Hotels near Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center Area.“My priority is on making certain that we create an opportunity for our workers to have the experience of options, affordable options to get to and from work and other places.” “There is great promise in having connectivity between the airport and I-Drive and beyond,” Demings said at the commission meeting. He was hopeful Universal’s proposal will nudge the region closer to a multimodal transit system. Plan for SunRail airport link to Universal, I-Drive takes big step forwardĭuring last year’s unsuccessful campaign to persuade voters to pass a penny-per-dollar sales tax increase for transportation improvements, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings frequently stressed the importance of Lynx and SunRail as options to move not only millions of visitors but also thousands of tourism workers. “Under this format, I think we may be able to get some things done that we would not have been able to get done another way,” she said, pointing out private investment usually helps win federal funding grants.
The CDD also would earmark $8 million in improvements for Epic Boulevard, a main entrance.Ĭommissioner Nicole Wilson said she was “cautiously optimistic” about the plan. “Orange County Utilities has long been planning to enhance odor control,” he said. Weiss said the county-owned wastewater plant, located on West Sand Lake Road and adjacent to the Epic Universe site, was built in 1957 but has been substantially rebuilt and expanded five times. Other projects in the petition include a $40-million improvement to the South Water Reclamation Facility, which treats wastewater from 70,000 residential and commercial properties in a 118-square-mile area. Universal puts ‘pedal to the metal’ on Epic Universe projectĭuring a discussion of Universal’s proposal, Jon Weiss, deputy county administrator, said the cost of the transit station, which includes improvements to Destination Parkway and construction of a pedestrian bridge, was estimated at $93 million, a figure likely to grow as materials and labor costs continue to rise. State law allows for the creation of a community development district, or CDD, a special purpose government intended to ensure growth pays for itself, according to a staff presentation to commissioners.Ībout 935 CDDs exist in Florida, including 24 in Orange County and 14 in Orlando.īaldwin Park was developed through the Urban Orlando CDD. Sprouls said the 11-mile rail line, often called the Sunshine Corridor, would connect business travelers, vacationers and workers with the region’s busiest airport, the convention center and attractions.Ībout 100,000 people work in the International Drive tourist corridor. “We are focused on making Central Florida and, in particular, the area around Epic Universe a great place to live work and play.” “Our commitment includes pledging 13 acres of land to the district - at no cost to taxpayers -to be used for a SunRail station at the Convention Center, supporting the operation and maintenance of the station also at no cost to Orange County taxpayers, and providing an estimated $125 million in capital investment through private activity bonds backed by Universal Orlando,” he said.
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