975 replies to this topic

[JRS1]

yeah, that interchange should have a bunch of flyover ramps connecting all 3 roads together, like a similar setup in Broward for 441.  but, there's that toll booth issue also.

aren't they supposed to connect TNPK to 417 already?

[Chemmie]

prahaboheme, on Jan 31 2006, 10:30 PM, said:

Discourages sprawl?  Look around.  Further, these historic districts existed before Orlando's beloved toll roads and if other metro areas maintain popular historic districts with toll-free highways, I don't see how Orlando would be any different.

Yup, we have pleanty of sprawl here.  

We know why the tolls are still up, and it's not because they are discouraging sprawl.  They are revenue machines.

What is different about Orlando compared to most large cities, I believe, is the smaller amount of centralized downtown employment for the residents.  In most cities, more people commute into the city.  Here, it's all mixed up, people are going everywhere!

[simms3]

You would think that that would help alleviate the traffic down there.  In Jax we really have 2 business centers, and any roads that run through them become clogged.  Everywhere else is fine though.  If everything were evenly distributed, and not too dense, then traffic should not be a problem.  It would in a way be like Europe and Asia (but less dense please!)

[JRS1]

who heard about that new expressway in Lake County on TV 13 earlier?   I think they said it connects 50 to US 27 somewhere north of Four Corners.  They were talking about how it will be the most expensive road in Lake Co. History.

[bulldogger]

Lynx has 10 hybrid buses on order.  They will replace the current buses running on the Lymmo route downtown.

[FrigginGr8est]

Orlando made the #9 spot in the worst commute cities in America in Forbes.
http://www.forbes.co...tml?partner=aol
More reason for building downtown

[Chemmie]

FrigginGr8est, on Feb 17 2006, 08:35 PM, said:

Orlando made the #9 spot in the worst commute cities in America in Forbes.
http://www.forbes.co...tml?partner=aol
More reason for building downtown

I've, at some point in time or another, been involved in commutes in 5 of those cities including Orlando. (Atlanta, Houston, D.C., Chicago, Orlando)  Add in Philadelphia and that's six major commutes I have taken part in.  Orlando is, by far, the best of them all, even with the tolls.  We are piss poor for our size, but I don't think we are that bad!!  

[illliterate02]

Chemmie, on Feb 20 2006, 12:31 PM, said:

I've, at some point in time or another, been involved in commutes in 5 of those cities including Orlando. (Atlanta, Houston, D.C., Chicago, Orlando)  Add in Philadelphia and that's six major commutes I have taken part in.  Orlando is, by far, the best of them all, even with the tolls.  We are piss poor for our size, but I don't think we are that bad!!  

I think that is how we got up there, because of the size of this city and the situation with the traffic. We should not be having the problems that we are right now. Its too bad that we have had these problems for years. My mother didn't realize that we had such a bad problem here till she moved away. Its just really sad that people care about a half cent here or there in order to improve the quality of life in this city and state. Sure lots of tax money gets wasted on things, but they also help improve the community, and Americans are so anti-taxes it disgusts me. They want to drive on the roads, use the schools, and call the police and fire departments but dont want to give more money to help improve any of them. But they will be the first to whine and complain about how things need to improve. Sorry, my anti-Republican sentiments have been growing inside me for a few weeks... Politics gotta love em..

[Dale]

illliterate02, on Feb 20 2006, 02:31 PM, said:

I think that is how we got up there, because of the size of this city and the situation with the traffic. We should not be having the problems that we are right now. Its too bad that we have had these problems for years. My mother didn't realize that we had such a bad problem here till she moved away. Its just really sad that people care about a half cent here or there in order to improve the quality of life in this city and state. Sure lots of tax money gets wasted on things, but they also help improve the community, and Americans are so anti-taxes it disgusts me. They want to drive on the roads, use the schools, and call the police and fire departments but dont want to give more money to help improve any of them. But they will be the first to whine and complain about how things need to improve. Sorry, my anti-Republican sentiments have been growing inside me for a few weeks... Politics gotta love em..

I, on the other hand, sympathize with Americans who don't trust that monies confiscated from them will be well-used.

Not to say that I enjoy congestion. And not to say that I don't think that lightrail is golly-gee whizbang and a civic feather-in-the-cap.

[bulldogger]

Dale, on Feb 20 2006, 03:28 PM, said:

I, on the other hand, sympathize with Americans who don't trust that monies confiscated from them will be well-used.

Not to say that I enjoy congestion. And not to say that I don't think that lightrail is golly-gee whizbang and a civic feather-in-the-cap.

I wonder if we could get the military to build us a lightrail system with tax money, then, everyone would approve.

[Dale]

bulldogger, on Feb 20 2006, 03:49 PM, said:

I wonder if we could get the military to build us a lightrail system with tax money, then, everyone would approve.

.

Sadly, you're probably right.

And while I like my tanks olive-drab, I'm not sure how that would look on a lightrail car.

[Go Gators]

illliterate02, on Feb 20 2006, 02:31 PM, said:

Its just really sad that people care about a half cent here or there in order to improve the quality of life in this city and state. Sure lots of tax money gets wasted on things, but they also help improve the community, and Americans are so anti-taxes it disgusts me. They want to drive on the roads, use the schools, and call the police and fire departments but dont want to give more money to help improve any of them. But they will be the first to whine and complain about how things need to improve. Sorry, my anti-Republican sentiments have been growing inside me for a few weeks... Politics gotta love em..

Yea, I agree with Dale.  They (govt) need to learn how to budget the money they have, just like everyone else.  Not raise taxes everytime an issue comes up.  Its ok about your anti-Republican sentiment growing lately, my anti-democrat sentiment has been growing for years and years lol   (in a joking manner)

[Dale]

Go Gators, on Feb 20 2006, 04:25 PM, said:

Yea, I agree with Dale.  They (govt) need to learn how to budget the money they have, just like everyone else.  Not raise taxes everytime an issue comes up.  Its ok about your anti-Republican sentiment growing lately, my anti-democrat sentiment has been growing for years and years lol   (in a joking manner)

And go Gators !  

[illliterate02]

Go Gators, on Feb 20 2006, 04:25 PM, said:

Yea, I agree with Dale.  They (govt) need to learn how to budget the money they have, just like everyone else.  Not raise taxes everytime an issue comes up.  Its ok about your anti-Republican sentiment growing lately, my anti-democrat sentiment has been growing for years and years lol   (in a joking manner)

Well, its mainly ideas that republicans have put in place that have led to this misuse of money, especially the federal money that we get for transportation. Catagorical Grants and Block Grants, all ideas proposed by Republicans which gives tax money for anything or for nothing...Basicaly you can use the money for whatever you want in a block grant, and catagorical grants you get money for roads but you have to fit a specific catagory... There is no grey area, typical of republican politics. In turn that just hurts us. I also find it hard to believe that you have anti-Democrat sentiment, because they havent been able to do anything in office for years. I prefer socialism so attack them both at will, it won't affect me any, just try to do it in traffic on your way to the voter booth.

[jack]

We do not need to raise taxes to improve our roadways.  Just a reallocation of taxes and we could make out okay. (As well as cutting down on overhead and waste.)

[bulldogger]

depechecureguyorl, on Feb 21 2006, 02:14 PM, said:

Now...back to the topic at hand...I agree that more taxes to help fix our roads are not the answer, but a re-allocation of taxes. I'd hate to quote a not so popular local figure, but the tourism industry DOES keep their "grubby little fingers" all over the tourist tax. That's ONE tax that is blatantly unfairly allocated.

I think gas tax should pay for roads.  People that don't drive don't necessarily need roads.

I thought a lot of the tourist tax pays to keep tourists coming here.  Advertising, roads in the tourist corridor, etc.  It seems like a waste of money to keep doing this, but without it, the tourist industry might falter.  Now, I say MIGHT and that is why we keep putting the money right back where it came.  Just in case.

With that said, I would like to see more of the tourist tax go back to some residents.  Museums would be nice and that would also bring more tourists anyway and in effect recoup the investment.  Considering we have a History Museum, maybe we could have a citrus museum. j/k

Building more roads for locals probably won't happen.

New arena??  I doubt it.  How many people fly to Orlando to catch the Magic?  I'd say somewhere in the neighborhood of 0. Sampling margin of error +/- 1.

Open question to all:
Where do you think the tourist tax should go?

Edited by bulldogger, 23 February 2006 - 11:46 PM.

[demon]

bulldogger, on Feb 21 2006, 02:47 PM, said:

I think gas tax should pay for roads.  People that don't drive don't necessarily need roads.

I thought a lot of the tourist tax pays to keep tourists coming here.  Advertising, roads in the tourist corridor, etc.  It seems like a waste of money to keep doing this, but without it, the tourist industry might falter.  Now, I say MIGHT and that is why we keep putting the money right back where it came.  Just in case.

With that said, I would like to see more of the tourist tax go back to some residents.  Museums would be nice and that would also bring more tourists anyway and in effect recoup the investment.  Considering we have a History Museum, maybe we could have a citrus museum. j/k

Building more roads for locals probably won't happen.

New arena??  I doubt it.  How many people fly to Orlando to catch the Magic?  I'd say somewhere in the neighborhood of 0. Sampling margin of error +/- 1.

Open question to all:
Where do you think the tourist tax should go?

There are only certain places the tourist tax can go (with the way the law is written now). It can't go for education, or for Homeland security. I've been to quite a few Magic games over the years & I have to say that the NBA does draw some of our International tourists. I don't believe they come to see the Magic, but they will come downtown to see Lebron, Kobe, Shaq, or possibly their favorite player from home.

A new arena would not just be for basketball but hopefully for other sports and venues. You don't think tourists would come downtown to see U2 or Coldplay? I certainly do.

[Tim3167]

I see this little snipet on the next Orlando City Council agenda. I remember the press when the OSCAR trolley car was purchased. It was supposed to be the prototype for a new commuter system downtown. Ahhh, how loudly some dreams are born and how quietly those same dreams sometimes die...

Subject:
Approving the authorization to proceed with the Sale of Oscar Trolley Car

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary:
In 1990 the CRA purchased a trolley car in anticipation of it being used as part of a downtown transportation circulator. The trolley was one of the three alternatives analyzed when studying the options for the downtown circulator system. The rubber tired bus alternative was ultimately chosen, which is now the Lymmo transit circulator. This trolley has been in storage since 1991 at an annual cost of $3,300, until January of 2005 when it was moved into a City of Orlando storage facility. Staff has received recent interest in purchase of the trolley. Staff is seeking authorization to sell the trolley car and initiate the process for sale consistent with procedures determined by the Purchasing Office, CRA staff and the Office of Legal Affairs.

[orlandonative]

Tim3167, on Feb 22 2006, 10:29 AM, said:

Subject:
Approving the authorization to proceed with the Sale of Oscar Trolley Car

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sounds like the story line to a sad cartoon.

Edited by orlandonative, 22 February 2006 - 09:34 AM.

[speck76]

bulldogger, on Feb 21 2006, 02:47 PM, said:

Open question to all:
Where do you think the tourist tax should go?

It should go to promote the city, and keep the tourist area nice, and most of all, keep people coming here.  The tourists should not foot the bill for problems created by careless leaders, and they should not have to pay for things that the locals don't want to.