically to attend a conference, expo, trade show, or other event at the Orange County Convention Center. That doesn't include the people attending conferences and events at the Hilton, Rosen, and Hyatt all within a few minutes walk of the OCCC, which would most likely be another quarter million or so. It also doesn't include any number of other travelers who might desire fast, convenient transportation from the airport to the OCCC.

Additionally the Florida Hotel at the Florida Mall has a great deal of conference space and hosts conferences almost daily. I don't have facts or figures on them, but the assumption of several hundred riders per week is probably not a stretch.