ORLANDO, Fla. – City leaders in downtown Orlando are considering major roadway changes that could convert several one-way streets into two-way roads as part of a broader redevelopment effort aimed at improving walkability and accessibility downtown.
According to meeting documents ahead of Wednesday’s Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board meeting, the proposed changes are part of the city’s “Downtown Orlando 2.0 Implementation Plan,” which focuses on reshaping how residents and visitors experience downtown Orlando.
The proposal includes portions of Orange Avenue, Rosalind Avenue and Magnolia Avenue — roads that currently carry multiple lanes of one-way traffic through downtown.
Documents state the improvement plan includes redesigned streets, upgraded sidewalks, bikeways and other infrastructure intended to create a more walkable and accessible downtown environment.
Meeting records show the proposed roadway changes are also intended to support continued growth downtown while improving pedestrian traffic through redesigned two-way streets.
Still, some drivers said they are concerned the changes could worsen congestion in an area they already consider heavily trafficked.
“No. I think with the traffic the way that it already is, I think less lanes would kind of be counterintuitive,” one driver told News 6. “I think it would cause an even bigger issue. So we just make it worse.”
Another driver described traffic downtown as consistently busy throughout the day.
“I think during all times — late night, during the day — I think all around it’s pretty congested,” the driver said.
One downtown driver also said city leaders should gather more community input before moving forward with the project.
“Maybe gain some feedback from — I don’t know where they’re getting their ideas from — or get feedback from people who actually live in the neighborhood and in the city and get, you know, what they think would be a better change and go from there,” the driver said.
The Downtown CRA Advisory Board is expected to meet Wednesday at 3 p.m. to discuss next steps tied to the downtown improvement project.