TRANSPORTATION

The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority’s LYNX bus service announced Tuesday it was awarded a $300,000 as part of a national program for transportation projects.

The first Brightline train entered Brevard County for a practice run Tuesday between South Florida and the Orlando airport.

If you live in a part of the country where you experience all four seasons then you’re pretty used to snowplows cleaning up the streets of your town when mother nature decides to dump inches of snow on the ground.

With the new year comes a renewed push for Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings to pursue the passing of a one-cent sales tax for transportation in the November 2022 election.

Disney said on social media earlier this month that its trams would return to Magic Kingdom before the end of the month and other Walt Disney World theme parks throughout 2022.

Brightline hopes to launch higher-speed passenger train service along an $8 billion, 320-mile rail network stretching from Miami to Orlando to Tampa Bay.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings says the future of transportation in Orange County might include another penny sales tax.

Guests wanting to park hop from Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park to EPCOT will soon have another form of transportation.

More than 3,000 people shared their opinions on topics from driving habits to public transpiration within the Greater Orlando area.

Lynx will continue offering free rides to seniors to the ongoing vaccination sites.

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 13, 2019 file photo, electric rental scooters lie on a sidewalk in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – The Volusia County Council introduced a proposal Tuesday to allow electric and other motorized vehicles on certain parts of the beach. Council leaders suggested allowing use of electric bikes, one-wheel scooters and the like to operate in designated spots by the beach. AdCounty leaders pointed to recent state legislation that gives e-bike and electric scooter operators the same rights as bicyclists. As proposed, e-bikes and other electric motorized devices would be permitted as long as they follow all other vehicle regulations such as speed and times of day for use on the beach.

“We know that transportation is an issue, but even more so with COVID-19,” said Rina Shah, group vice president of pharmacy operations at Walgreens. “Through these community partnerships, we’re able to get the word out that not only is it important to get the vaccine (but) when you do schedule appointments, here’s your code for a free ride.”

“The growth in Central Florida, especially in this area, has been very significant. Any regular driver of SR-429 knows exactly what I’m talking about,” said Will Hawthorne, director of engineering for the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX). Hawthorne was one of several officials who spoke recently at a virtual public forum aimed at educating the public on a planned expansion. Growth like that has not only outperformed our projections, but most of those used throughout the State of Florida,” said Hawthorne. “We have always planned to turn it into ten lanes,” Hawthorne said during the virtual meeting.

ORLANDO, Fla. – When resort hotel bookings open for stays in 2022, Disney will no longer offer its Magical Express service for airport transportation, Walt Disney World officials announced on Monday. Officials said the resort will continue to operate the service for new and existing reservations made at Disney Resort hotels for arrivals throughout this year. The Extra Magic Hours benefit, which was suspended when Walt Disney World Resort reopened last summer, will not return. Recently, Walt Disney World released its calendar of operating hours for its theme parks through the month of March. Stay in the loop with the latest theme park scoops with our newsletter bringing you the best of Central Florida’s attractions.

Limited transportation has long been a hurdle to employment, hindering growth at some companies and preventing people who need work from accessing available jobs. As the rise of e-commerce spurs job growth in industrial areas that are often not close to public transportation, employers hope addressing transit needs attracts a wider pool of candidates and helps workers arrive on time.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The president of Brightline Trains met with transportation leaders in Orlando on Wednesday to discuss the company’s expansion project through Central Florida. Patrick Goddard was the guest speaker at the Alliance for Regional Transportation Education Series, which was held at the site of Brightline’s future station at Orlando International Airport. “This is a very diverse market and it is a perfect market for intercity passenger rail,” Goddard said. Goddard said station is an important stop in what will eventually connect Orlando to the west coast of Florida. A time frame for the Tampa extension hasn’t been announced, but the extension to Orlando International Airport is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2022.

ORLANDO, Fla. – SunRail is suspending all services due to Tropical Storm Eta, which is expected to make landfall in Florida early Thursday. For service updates please follow us on Facebook/Twitter @RideSunRail, or the SunRail app. pic.twitter.com/Kbg3Tov0h5 — SunRail (@RideSunRail) November 11, 2020Computer models show Eta making landfall Thursday north of Tampa and tracking across the state, near Jacksonville. Eta is expected to bring tropical downpours, gusty winds and the threat of tornadoes to Central Florida Wednesday night into Thursday. [TIMELINE: Here’s when you can expect to feel Eta’s impacts]School and COVID-19 testing site closures have also been announced in some Central Florida counties.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation is working with Osceola County officials to streamline a stretch of Interstate 4 near the Osceola and Polk County border. Renderings from FDOT show crews would reshape the interchange at I-4 and State Road 532, creating a diverging diamond interchange. Crews would also repave the stretch of interstate from the Polk County line to State Road 417. On Wednesday night, some residents who live near the proposed construction site sounded off on their feelings. FDOT said the proposal is still in the design stages, but the hope is to begin construction in Spring of 2021, with the project lasting one to two years.

But one group in Orlando is working to make transportation easier throughout Central Florida. Officials released the Orlando Transportation 2030 Report, Wednesday which helps to outline a blueprint for the region’s transportation future. Group members included representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 5, MetroPlan Orlando, the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX), and the Central Florida Expressway Authority. Empower a regional transportation authority to oversee the expansion, management, and operations of regional public transit systems. “We must reimagine and reinvent transportation in Central Florida for the 21 Century,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said.

ORLANDO, Fla. Passengers who use LYNX buses will have to begin paying for transportation again in September, according to a news release. The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority Board chairman and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced Thursday that LYNX will resume charging fares on all services on Tuesday after months of fees being waived on bus, NeighborLink and ACCESS LYNX routes. Riders may purchase passes at the customer service window of the LYNX Central Station or on the agencys website. LYNX is currently operating a full schedule with limited seating to help with social distancing measures as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Any customer who does not have a mask can get a free one at the Central Station customer service window.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – During a series of town hall meetings, Orange County residents can ask questions about a proposal to raise the current sales tax to invest in the county’s transportation. Demings said the time is now and the one-cent sales tax could help the county invest more in road infrastructure, add more Lynx buses and expand Sunrail. Orange County resident Sally Baptiste said she’s against the possible sales tax increase. The county said raising fees from the already existing gas tax, property tax and/or impact fees wouldn’t gain as much revenue as the new possible sales tax. The plan will be developed in early 2020 before county commissioners vote on the proposed sales tax increase.