On January 25, 2022, the Transportation Sales Tax Referendum effort was relaunched after nearly a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Back in 2019, Orange County held over 200 community meetings and received nearly 11,000 surveys on local transportation needs and priorities. With the pandemic placing transportation efforts on hold, Mayor Jerry L. Demings is re-engaging residents by launching an online survey to make sure Orange County’s transportation priorities in 2022 still align with the initial survey.
Orange County residents and those who travel regularly in Orange County are encouraged to participate in their transportation open houses and take their transportation survey at www.ocfl.net/transportation. The survey will end on March 31, 2022. This survey is currently available in English and Spanish and is being translated into Creole.
In Apopka (District 2), the open house is Tuesday, March 1, 2022, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Wekiva High School, Cafeteria, 2501 Hiawassee Road, Apopka, FL 32703
When originally announced at the 2019 State of the County by Mayor Demings, the plan called for pursuing a transportation sales tax to be put forward via referendum in November 2020 for Orange County residents to decide.
The massive public outreach and engagement were unprecedented. Mayor Demings sought input by holding community meetings and listening, learning, and gathering feedback from residents through both meetings and the County’s transportation survey.
Mayor Demings and staff participated in more than 200 community engagement opportunities, including town halls, stakeholder group discussions, neighborhood meetings, media interviews, and community events. In addition, more than 10,000 residents participated in the transportation survey.
But then the pandemic hit full force. It created a collective pause. It affected growth, jobs, and economic activity all across the nation, including here in Central Florida. The transportation sales tax initiative was put on hold.
Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, Central Florida was growing by a net of nearly 1,000 new residents every week. Job growth was high. The economy was humming along. SunRail, even with its limited schedule, transported more than 1.5 million riders in the calendar year 2019.
But there were challenges. Traffic congestion added an estimated 57 hours a year to the commute; that’s roughly an hour more per week stuck in traffic. LYNX, the regional bus system, was constrained by a small fleet for a region this size. This resulted in long waits at bus stops as well as a lack of creative options to expand service, including more direct routes with limited stops.
Now, as we enter the economic recovery phase, the Central Florida region is preparing to continue its robust growth on par with pre-pandemic levels, especially as the job market works to find its footing.
So, the question is: As the area evolves to a new normal, do we want the same ‘normal’ with traffic congestion, lack of mass transit options, and safety concerns for bicyclists and pedestrians, all of which affect the quality of life? Or, can we as a community of cities, as well as all the residents of greater Orange County, do better, and deserve better?
For more details: Frequently Asked Questions, Fast Facts, and Community Engagement details can be found online, at: www.ocfl.net/transportation.
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