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1 hour ago, FLClarkKent said:

Is there any movement on connecting SunRail to the airport? I haven’t seen or heard anything official in quite some time.

great question.  look on the Brightline or Sunrail thread.  Sunshine Corridor.  They voted down that $.01 tax at the last election.  They went to DC for $$$.  I am thinking nothing until like 2030 based on this plan for Brightline Phase 2 or 3 to Tampa; they want to have a lease-back from Sunrail tracks so the two projects are intertwined.  I wish they could created a mini phase from the Mainline to OIA as the first sub-phase and then with Sunshine Corridor continue it from there west.

That would help out a lot with parking...

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4 hours ago, jrs2 said:

great question.  look on the Brightline or Sunrail thread.  Sunshine Corridor.  They voted down that $.01 tax at the last election.  They went to DC for $$$.  I am thinking nothing until like 2030 based on this plan for Brightline Phase 2 or 3 to Tampa; they want to have a lease-back from Sunrail tracks so the two projects are intertwined.  I wish they could created a mini phase from the Mainline to OIA as the first sub-phase and then with Sunshine Corridor continue it from there west.

That would help out a lot with parking...

I heard on the Brightline side that they were considering splitting Universal to MCO as a separate phase from the Universal to Disney-area stop to try to get things moving sooner

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Scary busy numbers coming out of OIA. First quarter total passengers are 14.257 million passengers. Last year first quarter was 11.670 million. 

Maybe it's flawed math here, and I'm sure it is.....but, last year we finished with over 52 million. Roughly 4.46 x 11.670 million. 

Extrapolate that same growth over the year, and we are at 63 million passengers for the year. Sure, it's flawed and a lot of other variables are in play.........but.......we will at least shatter 56 million this year. 

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12 hours ago, shardoon said:

Scary busy numbers coming out of OIA. First quarter total passengers are 14.257 million passengers. Last year first quarter was 11.670 million. 

Maybe it's flawed math here, and I'm sure it is.....but, last year we finished with over 52 million. Roughly 4.46 x 11.670 million. 

Extrapolate that same growth over the year, and we are at 63 million passengers for the year. Sure, it's flawed and a lot of other variables are in play.........but.......we will at least shatter 56 million this year. 

That extrapolation is definitely flawed because the numbers for the first few months of 2022 were anomalously low.

Jan 23 was up 31% over Jan 22, Feb 23 was up 21% over Feb 22, Mar 23 was up 15% over Mar 22, and I expect that future months will be even smaller increases.

Historically Q1 has had closer to 1/4 of passengers than 2/9, so putting everything together I'm guessing 2023 ends up around 56-57 million. 

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21 hours ago, aent said:

I heard on the Brightline side that they were considering splitting Universal to MCO as a separate phase from the Universal to Disney-area stop to try to get things moving sooner

that is awesome if they could do it because the Sunshine Corridor portion- at least the bulk of it would be that stretch from MCO.  After that point it's I-4 easement city.  It would still take a long time to do b/c of all the intersections involved and whatever bridges they decided to construct.

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2 hours ago, blt23 said:

That extrapolation is definitely flawed because the numbers for the first few months of 2022 were anomalously low.

Jan 23 was up 31% over Jan 22, Feb 23 was up 21% over Feb 22, Mar 23 was up 15% over Mar 22, and I expect that future months will be even smaller increases.

Historically Q1 has had closer to 1/4 of passengers than 2/9, so putting everything together I'm guessing 2023 ends up around 56-57 million. 

Yea, that's what I figured. 1st quarter 2022 still had lingering covid effects. Still quit spectacular to break 56 million. Could challenge 60 million in 2024 which would have been unthinkable a few years ago, especially with Epic not even being open yet. 

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1 hour ago, jrs2 said:

that is awesome if they could do it because the Sunshine Corridor portion- at least the bulk of it would be that stretch from MCO.  After that point it's I-4 easement city.  It would still take a long time to do b/c of all the intersections involved and whatever bridges they decided to construct.

Probably hedging bets that FDOT could construct the corridor and bridges for them anyway. Otherwise they'd be looking at trying to get $$$ from FDOT to get the bridges built for BTU.

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23 hours ago, aent said:

I heard on the Brightline side that they were considering splitting Universal to MCO as a separate phase from the Universal to Disney-area stop to try to get things moving sooner

Back when they proposed Obama HSR, Mica called the Disney to Tampa portion a "dog."  At that time I was hoping that they at least built MCO to Disney leg.

Fast forward, and now a similar line of thought is there but with the I-Drive station (b/c of the Disney rejection).

That's good motivation for DIsney...to see Epic Universe benefitting before they do to a different sub-market.  Maybe, maybe not.

It still makes Disney look bad...

37 minutes ago, codypet said:

Probably hedging bets that FDOT could construct the corridor and bridges for them anyway. Otherwise they'd be looking at trying to get $$$ from FDOT to get the bridges built for BTU.

I wouldn't be surprised if FDOT, knowing that the Disney station isn't part of it (at present), might go ahead and give the money for those Sunshine Corridor bridges on principle.

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1 hour ago, jrs2 said:

Back when they proposed Obama HSR, Mica called the Disney to Tampa portion a "dog."  At that time I was hoping that they at least built MCO to Disney leg.

Fast forward, and now a similar line of thought is there but with the I-Drive station (b/c of the Disney rejection).

That's good motivation for DIsney...to see Epic Universe benefitting before they do to a different sub-market.  Maybe, maybe not.

It still makes Disney look bad...

I wouldn't be surprised if FDOT, knowing that the Disney station isn't part of it (at present), might go ahead and give the money for those Sunshine Corridor bridges on principle.

The intent was the build the maintenance infrastructure for the Miami leg with the Tampa leg.  It was always intended as Phase 1 of a larger system.  The public facing message and the engineering justification were two different things.  Which is so often common.

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1 hour ago, jrs2 said:

Back when they proposed Obama HSR, Mica called the Disney to Tampa portion a "dog."  At that time I was hoping that they at least built MCO to Disney leg.

Fast forward, and now a similar line of thought is there but with the I-Drive station (b/c of the Disney rejection).

That's good motivation for DIsney...to see Epic Universe benefitting before they do to a different sub-market.  Maybe, maybe not.

It still makes Disney look bad...

I wouldn't be surprised if FDOT, knowing that the Disney station isn't part of it (at present), might go ahead and give the money for those Sunshine Corridor bridges on principle.

However, I completely understand Disney's POV in this. They have a huge empire the size of a city. Do they want their tourists, who they segregate on their property quite well, to simply be able to go to Disney Springs and hop on a train to Universal/Epic or explore I Drive? 

From a business perspective , the answer is NO. However, they bit off more than they can chew. I think they were hoping that they were the king maker and it would either have a Disney Springs station without the Sunshine Corridor, or no rail at all. They would have been happier with an exclusive route, but totally fine with no train at all anywhere west of the airport.  Now they are screwed. They are gonna get left out completely. I also think it is funny how progressive the company is on certain topics, but not on others. You would think that Disney would be full throttle on trains to alleviate tourism traffic. To take their ball and go home forcing a stop off Disney property is a joke........... but maximizing profits is what their #1 goal for the company and I cannot blame them in that. 

 

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11 minutes ago, shardoon said:

However, I completely understand Disney's POV in this. They have a huge empire the size of a city. Do they want their tourists, who they segregate on their property quite well, to simply be able to go to Disney Springs and hop on a train to Universal/Epic or explore I Drive? 

From a business perspective , the answer is NO. However, they bit off more than they can chew. I think they were hoping that they were the king maker and it would either have a Disney Springs station without the Sunshine Corridor, or no rail at all. They would have been happier with an exclusive route, but totally fine with no train at all anywhere west of the airport.  Now they are screwed. They are gonna get left out completely. I also think it is funny how progressive the company is on certain topics, but not on others. You would think that Disney would be full throttle on trains to alleviate tourism traffic. To take their ball and go home forcing a stop off Disney property is a joke........... but maximizing profits is what their #1 goal for the company and I cannot blame them in that. 

 

and this goes to the notion of there is no such thing as ideology just for the same of ideology; in the end, it's usually always about money.  Case in point with Disney and rail.  I could go on and on and spew facts in the Coffee House on this  concept for so many "projects" and/or stances we've seen in the news the past 20-30 years.  Even with rail or monorail, Eisner cut back and never connected AK because of increased costs to expand the system.

I don't blame them either.  And, yes, it looks like the said no to the BL station thinking BL would reconsider rerouting from 417.  Instead, BL got with Universal, Orange County, Sunrail, and the I-Drive Tourist Corridor and created the Sunshine Corridor.  Since then, they are now looking to bifurcate the phase to Tampa.  This could be a power play to get Disney back to the table.

I think I mentioned it before, that, Disney could compete with Universal by having a grand station built at Diz Springs and to market that to anyone looking to ride BL to either of the two locations.  People might be like, wow, I want to go there instead (of Universal) just based on the station.  And this would cause Comcast to spend a few more dollars as well.

I keep saying Brightline, but this is a Sunrail route as well.  I say "as well," b/c the Sunrail angle is to get to OIA and to lease back to BL the corridor or easement.

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56 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

and this goes to the notion of there is no such thing as ideology just for the same of ideology; in the end, it's usually always about money.  Case in point with Disney and rail.  I could go on and on and spew facts in the Coffee House on this  concept for so many "projects" and/or stances we've seen in the news the past 20-30 years.  Even with rail or monorail, Eisner cut back and never connected AK because of increased costs to expand the system.

I don't blame them either.  And, yes, it looks like the said no to the BL station thinking BL would reconsider rerouting from 417.  Instead, BL got with Universal, Orange County, Sunrail, and the I-Drive Tourist Corridor and created the Sunshine Corridor.  Since then, they are now looking to bifurcate the phase to Tampa.  This could be a power play to get Disney back to the table.

I think I mentioned it before, that, Disney could compete with Universal by having a grand station built at Diz Springs and to market that to anyone looking to ride BL to either of the two locations.  People might be like, wow, I want to go there instead (of Universal) just based on the station.  And this would cause Comcast to spend a few more dollars as well.

I keep saying Brightline, but this is a Sunrail route as well.  I say "as well," b/c the Sunrail angle is to get to OIA and to lease back to BL the corridor or easement.

Got me thinking, they both could have done grand stations. Universal could have a real Harry Potter Station, trains and all. Disney could have done a early 20th century grand Penn or Union Station type station under a huge glass enclosure. Oh, the possibilities are endless........ if money was not a factor LOL

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45 minutes ago, codypet said:

The intent was the build the maintenance infrastructure for the Miami leg with the Tampa leg.  It was always intended as Phase 1 of a larger system.  The public facing message and the engineering justification were two different things.  Which is so often common.

I remember that. 

And I also remember that the Miami contingent protested why the Tampa leg would be first and not the "future" Miami leg, which made more sense (to them and to me).  People instead focused on Rick Scott nixing it for political reasons, but they conveniently forgot the protests from SoFla.  As if Miami-Dade  didn't have strong political pull in Tallahassee?  Seriously? And not long after it was nixed, the FEC (Miami company) contingent comes up with AAF, Miami to Orlando HSR.  In the end the MSM had a political field day whilst ignoring the obvious. 

Bringing it to the present:  the Disney pull back from Lake Nona b/c of DeSantis versus Disney's financials, or the RCID deal being a State thing versus an ideology thing versus a Comcast thing.  People forget the statements Comcast made about the importance of their theme parks division ala being big money to them; and they think Comcast is just going to sit idly by and watch Disney continue to have an upper hand just because they're Disney? That's just plain ignorance because we're talking about Comcast/NBC & Universal Studios, not just some small time schmucks near MetroWest.  We already saw how Universal helped nix that coaster park off of N. I-Drive and how they tried to nix Skyplex and how they helped nix the BL route down 417 last year.  I always say to follow the money trail or the "who benefits from this" trail.  Like Disney didn't pay off representatives to nix the Seminoles and their Neptune theme park/casino back in the late '90's/ early 2000's, or prior attempts to legalize gambling in Florida. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the people that voted against LRT during the Hood tenure weren't paid off by Disney since the line was to terminate at, you guessed it, the Universal parking complex.  But people only saw politics on that one too.  What about Sunrail?  CSX got a major payday and upgrade to its facilities in that deal.  That was all about the money too.

In the end, most people only want to see politics because they can't wrap their heads around the notion that money always controls;  because money focus goes against what they believe to be the core of their ideological beliefs: namely, ideology.  In the end, money focus turns the basis of their ideology into a rotting corpse, and they can't allow that to occur.  

Why did I bring all that other stuff up here?  Because its relevant conceptually, and because there hasn't been an argument about stuff on these boards as big as we had the past few days since Spenser the inciter (with love and respect) was with us. And people just need to take a chill pill.

And bringing it back to MCO, look no further than the proposal for the South Terminal Complex and how Delta protested "the need" for it.  In the end, it was all about their money, not whether OIA needed to expand.   Shoot, when I-4 Ultimate was designed with Lexus Lanes, it was all about the money.  And I'll bring up yet another one:  The 2M sq ft World Expo Center in Osceola, and Orange's efforts through litigation on technicalities to nix it (...because of their future expansion of the OCCC (the N/S Bldg)). Here's another: JetBlue looking to move its HQ to OIA; nothing but a money grab from JFK.

It is just sad that when in spite of all this I just laid out, when a move is perceived to affect the other side of the aisle, it all of the sudden turns into "its all about the ideology."

I am just glad that GOAA gave Delta the middle finger when that propaganda machine tried to derail the South Terminal Complex proposal (first, 9-11, then Delta).  And since that move, MCO has benefited with Terminal C and an expanding JetBlue presence, and a plan for further expansion and infrastructure improvements.  

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14 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

I remember that. 

And I also remember that the Miami contingent protested why the Tampa leg would be first and not the "future" Miami leg, which made more sense (to them and to me).  People instead focused on Rick Scott nixing it for political reasons, but they conveniently forgot the protests from SoFla.  As if Miami-Dade  didn't have strong political pull in Tallahassee?  Seriously? And not long after it was nixed, the FEC (Miami company) contingent comes up with AAF, Miami to Orlando HSR.  In the end the MSM had a political field day whilst ignoring the obvious. 

Bringing it to the present:  the Disney pull back from Lake Nona b/c of DeSantis versus Disney's financials, or the RCID deal being a State thing versus an ideology thing versus a Comcast thing.  People forget the statements Comcast made about the importance of their theme parks division ala being big money to them; and they think Comcast is just going to sit idly by and watch Disney continue to have an upper hand just because they're Disney? That's just plain ignorance because we're talking about Comcast/NBC & Universal Studios, not just some small time schmucks near MetroWest.  We already saw how Universal helped nix that coaster park off of N. I-Drive and how they tried to nix Skyplex and how they helped nix the BL route down 417 last year.  I always say to follow the money trail or the "who benefits from this" trail.  Like Disney didn't pay off representatives to nix the Seminoles and their Neptune theme park/casino back in the late '90's/ early 2000's, or prior attempts to legalize gambling in Florida. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the people that voted against LRT during the Hood tenure weren't paid off by Disney since the line was to terminate at, you guessed it, the Universal parking complex.  But people only saw politics on that one too.  What about Sunrail?  CSX got a major payday and upgrade to its facilities in that deal.  That was all about the money too.

In the end, most people only want to see politics because they can't wrap their heads around the notion that money always controls;  because money focus goes against what they believe to be the core of their ideological beliefs: namely, ideology.  In the end, money focus turns the basis of their ideology into a rotting corpse, and they can't allow that to occur.  

Why did I bring all that other stuff up here?  Because its relevant conceptually, and because there hasn't been an argument about stuff on these boards as big as we had the past few days since Spenser the inciter (with love and respect) was with us. And people just need to take a chill pill.

And bringing it back to MCO, look no further than the proposal for the South Terminal Complex and how Delta protested "the need" for it.  In the end, it was all about their money, not whether OIA needed to expand.   Shoot, when I-4 Ultimate was designed with Lexus Lanes, it was all about the money.  And I'll bring up yet another one:  The 2M sq ft World Expo Center in Osceola, and Orange's efforts through litigation on technicalities to nix it (...because of their future expansion of the OCCC (the N/S Bldg)). Here's another: JetBlue looking to move its HQ to OIA; nothing but a money grab from JFK.

It is just sad that when in spite of all this I just laid out, when a move is perceived to affect the other side of the aisle, it all of the sudden turns into "its all about the ideology."

I am just glad that GOAA gave Delta the middle finger when that propaganda machine tried to derail the South Terminal Complex proposal (first, 9-11, then Delta).  And since that move, MCO has benefited with Terminal C and an expanding JetBlue presence, and a plan for further expansion and infrastructure improvements.  

I agree with everything....... And Delta had the balls to say it was not needed when they scaled down their entire operation at Orlando. 

Regarding Rick Scott, I voted for him, but couldn't disagree more with him regarding turning down the federal dollars. Obama was going to give away the money to anyone. They didn't care. Why stand on a soap box when it isn't gonna make a difference. Might of well taken the money. As of today, all the money went to California. Totally wasted in California. Only part that is under construction even close to being completed are in the middle of nowhere between cities the size of Lakeland. We are also 15 years later. the first nowhere to nowhere section isnt even gonna be open for another 7 years in 2030.  I honestly do not thing it will ever be completed between LA and San Francisco....... WHAT A WASTE!! total cost to complete that thing, if it is ever completed, will be well north of $150 billion. 

So with that being said, if Rick Scott took the money, we would already have Orlando to Tampa up and running. Probably have stops at Disney and Universal..... and since Florida is so much easier to build in....... I am sure for a fraction of the cost of the California boondoggle.......... we could have linked Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jax with true high speed rail. 

 

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4 hours ago, shardoon said:

I agree with everything....... And Delta had the balls to say it was not needed when they scaled down their entire operation at Orlando. 

Regarding Rick Scott, I voted for him, but couldn't disagree more with him regarding turning down the federal dollars. Obama was going to give away the money to anyone. They didn't care. Why stand on a soap box when it isn't gonna make a difference. Might of well taken the money. As of today, all the money went to California. Totally wasted in California. Only part that is under construction even close to being completed are in the middle of nowhere between cities the size of Lakeland. We are also 15 years later. the first nowhere to nowhere section isnt even gonna be open for another 7 years in 2030.  I honestly do not thing it will ever be completed between LA and San Francisco....... WHAT A WASTE!! total cost to complete that thing, if it is ever completed, will be well north of $150 billion. 

So with that being said, if Rick Scott took the money, we would already have Orlando to Tampa up and running. Probably have stops at Disney and Universal..... and since Florida is so much easier to build in....... I am sure for a fraction of the cost of the California boondoggle.......... we could have linked Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jax with true high speed rail. 

 

I'll push back a bit on the notion that all of the money went to California. A few 110 mph corridors, that are currently running, were funded through it, and some studies that are now allowing the current Infrastructure Bill's funds to go directly to design and build work. But yes, the majority of the funds ended up going to California's project.

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6 hours ago, shardoon said:

I agree with everything....... And Delta had the balls to say it was not needed when they scaled down their entire operation at Orlando. 

Regarding Rick Scott, I voted for him, but couldn't disagree more with him regarding turning down the federal dollars. Obama was going to give away the money to anyone. They didn't care. Why stand on a soap box when it isn't gonna make a difference. Might of well taken the money. As of today, all the money went to California. Totally wasted in California. Only part that is under construction even close to being completed are in the middle of nowhere between cities the size of Lakeland. We are also 15 years later. the first nowhere to nowhere section isnt even gonna be open for another 7 years in 2030.  I honestly do not thing it will ever be completed between LA and San Francisco....... WHAT A WASTE!! total cost to complete that thing, if it is ever completed, will be well north of $150 billion. 

So with that being said, if Rick Scott took the money, we would already have Orlando to Tampa up and running. Probably have stops at Disney and Universal..... and since Florida is so much easier to build in....... I am sure for a fraction of the cost of the California boondoggle.......... we could have linked Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jax with true high speed rail. 

 

Remember the pot of money for Orlando got bigger and bigger as other states with GOP governors turned down the money.  First Ohio, then Wisconsin.  Once that happened that money came to FL, and a private company was offering to finance the rest.  I4 was going to need some improvement to accommodate that train too.  It would have been nice.  There were some personal statements made by members of the governors office to my family members about my character following the fallout of the rejection of that money that to this day leaves me with contempt for that man and his staffers.  

1 hour ago, WAJAS said:

I'll push back a bit on the notion that all of the money went to California. A few 110 mph corridors, that are currently running, were funded through it, and some studies that are now allowing the current Infrastructure Bill's funds to go directly to design and build work. But yes, the majority of the funds ended up going to California's project.

Correct.  NC upgraded rail lines for their routes between Charlotte and Raleigh just to name a few.

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17 hours ago, shardoon said:

I agree with everything....... And Delta had the balls to say it was not needed when they scaled down their entire operation at Orlando. 

Regarding Rick Scott, I voted for him, but couldn't disagree more with him regarding turning down the federal dollars. Obama was going to give away the money to anyone. They didn't care. Why stand on a soap box when it isn't gonna make a difference. Might of well taken the money. As of today, all the money went to California. Totally wasted in California. Only part that is under construction even close to being completed are in the middle of nowhere between cities the size of Lakeland. We are also 15 years later. the first nowhere to nowhere section isnt even gonna be open for another 7 years in 2030.  I honestly do not thing it will ever be completed between LA and San Francisco....... WHAT A WASTE!! total cost to complete that thing, if it is ever completed, will be well north of $150 billion. 

So with that being said, if Rick Scott took the money, we would already have Orlando to Tampa up and running. Probably have stops at Disney and Universal..... and since Florida is so much easier to build in....... I am sure for a fraction of the cost of the California boondoggle.......... we could have linked Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jax with true high speed rail. 

 

...and that was the point of my post...who exactly was the "him," Scott, the Party, or...FEC?

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19 hours ago, shardoon said:

I agree with everything....... And Delta had the balls to say it was not needed when they scaled down their entire operation at Orlando. 

Regarding Rick Scott, I voted for him, but couldn't disagree more with him regarding turning down the federal dollars. Obama was going to give away the money to anyone. They didn't care. Why stand on a soap box when it isn't gonna make a difference. Might of well taken the money. As of today, all the money went to California. Totally wasted in California. Only part that is under construction even close to being completed are in the middle of nowhere between cities the size of Lakeland. We are also 15 years later. the first nowhere to nowhere section isnt even gonna be open for another 7 years in 2030.  I honestly do not thing it will ever be completed between LA and San Francisco....... WHAT A WASTE!! total cost to complete that thing, if it is ever completed, will be well north of $150 billion. 

So with that being said, if Rick Scott took the money, we would already have Orlando to Tampa up and running. Probably have stops at Disney and Universal..... and since Florida is so much easier to build in....... I am sure for a fraction of the cost of the California boondoggle.......... we could have linked Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jax with true high speed rail. 

 

 

23 hours ago, jrs2 said:

Back when they proposed Obama HSR, Mica called the Disney to Tampa portion a "dog."  At that time I was hoping that they at least built MCO to Disney leg.

Fast forward, and now a similar line of thought is there but with the I-Drive station (b/c of the Disney rejection).

That's good motivation for DIsney...to see Epic Universe benefitting before they do to a different sub-market.  Maybe, maybe not.

It still makes Disney look bad...

I wouldn't be surprised if FDOT, knowing that the Disney station isn't part of it (at present), might go ahead and give the money for those Sunshine Corridor bridges on principle.

There was previously concern with the I4 Beyond the Ultimate plans and how things would get complicated if the rail went in first. With DeSantis accelerating funds for most of the south side of I4 (I believe sections 1A and 5 are fully funded and supposed to start next year) and section 2 partially funded and starting construction this year, the main gap will be section 1B (which is Disney's frontage), its only 5.7 miles so its a lot less for Brightline to have to deal with. All Beyond the Ultimate projects do have provisions for the rail to make it easier to construct.

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43 minutes ago, aent said:

 

There was previously concern with the I4 Beyond the Ultimate plans and how things would get complicated if the rail went in first. With DeSantis accelerating funds for most of the south side of I4 (I believe sections 1A and 5 are fully funded and supposed to start next year) and section 2 partially funded and starting construction this year, the main gap will be section 1B (which is Disney's frontage), its only 5.7 miles so its a lot less for Brightline to have to deal with. All Beyond the Ultimate projects do have provisions for the rail to make it easier to construct.

what are your thoughts on Disney getting back on board with BL?

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13 hours ago, codypet said:

Remember the pot of money for Orlando got bigger and bigger as other states with GOP governors turned down the money.  First Ohio, then Wisconsin.  Once that happened that money came to FL, and a private company was offering to finance the rest.  I4 was going to need some improvement to accommodate that train too.  It would have been nice.  There were some personal statements made by members of the governors office to my family members about my character following the fallout of the rejection of that money that to this day leaves me with contempt for that man and his staffers.  

Correct.  NC upgraded rail lines for their routes between Charlotte and Raleigh just to name a few.

They sound like lovely people. 

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6 hours ago, jrs2 said:

what are your thoughts on Disney getting back on board with BL?

Is there some news about this?

I'd be surprised to hear that at this point, between Disney not wanting to allow tourists to connect to Universal easily, and the state not wanting to start subsidizing any new things for Disney right now, it would be extremely shocking. The best bet right now is if Brightline finds an opportunity to develop or partner with a resort right outside of Disney property, which Brightline says they're looking for.

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1 hour ago, aent said:

Is there some news about this?

I'd be surprised to hear that at this point, between Disney not wanting to allow tourists to connect to Universal easily, and the state not wanting to start subsidizing any new things for Disney right now, it would be extremely shocking. The best bet right now is if Brightline finds an opportunity to develop or partner with a resort right outside of Disney property, which Brightline says they're looking for.

This thing is a ways off from being developed. There will be a new governor by then and things will be back to being cordial. 

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