Learning from Tourism-Based Transit: An Orlando, Florida Case Study

The following post comes courtesy of Global Site Plans' The Grid. CNU and Global Site Plans recently teamed up to syndicate Grid content, as its contingent of writers presents a view on the opportunities and issues of urbanization all across the world. CNU will carry select posts from the Grid direct on the CNU Salons.

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 Orlando, Florida, is consistently the most-visited city in the United States with 48 million annual tourists. It should come as no surprise, then, that a major portion of the local economy is made up of service, hospitality, and theme-park-related jobs relying on national and international visitors. Despite the industry’s importance to the area, local infrastructure decisions often ignore both tourists and tourism employees.

Public transportation options currently exist, but are scarcely advertised and can be difficult to figure out, even for locals. Those who want a more cost-effective way of getting around, other than taxis, and who want more freedom than hotel shuttles can provide, are relegated to using the International Drive Trolley or taking the public bus service known as Lynx. While most citizens don’t see the immediate importance of fixed-transit, city officials should be more conscious of future trends in transportation.

Still, I always find it interesting that visitors and locals love taking the Airport People Mover and the Disney Monorail, even though they never use public transit in their everyday lives. Why are these systems so popular? Transportation engineersshould take note of three important aspects: these systems are free, simple, and convenient.

Everyone enjoys a free ride, especially if they’ve just paid for a flight to Orlando or admission to a theme park. However, Miami’s MetroMover proves that even a downtown circulator can become an attraction for both tourists and commuters, as well as an economic asset. What these rail lines also have in common is that they are user-friendly, with limited stops and clear signage. Lastly, the stops are conveniently placed and the ride is quick – usually faster than by car or bus.

While transportation to and from Orlando’s attractions will continue to focus on cars, taxis, and busses, investors and transit officials are looking toward the future.One plan that has gained traction in the past year is for a magnetic levitation train that would connect the airport to the attractions area. This will be just one piece in a comprehensive Orlando-wide transit system.

What type of transportation do you use when traveling to other cities?

To read the original post, written by Alex Lenhoff, visit Global Site Plans.