Metro Center Outlook: Transportation - VoiceTube: Learn English through videos!

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>>WITH A CONTINUED GROWTH
THROUGHOUT CENTRAL
FLORIDA, OUR AREA FACES
INCREASED CHALLENGES IN
GETTING FROM POINT A TO
POINT B. TRANSPORTATION
REMAINS A MAIN TOPIC OF
INTEREST AND CONCERN.
WE'LL HEAR TODAY WHAT IS
BEING DONE TO ADDRESS
THESE ISSUES.
>>PEOPLE WONT USE IT
UNLESS IT'S CONVENIENT,
UNLESS IT CONNECTS, UNLESS
IT GETS THEM CONVENIENTLY
WHERE THEY WANT TO GO.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
>>WE'LL TALK ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES WITH
CONGRESSMAN JOHN MICA,
NEXT ON METRO CENTER
OUTLOOK.
>>HELLO, I'M DIANE TREES.
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO
INTERSTATE 4 THROUGH
DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, SUN
RAIL, AIRPORT EXPANSION.
ALL ARE HOT BUTTON ISSUES
RIGHT NOW. CENTRAL FLORIDA
HAS AN AGGRESSIVE PLAN TO
DEAL WITH ALL OF OUR
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.
JOINING US TODAY IS UNITED
STATES REPRESENTATIVE JOHN
MICA. HE'S REPRESENTED
FLORIDA SEVENTH DISTRICT
IN WASHINGTON D.C. SINCE
1993 AND IS THE FORMER
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITY.
WELCOME.
>>GOOD TO BE WITH YOU
DIANE.
>>I UNDERSTAND THAT IT
SEEMS THAT WHENEVER YOU
TRAVEL I-4 NOW IT'S
CONGESTED NO MATTER WHAT
TIME. HOW HAVE WE GOTTEN
TO THIS POINT?
>>WELL, CENTRAL FLORIDA
KEEPS GROWING. I THINK
AFTER THE WEATHER WE'VE
HAD THIS WINTER WE'RE
GOING TO SEE ANOTHER UP
SERGE, BUT PEOPLE JUST
KEEP MOVING HERE. IT'S A
VERY ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO
LIVE, WORK, AND RETIRE.
>>THE I-4 EXPANSION
PROJECT IS THE LARGEST
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN
THE HISTORY OF CENTRAL
FLORIDA. CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SCOPE
OF THE PROJECT AND THE
TIME FRAME?
>>WELL, WHAT WE'RE GOING
TO DO IS ADD SOME LANES.
IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THOSE
LANES, WILL BE TOLLS. AND
THE MONEY WILL GO TO PAY
OFF BOTH THE CONSTRUCTION
AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS. THE
GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE FREE
LANES THAT BOTH IN CENTRAL
AND ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES WILL CONTINUE TO BE
FREE UNDER THE PROVISIONS
OF THE LAW THAT I PASSED.
BUT WE'LL HAVE 20 MILES OF
ROADS EXPANDED EXPRESS
LANES AND START DOWN AT
KIRKMAN AND GO ALL THE WAY
UP TO 434. AND
CONSTRUCTION SHOULD START
SOMETIME IN LATE 2014
WE'RE HOPING.
>>COMING VERY SOON THEN.
>>YES.
>>NOW WITH THE EXPRESS
LANES, WHY ADD EXPRESS
TOLL LANES INSTEAD OF JUST
ADDING MORE CONVENTIONAL
LANES TO THE HIGHWAY? IS
THAT A STRATEGY INVOLVED
THERE?
>>THE MAIN THING IS PAYING
FOR IT. RIGHT NOW WE'VE
TAKEN THE HIGHWAY TRUST
FUND. 18.4 CENTS PER
GALLON. CARS HAVE BEEN
DRIVING FURTHER AND PAYING
LESS BECAUSE THE AVERAGE
MILAGE A CAR ACHIEVES WITH
ONE GALLON OF GASOLINE IS
NOW ABOUT 24 MILES UP FROM
15 OR 16. SO ACTUALLY
YOU'RE DRIVING MORE AND
MOST OF THE MONEY IS JUST
USED NOW AND COVERS BASIC
MAINTENANCE. BUT TO DO NEW
CONSTRUCTION AND TO PAY
FOR IT, THE TOLL LANES
WILL BE INSTALLED, BUT THE
FREE LANES, BOTH IN
CENTRAL FLORIDA, YEARS AGO
I PUT A RESTRICTION ON
TOLLING FREE LANES IN
CENTRAL FLORIDA; EXPANDED
THAT FOR NOT ONLY CENTRAL
FLORIDA BUT FOR THE WHOLE
COUNTRY. SO FOLKS CAN DO
THIS BUT THE MONEY HAS TWO
REQUIREMENTS. ONE, TO GO,
IF IT'S TOLLED, INTO NEW
CAPACITY. OR TWO, TO PAY
OFF THE INDEBTEDNESS SO
EVENTUALLY THEY CAN BE
FREE TOO. THE GOOD NEWS
FOR THE FOLKS IN THE FREE
LANES IS THAT IT WILL TAKE
SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF
OF THEM. WHERE WE'VE DONE
THIS THE TRAFFIC MOVES
TWICE AS FAST.
>>SO THERE ARE MODELS
AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT
YOU LOOKED AT THAT HAVE
BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN
THE PAST? I UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE
VARIABLE PRICING FOR THE
TOLLS. WHAT DOES THAT
ENTAIL AND MEAN TO
PASSENGERS?
>>WHEN CONGESTION THE
PRICE WILL BE HIGHER. SOME
OF THESE, AND I DON'T KNOW
THEIR TOLL STRUCTURE,
SOMETIMES IT'S AS LOW AS
25 CENTS, SOME OF THE
OTHER ONES SOMETIMES THEY
LIFT THE TOLLS. BUT THAT'S
UP TO HOW THEY PRICE IT
AND PRICE CONGESTION
PRICING IS THE NEW WAY TO
GO.
>>NOW LETS TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT
WAS ESTABLISHED TO FUND
THIS. CAN YOU TELL US
ABOUT THAT?
>>WELL THAT'S AGAIN THE
PROJECT IS $2.2 BILLION
DOLLARS. IF WE HAD WAITED
FOR PUBLIC MONEY TO BE
AVAILABLE, IT'D BE AT
LEAST EIGHT MORE YEARS. SO
THIS WAY WE CAN ADVANCE
THE PROJECT, THOSE WHO USE
IT WILL PAY FOR IT, THE
FREE LANES WILL GET THE
ADVANTAGE OF TAKING SOME
OF THE PRESSURE OFF OF
THOSE LANES AND THOSE THAT
CAN PAY FOR IT AND USE IT
WILL PAY. SO THE PRIVATE
SECTOR IS RAISING $1.2
BILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL
TOWARDS THE PROJECT AND
WE'LL HAVE IT SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER.
>>SO THOSE ARE PRETTY GOOD
BENEFITS THEN FOR ALL
AROUND?
>>UH, VERY GOOD. AND IT
DOES TAKE SOME OF THE
PRESSURE OFF AND IT'S A
MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY. SINCE THE TRUST
FUND IS BASICALLY BROKE,
AGAIN LESS MONEY COMING IN
THAN WE'RE SPENDING, SO
YOU'VE GOT TO FIND SOME
WAY TO ADD NEW CAPACITY
AND PAY FOR IT
RESPONSIBLY.
>>WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR
ADVICE FOR TRAVELERS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE COMMUTING
ALONG THE HIGHWAY WHEN
IT'S BEING CONSTRUCTED?
>>I-4'S ALREADY LIKE A
PARKING LOT, SO I THINK
EXPECT AN EVEN BIGGER
PARKING LOT. THIS IS GOING
TO TAKE A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IT WILL BE AT LEAST 2020
BEFORE IT'S DONE. I THINK
THERE'S A SIX YEAR
CONSTRUCTION. THE GOOD
NEWS IS THAT SUN RAIL IS
OPENING THIS YEAR IN MAY
AND THEY WILL HAVE A FIXED
TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND THAT
TRAIN WILL BE AT EVERY
STATION ON PREDICTABLE
TIME AND HOPEFULLY
CONNECTED WITH BUSES OR
DOWNTOWN LYNX LIMO. UH,
GET TO THE AIRPORT, GET TO
OTHER PLACES ON A
PREDICTABLE SCHEDULE. THE
PROBLEM WE'VE HAD EVEN
ADDING BUSES ON THE
INTERSTATE WHICH ARE VERY
EXPENSIVE TO RUN, ONLY
HANDLE 50 PEOPLE, 1
DRIVER. THIS CAN CARRY 200
OR 2,000 OR AS MANY AS
18,000 PEOPLE IN AN HOUR
ON THAT LITTLE TINY TRACK
AND NOT DISRUPT ANYONE AND
GET THERE ON TIME.
>>SO IT'S PERFECT TIMING
FOR THIS TO COME ALONG
WITH THE CONSTRUCTION. NOW
YOU MENTIONED 2020 FOR IT
TO BE DONE. I WAS READING
THAT THERE WERE TWO
PHASES, A SIX YEAR PLAN
AND THEN ANOTHER, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>>WELL THIS IS ONLY GOING
FROM KIRKMAN ROAD, IN THE
SOUTH AROUND THE WEST. UP
TO 434. WE REALLY NEED TO
GET ACROSS TO VOLUSIA
COUNTY AND GO ACROSS THE
ST. JOHNS RIVER BRIDGE.
THEN WE NEED TO GO OUT TO
192. SO I'M TRYING TO
ADVANCE THE PLANNING. AND
THEY'RE DOING SOME OF THAT
NOW FOR THOSE NEXT PHASES
CAUSE THIS IS ONLY A 20
MILE, VERY EXPENSIVE,
QUARTER THROUGH
METROPOLITAN ORLANDO.
WE'VE GOT MUCH MORE TO DO.
>>WELL IN THE CONGESTION
IN THAT AREA IS FIERCE. SO
I THINK EVEN THOUGH I
DON'T WANT TO SEE IT
STARTED, PROBABLY THE
BETTER ONCE IT GETS GOING
FOR US.
>>YES.
>>LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER
TRANSPORTATION MODE. AND
YOU MENTIONED THE SUN RAIL
A PART OF THIS. YOU'VE
BEEN A CHAMPION FOR THIS
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.
HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT
IT'S BECOMING REALITY?
>>WELL IT'S GOOD. BUT
WE'VE HAD SOME COMMUTER
RAIL PROJECTS NOT BE
SUCCESSFUL. IN MIAMI, THE
TRI-RAIL SOUTH FLORIDA
WASN'T THAT SUCCESSFUL
BECAUSE IT DIDN'T CONNECT
RIGHT. ACTUALLY IT'S GOING
TO BE SEVERAL MORE MONTHS
BEFORE FINALLY AFTER 20
SOME YEARS, IT CONNECTS.
WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE
CERTAIN WE DON'T MAKE
THOSE MISTAKES IN CENTRAL
FLORIDA. AND THEN ALSO
HAVING THE BUSES NOW
SERVICE US, SORT OF THE
RIBS TO A SPINE WHICH SUN
RAIL WOULD BE IN THE
NORTH,SOUTH DIRECTION. SO
PEOPLE WONT USE IT UNLESS
IT'S CONVENIENT, UNLESS IT
CONNECTS, UNLESS IT GETS
THEM CONVENIENTLY WHERE
THEY WANT TO GO. WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
>>WHY HAVE YOU ALWAYS
BELIEVED THAT THIS PROJECT
WAS SO NECESSARY FOR
CENTRAL FLORIDA? AND YOU
ALWAYS HAVE.
>>WELL BECAUSE I'VE SEEN
THE PRICE. $2.2 BILLION.
100 MILLION DOLLARS A MILE
FOR INTERSTATE. FOR JUST
ONE LANE ONLY CARRIES
2,000 CARS PER HOUR. THIS
CAN CARRY UP TO 18,000
PASSENGERS PER HOUR AT A
FRACTION OF THE COST. SO
NOT EVERYONE WILL USE IT
BUT IT GIVES YOU A COST OF
EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE. THE
OTHER THING IS OUT OF
FEDERAL MONEY, AND HALF
THE MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT
COMES FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, OF $1 OF GAS
TAX THAT GOES BACK TO THE
STATES, 20 CENTS ON THE
DOLLAR IS SPENT FOR MASS
TRANSIT. WELL CENTRAL
FLORIDA HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY
OF THAT MONEY UNTIL NOW.
IT'S GONE TO MIAMI, IT'S
GONE TO NEW YORK, LAS
ANGELES, CHICAGO. SO
BASICALLY 20 CENTS OFF THE
TOP IS GOING TO SOME ONE
ELSE, OR SOME ENTITY, THAT
HAS MASS TRANSIT OR FIXED
TRANSIT SYSTEMS. SO NOW
WE'RE GETTING A BETTER
RETURN FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS
BACK HERE IN CENTRAL
FLORIDA.
>>ALL OF THAT LOGIC
THOUGH, IT TOOK A LONG
DIFFICULT PATH TO FIND.
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, WHAT
DO YOU THINK WAS THE MOST
DIFFICULT OBSTACLE FOR
YOU, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN?
>>WELL I DON'T MAKE IT
HAPPEN. IT'S GETTING THE
LOCALS AND..
>>YOU HAVE BEEN A CHAMPION
THOUGH.
>>WE LOOKED AT LIGHT RAIL
WHICH IS EXPENSIVE. THAT'S
$100 MILLION DOLLARS A
MILE TO CONSTRUCT. THIS IS
BETWEEN 8 AND 10 MILLION
DOLLARS A MILE. WHICH IS
ONE TENTH OF THE COST.
IT'S ALSO THE MOST COST
EFFECTIVE MEANS OF MOVING
PEOPLE. IF YOU SEE A BUS
OUT THERE, THE BUS COST
ALMOST TWO TIMES A MUCH TO
OPERATE, AS COMMUTER RAIL.
THAT'S AGAIN ONE DRIVER.
AND I CAN HAUL 2,000
PEOPLE. ONE DRIVER AND A
BUS, AND MAKING $30-50,000
A YEAR, CAN ONLY HANDLE
ABOUT FIFTY PEOPLE. AND
THE BUS, IF I PUT BUSES
OUT ON I-4, IN WHICH WE'VE
DONE, WE HAVE THEM NOW;
THEY'RE STUCK IN TRAFFIC
WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
>>THAT'S RIGHT.
>>COMMUTER RAIL WOULD GET
THROUGH ON TIME ON
SCHEDULE AND WELL WITHIN
OUR BUDGET. SO IT'S THE
MOST COST EFFECTIVE MEANS
OF MOVING PEOPLE BAR
ROADS, FIXED TRANSIT, SAY
WITH LIGHT RAIL WHICH IS
VERY EXPENSIVE AND OTHER
SYSTEMS. THIS IS THE BEST.
>>TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE ROUTE AND THE SERVICE
AREAS. JUST REFRESH OUR
VIEWERS.
>>WELL AGAIN RIGHT NOW IT
GOES ACROSS THE BRIDGE IN
VOLUSIA COUNTY UP TO THE
SOUTH DEBARRY. I MET THIS
WEEK WITH SOME OF THE
VOTRAN PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT
WE HAVE BUS CONNECTIONS
FROM SOUTH VOLUSIA FROM
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
DELAND. EVENTUALLY IT'S
SUPPOSED TO GO UP TO
ORANGE CITY, AT SAKS AND
THEN ALSO WOULD TERMINATE
AT LEAST INITIALLY,
THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT
GETTING TO THE EAST COAST.
BUT AT THE DELAND AREA.
THEN IT GOES DOWN. THE
FIRST STAGE IT WILL GO
DOWN TO SAND LAKE, YOU
TRANSFER WITH A SHUTTLE TO
THE AIRPORT. THE SECOND
PHASE WILL GO DOWN TO
KISSIMMEE. AND THEN RIGHT
AFTER THAT WE'LL CONNECT
DIRECTLY IN TO THE AIRPORT
WITH AN INTERMODAL STATION
SOUTH OF THE CURRENT
AIRPORT THAT WOULD CONNECT
INTO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL
GOING TO MIAMI AND THEN
FUTURE FIX SYSTEMS OUT
TOWARDS THE TOURIST AREA,
OUT TOWARDS TAMPA AND OUT
TO THE EAST, LAKE NONA AND
THE CAPE.
>>THERE'S STILL SOME
CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE NOT
RIDING THE TRAIN BECAUSE
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT
GETTING TO THEIR FINAL
DESTINATION WHEN THEY GET
OFF THE TRAIN. YOU'VE
MENTIONED ABOUT THE BUSES,
THAT CONNECTIVITY PART OF
THAT, HOW IS THAT BEING
ADDRESSED?
>>WELL AGAIN, INDIVIDUAL
MEETINGS. I'M AT THIS WEEK
WITH VOTRAN AND VOLUSIA
MEETING WITH THE LYNX
OFFICIALS IN THE COMING
WEEKS. THOSE BUSES HAVE TO
CONNECT. YOU'VE GOT TO
CONNECT TO THE LYNX LIMO
DOWN TOWN, THE CIRCULATOR
TO GET AROUND. SO THE
MINUTE YOU STEP OFF THE
SUN RAIL, YOU CAN BE
ASSURED YOU'RE GOING IN
EAST-WEST DIRECTION FOR
YOUR FINAL DESTINATION IS
CONVENIENT. PEOPLE WILL
NOT USE IT IF IT IS NOT
CONVENIENT. IN SOUTH
FLORIDA THEY HAD TRI-RAIL.
IT NEVER WENT TO DOWNTOWN.
ACTUALLY IT WILL BE THIS
SUMMER BEFORE THEY FINALLY
CONNECT INTO AN INTERMODAL
CENTER AND THE METRO RAIL
CONNECTS NOW FINALLY INTO
THE INTERMODAL CENTER ALL
AT THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT. WE'LL BE DOING
THAT VERY SOON. I'VE
ALWAYS JOKED THAT THE BAD
NEWS IS THAT WE HAVEN'T
DONE ANYTHING. THE GOOD
NEWS IS WE HAVEN'T MESSED
IT UP.
>>WELL THAT'S WHAT I WAS
GOING TO SAY.
>>WE CAN DO IT RIGHT, WE
CAN DO IT RIGHT.
>>WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF
THE KEYS THAT WERE..RIGHT.
>>LOOK AT SOME OF THE
MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE
WITH COMMUTER RAIL. AROUND
THE COUNTRY WE'RE DOING
THE SAME THING. FINALLY
CONNECTING THESE SYSTEMS
TOGETHER LIKE YOU SEE IN
EUROPE. SO THEY'RE
SEAMLESS, AND PEOPLE WILL
USE IT IF IT'S CONVENIENT.
THEY WILL NOT USE IT. SO I
CAN ONLY LEAD THE HORSES
TO WATER AND THEN..
>>THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF
COORDINATION IN THIS
THOUGH. A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT.
>>YES. OH YES. YOU HAVE
FOUR COUNTIES AND THEN THE
CITY OF ORLANDO PLUS THE
OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
SEVERAL DIFFERENT BUS
SYSTEMS, SHUTTLES AND
THINGS OF THAT SORT TO
MOVE PEOPLE AROUND. IT'S
GOING TO BE VERY
IMPORTANT. ONE OF THE
THINGS THEY DISCOVERED IN
VOLUSIA, IS THEIR BUS
TICKETS DON'T MATCH THE
SUN RAIL. IT'S GOING TO
TAKE TIME TO CHANGE THAT
OUT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T
WANT TO BE DEALING WITH
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FARE
TICKETS. YOU'VE GOT TO
MAKE IT CONVENIENT.
>>YES. NOW THE SCHEDULE SO
FAR FOR SUN RAIL REALLY
FOCUSES AROUND DAY TIME
COMMUTERS.
>>RIGHT IT STARTS OUT THAT
WAY.
>>YOU ENVISION THAT
CHANGING, IN THE
WEEKENDS..
>>A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS
THAT SHOULD CHANGING. IT
WILL INCREASE. FIRST YOU
START OUT WITH SORT OF THE
MINIMAL SERVICE THEN YOU
SEE WHERE THE RIDERSHIP
IS. I'M SURE ON WEEKENDS
AND TO SPECIAL EVENTS,
PEOPLE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT PARKING DOWNTOWN. WE
HAVE A NEW ART CENTER.
WE'VE GOT THE ARENA.
YOU'VE GOT NEW ATHLETIC
FIELDS AND COMPETITION
GOING ON DOWN THERE THAT
THEY CAN GET TO
CONVENIENTLY WITHOUT
GETTING INTO THEIR
VEHICLE, OR PARKING AT A
REMOTE LOCATION AND
CONVENIENTLY GETTING TO
THEIR DESTINATION.
>>NOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT SUN RAIL IN TERMS OF
MOVING PEOPLE FROM PLACE
TO PLACE. WHAT ABOUT THE
ECONOMICS THOUGH THAT THE
TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT ASPECT. HOW'S
THAT COMING ALONG?
>>UH, INCREDIBLE. I THINK
THERE'S A BILLION DOLLARS
WORTH OF DEVELOPMENT ALONG
THE QUARTER RIGHT NOW.
>>ALREADY?
>>YES. FLORIDA HOSPITAL
HUGE DEVELOPMENT. UH,
YOU'VE GOT DEVELOPMENTS OF
LONGWOOD, MAITLAND. YOU'VE
GOT THEM ALL THE WAY UP
AND DOWN THE QUARTER. BUT
IT'S INTERESTING THEY JUST
ANNOUNCED THE JOB
STATISTICS AND
UNEMPLOYMENT'S DOWN IN
CENTRAL FLORIDA. IT'S AT
THE TWO AREAS THAT'S UP
THE MOST ARE BOTH IN THE
HOSPITALITY AREA, BUT
SECONDLY IN
TRANSPORTATION. SO WE'VE
HAD GREAT EMPLOYMENT
SUCCESS AND WE WILL IN THE
FUTURE. AND IT WILL ALSO
GET PEOPLE THE JOBS WHERE
PEOPLE CAN'T GET TO WORK
NOW.
>>WE DON'T HAVE HIGH
SPEED RAIL
IN THE PICTURE NOW, BUT DO
YOU THINK THAT THE SUN
RAIL MIGHT EVENTUALLY RUN
PART OF THAT WAY DOWN THE
I-4 QUARTER?
>>WELL WE HAVE A HIGH
SPEED RAIL COMING. BUT
FROM MIAMI TO THE ORLANDO
INTERNATIONAL AIPORT..
>>ALL ABOARD FLORIDA.
>>ALL ABOARD FLORIDA. AND
THOSE TWO WILL CONNECT
TOGETHER AT THIS NEW
INTERMODAL CENTER.
>>GOVERNOR SCOTT JUST
ANNOUNCED 214 MILLION
DOLLARS TOWARDS THAT
CENTER WHICH HELPS MAKE IT
A REALITY. IT'S ALSO THE
LINK TO THE NEW SOUTH
TERMINAL. WE BUILT THE
AIRPORT WHEN WE ONLY HAD 8
MILLION PASSENGERS. IT'S
CAPACITY WAS 24 MILLION
AND WE'RE AT 36 MILLION.
WE'LL SOON HAVE 60 OR 70
MILLION PASSENGERS. BUT TO
CONNECT THE NORTH AND NEW
SOUTH TERMINAL, THE
INTERMODAL CENTER WILL BE
THE TRANSPORTATION HUB.
PEOPLE WILL COME IN ON SUN
RAIL. HIGH SPEED RAIL
FIXED TRANSIT OUT. PARKING
AND ALSO OTHER
CONVENIENCES BUSES AND
THINGS WILL TRANSPORT FORM
THAT INTERMODAL CENTER. IT
ALL LINKS TOGETHER AND
THEN PEOPLE WILL USE IT.
>>LETS TALK ABOUT ORLANDO
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
THEN. AND JUST LOOKING AT
THE AIRPORT, WHAT'S THE
CURRENT STATUS ON THAT
EXPANSION? AND I
UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE
AIRLINES WERE NOT REAL
HAPPY.
>>WELL THEY AREN'T HAPPY.
THEY DON'T WANT
COMPETITION. BUT MY
INTEREST ISN'T THE
AIRLINES, IT'S THE PUBLIC
INTEREST AND LONG TERM WE
HAVE TO EXPAND THAT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST
ECONOMIC GENERATORS. THERE
ARE OVER 20,000 PEOPLE
THAT WERE CONNECTED TO
THAT AIRPORT. SO GETTING
FOLKS THERE, AND THEN THE
NUMBER OF PASSENGERS. WE
HAVE 36 MILLION, WE'LL BE
AT 60 MILLION. SO WE NEED
THAT CAPACITY AND THE
AIRLINES DO HELP PAY FOR
IT BUT THE PASSENGERS PAY.
THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS TO
THEIR TAXES THAT THEY PAY
INTO THE AVIATION TRUST
FUND. THERE'S A PASSENGER
FACILITY CHARGE THAT COMES
BACK TO THE AIRPORT TO
IMPROVE THOSE FACILITIES.
THERE WILL BE CAR RENTAL
CHARGES FOR THAT FACILITY.
AND THEN SUNR AIL AND ALL
ABOARD FLORIDA AND OTHERS
WHO CONNECT INTO IT, ARE
ALSO GOING TO CONTRIBUTE,
BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO BUILD THAT
FACILITY. SO IT'S A GOOD
INVESTMENT.
>>SO YOU SEE IT AS
ESSENTIAL IN TERMS OF OUR
TOURISM INDUSTRY, OUR
CONVENTION CENTER AS WE
BUILD MORE BUSINESSES
HERE. SO THE ECONOMIC
ASPECT IS THE KEY HERE.
>>EXCITING THINGS. YOU'LL
BE ABLE TO GET ALSO OVER
TO SANFORD AIRPORT, UP TO
DAYTONA AIRPORT. SOME
INITIALLY BY BUS, LATER BY
RAIL CONNECTION IN EAST,
WEST. IT'D BE GREAT TO
COME OUT TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF CENTRAL FLORIDA.
>>THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
>>AND WE'LL HAVE THAT AND
THEN OUT TO LAKE NONA.
THERE WILL BE OTHER
CONNECTIONS. WE'VE GOT
HUGE CAMPUSES AND COMPLEX
THE V.A. MEDICAL CENTER.
WE WANT TO GET FOLKS TO
THOSE FACILITIES.
CONVENIENTLY,
ECONOMICALLY.
>>AND WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THE AIRPORT
EXPANSION, AND THAT'S WHAT
I WAS READING ABOUT. BUT I
ALSO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT
THE INTERMODAL. TELL US
AGAIN, JUST EXPLAIN WHAT
THAT HUB MEANS.
>>AGAIN, IT'S THE
CONNECTION FOR ALL THE FIX
TRANSIT. SUN RAIL, ALL
ABOARD FLORIDA. I CALL IT
THE NORTH TERMINAL. THE
EXISTING NORTH TERMINAL.
THEN THEY'LL BUILD A SOUTH
TERMINAL IN THE SOUTH, AND
NEXT TO THAT THEY'LL HAVE
AN INTERMODAL CENTER WHERE
AGAIN THESE TRANSPORTATION
MODES WILL ALL CONNECT.
PARKING, BUS. WE JUST DID
ONE IN MIAMI. NOW THAT,
THE ONE IN ORLANDO WILL BE
1.2 BILLION DOLLARS TOTAL
COST. IT'S A BIG
STRUCTURE. THE ONE IN
MIAMI COVERS EIGHT CITY
BLOCKS. IT COSTS 2.2
BILLION DOLLARS AND THEY
MADE THE MISTAKE OF NOT
CONNECTING METRO RAIL IN,
OR TRI-RAIL IN. THIS
SUMMER WE'VE GOTTEN METRO
RAIL IN ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
WE WILL SOON HAVE TRI-RAIL
IN. THEN YOU CAN GO
ANYWHERE REGIONALLY AND
THAT'S WHAT WE ENVISION
FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA. THOSE
SAME KIND OF CONNECTIONS
THAT WE'RE MISSING THERE
WE'LL DO IT RIGHT HERE THE
FIRST TIME.
>>NOW YOU MENTIONED
GOVERNOR SCOTT'S $214
MILLION.
>>RIGHT.
>>HOW ESSENTIAL IS PUBLIC
PRIVATE FUNDING TO MAKE A
PROJECT LIKE THIS VIABLE?
>>WELL IT'S THE
COMBINATION WETHER IT WAS
SUN RAIL AND YOU HAVE THE
CITIES CONTRIBUTING, THE
COUNTIES CONTRIBUTING. YOU
HAVE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WE'RE A
PARTNER. WE LOOK AT THE
PROJECT, SEE HOW
SUCCESSFUL, WHAT POTENTIAL
IT HAS FOR SUCCESS AND
THEN WE INVEST IN THEM.
AND THAT MONEY MOSTLY
COMES OUT OF THE GASOLINE
TAX THAT YOU'RE PAYING
WHEN YOU GO GET A GALLON
OF GASOLINE 18.4 CENTS
GOES INTO THE TRUST FUND.
AGAIN, 20 CENTS ON A
DOLLAR HAS GONE SOME PLACE
ELSE AND NOT RETURNED TO
CENTRAL FLORIDA UNTIL WE
BUILT THIS SYSTEM. SO
WE'RE GETTING THAT RETURN,
THE PARTNERSHIP, AND THE
INTERMODAL CENTER. THE
CONCESSIONAIRE'S WILL HELP
PAY FOR THAT TOO SO, WE
HAVE PRIVATE MONEY COMING
IN. CAR RENTALS WILL HELP
PAY FOR IT. SO A LOT OF
CONTRIBUTIONS, IT WONT BE
REAL ESTATE TAXES OR
PROPERTY TAXES LOCALLY
THAT PAY FOR IT.
>>AND YOU TALKED ABOUT ALL
ABOARD FLORIDA WHICH IS A
PRIVATELY OWNED PASSENGER
RAIL SYSTEM.
>>RIGHT. AND THEY'RE
PAYING JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING THERE. THEY
WILL ALSO PAY A PORTION OF
BEING CITED AT THE
INTERMODAL CENTER, BUT
THAT'S MOSTLY A PRIVATE
FLORIDA EAST COAST OWNS
FROM MIAMI TO
JACKSONVILLE. THEY'RE
COMING IN ALONG THE B
LINE, INTO THE AIRPORT.
WE'LL CONNECT IN THERE.
THREE HOUR SERVICE TO
MIAMI SO YOU CAN COME FROM
ANY OF THE SUN RAIL
LOCATIONS OR BY BUS DOWN
THERE, STEP ON TO THE
PLATFORM AND BE IN MIAMI.
AND THEN YOU CAN CIRCULATE
AROUND MIAMI NOW BECAUSE
THAT WILL ALL CONNECT
TOGETHER FOR THE VERY
FIRST TIME. PRETTY
EXCITING.
>>THAT SOUNDS DELIGHTFUL.
IT IS, IT IS. NOW YOU
MENTIONED MIAMI'S
INTERMODAL HUB. THAT HAS
BEEN SUCCESSFUL. BUT
YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE
STILL HAVE LEARNED FROM A
FEW OF THE THINGS THAT
THEY'VE DONE.
>>BUT IT WASN'T
SUCCESSFUL. TRI-RAIL IN
SOUTH FLORIDA NEVER
CONNECTED TO DOWNTOWN. IT
WOULD BE LIKE COMING TO
ALTAMONTE SPINGS AND SAY
HEY GET OFF THE TRAIN AND
FIND YOUR WAY TO ORLANDO.
>>WHICH IS THE
CONNECTIVITY ISSUE WE
TALKED ABOUT.
>>EXACTLY. METRO RAIL WAS
BUILT FROM MIAMI OUT, IT
NEVER CONNECTED TO HYALIA
OR THE AIRPORT. WE'VE
FINALLY DONE THAT IN
MIAMI. HERE WE'RE DOING IT
RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND
THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
AND WE'VE FOUND AROUND THE
COUNTRY, THAT IF YOU
CONNECT, THEN PEOPLE WILL
USE IT. IF IT'S
INCONVENIENT, PEOPLE WILL
NOT USE IT.
>>THEY WON'T.
>>SO WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL
FOR RIDERSHIP AND AGAIN
WITH 36 MILLION PEOPLE
LANDING RIGHT NOW, IN THE
FUTURE, THEY'LL BE ABLE
ALSO TO TAKE A LYNX OUT TO
THE TOURIST AREA, GET
THOSE CARS AND BUSES OFF
OF THE ROADS. THEY'LL LINK
ALSO EVENTUALLY TO THE
PORT AND PEOPLE CAN GO
FROM SOUTH FLORIDA TO
CENTRAL FLORIDA. INCREASE
TOURISM, IT WILL BE VERY
GOOD. MANY OF OUR
VISITORS, A HUGE NUMBER OF
OUR VISITORS ARE NOW
EUROPEAN AND FOREIGN, WHO
ARE VERY ACCUSTOMED TO
TAKING THIS KIND OF FIXED
TRANSPORTATION.
>>THEY MIGHT HELP GET US
MORE IN LINE WITH HOW WE
SHOULD BE TRAVELING
AROUND.
>>AH, I THINK AMERICANS
WILL ADJUST, BUT AMERICANS
ARE FUSSY AND THEY WONT
USE IT IF IT'S NOT
CONVENIENT. THEY ARE TIED
TO THEIR CARS, BUT IN THE
FUTURE AS THE I-4 AND
THESE OTHER QUARTERS
BECOME PARKING LOTS,
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY
PEOPLE, IT GIVES YOU A
COST EFFECTIVE
ALTERNATIVE.
>>DO YOU THINK THAT ALL
ABOARD FLORIDA, IF IT'S
SUCCESSFUL, MIGHT SPUR
INTEREST AGAIN?
>>I THINK THAT WILL BE A
MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY TO REPLICATE AND
SOON WE'LL BE ABLE TO LINK
IT TO TAMPA, JACKSONVILLE,
AND WE'LL HAVE A STATE
WIDE SYSTEM AND A REGIONAL
FEEDER SYSTEM WITH
COMMUTER RAIL TO FEED IN
TO IT AND BETTER UTILIZE
OUR BUSES WHICH ARE PRETTY
COSTLY TO RUN.
>>CONGRESSMAN MICA, THANK
YOU. IT'S A GREAT VISION I
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT ALL
WORK TOGETHER, THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>>WELL GREAT TO BE WITH
YOU DIANE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>>THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE
HAVE FOR OUR SHOW TODAY.
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