December 6, 2007
Could Streetcars be Part of the Transportation Future for Central Florida?
During the “How Shall We Grow?” Initiative, one of the clear messages articulated by the citizens of Central Florida was the desire for alternative transportation options that will help alleviate the growing traffic congestion in the region.
In looking to “start the conversation” about some of the different options, Harry Barley, Executive Director of METROPLAN ORLANDO is coordinating a series of workshops designed to look at transportation alternatives being used in other parts of the world.
The first workshop was held on November 14, 2007, and featured Charlie Hales, Vice President of HDR, Inc. and a former City Commissioner in Portland, Oregon. Known as “the godfather” of the Portland Streetcar Project, Hales was instrumental in revitalizing Portland through the use of streetcars. He has also been actively involved in other streetcar projects across the country.
Hales discussed examples of successful streetcar projects in Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Tucson, Arizona, adding that a well-planned project can help revitalize a community, while also providing another transportation choice for travelers. Hales noted the explosion of pedestrian traffic following the debut of the Portland streetcar.
Recently, the METROPLAN ORLANDO Board charged staff to work with transportation planning agencies in Central Florida to develop 3-5 viable options for streetcar projects in the region, following the successes of “How Shall We Grow?” and the Commuter Rail project. The workshop provided an opportunity to stimulate ideas on what kinds of transit options might be a good fit for Central Florida in the future.
Breaking into smaller workgroups, the attendees discussed the viability of streetcars in various locations across Central Florida. As illustrated by Mr. Hales, the best locations for streetcars are places with distinct anchor locations as well as significant density. They also are not designed to serve large areas, with most initial projects being between 2-3 miles long.
Several common projects emerged from the discussion, including providing connections to State Road 50 near downtown Orlando, and similar connections in downtown Tavares.
While it may be a while before streetcars come to Central Florida, just starting the conversation about transportation alternatives displays an interest and commitment from the leaders within the region to stay true to the desire expressed by the 20,000 citizens who participated in the “How Shall We Grow?” project that Central Florida not continue “business as usual” when it comes to future transportation in the region.
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