Orlando

Politicos Hope to Speed Up Central Florida's $2.3 Billion Highway Project

Inside the push to speed up the project known as I-4 Ultimate in Central Florida—the $2.3 billion would tear down and rebuild 40 miles of the interstate.

May 5, 2015 - Orlando Business Journal

Arizona Suburb

Sun Belt Remains Destination of Choice for Migrants

Census Bureau data indicates that the shift to Sun Belt suburbs is still the majority preference. Turns out warmth, jobs, and affordable housing are a powerful triumvirate.

April 28, 2015 - The New York Times

Disney Imagineers' Next Big Thing: 'Avatar' Theme Park in Orlando

The world of Pandora, created by James Cameron for the blockbuster film Avatar, will be the next addition to Disney's Animal Kingdom park in Orlando, Florida.

February 28, 2015 - Variety

Florida High Speed Rail to Remain Privately Funded

Apparently some in Florida were uncomfortable with the much touted "privately funded railroad" using a $1.6 billion Federal Railroad Administration loan, so All Aboard Florida applied for tax exempt bonds to supplement or replace the loan.

December 24, 2014 - The Palm Beach Post

Largest TIFIA Loan to P3 Goes to Florida's 'I-4 Ultimate' Project

Transportation Secretary Foxx announced the largest TIFIA loan to be awarded to a public-private partnership will be used to widen 21 miles of Interstate 4 in Florida known as "I-4 Ultimate" by adding four express or toll lanes in the Orlando area.

September 12, 2014 - Transport Topics

Placemaking in Communities of All Sizes

A new article from Smart Growth America portrays the successes of placemaking in communities as diverse as Soldotna, Alaska (population 4,163), Orlando, and Philadelphia.

August 25, 2014 - Smart Growth America

No Little Plans for Private Passenger Rail Service Between Miami and Orlando

The last private passenger rail in the United States closed in 1983, but a private company is working on a 240-mile service between Orlando and Florida. CityLab recently detailed how a relic of the past could transform the Florida of the future.

June 17, 2014 - CityLab

Orlando Street

Nation's Most Dangerous City for Pedestrians Becoming Safer

A Smart Growth America report put the spotlight on Orlando and the entire state of Florida as leading the nation in pedestrian deaths per capita. NPR investigate what is being done to lose the infamous title.

June 16, 2014 - NPR

Agreement Paves the Way for Private Rail Service Between Miami and Orlando

A $1.5 billion project to provide a passenger rail link between Miami and Orlando was given a boost this week by an agreement to connect to Orlando International Airport, reached after 17 months of negotiations.

October 3, 2013 - WMFE

Florida Sprawl

Is this the Most Outrageous Example of Sprawl Madness in America?

Suburban Orlando is home to what might well be the best example of the absurd development patterns of post-war America. There you'll find two houses with adjoining backyards whose front doors are separated by seven miles of roads.

March 1, 2013 - DC.Streetsblog

Real Tomorrowland Comes to Orlando

Last week, networking infrastructure company Cisco announced that the Orlando community of Lake Nona will be the site of the first of the company's nine planned "Smart+Connected" cities, which will endeavor to "unify urban development and IT."

October 29, 2012 - Beta News

Cities Court Medical and Educational Facilities in Hopes of Stimulating Development

The rise of the innovation economy is driving fierce competition between cities across America to attract medical facilities and universities as job providers and engines of development.

August 13, 2012 - Urban Land Magazine

Plans for Passenger Rail Return to South Florida

This week it was announced that a private company will pick up the passenger rail ball dropped last year by Gov. Rick Scott by financing a $1 billion project to connect downtown Miami to Orlando by 2014.

August 12, 2012 - Miami Herald

Free Interstate Lanes Must Remain Free, States John Mica

House Transportation And Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Fl, in this opinion in the Orlando Sentinel, states his position on tolling the nation's interstate highways. He supports tolling only if applied to newly constructed lanes.

August 15, 2011 - Orlando Sentinel - Opinion

Controversial Commuter Rail's Surprising Backer

He's the most powerful congressman on transportation issues: none other than Florida's John Mica, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mica is backing the 61-mile, $1.2 billion Orlando Sunrail Line.

June 29, 2011 - The New York Times - Politics

The Post-Mortem on Florida's HSR

Michael Cooper examines the factors leading to the death of a once-promising plan to connect Tampa and Orlando by bullet train.

March 14, 2011 - The New York Times

Assessing Florida's HSR Plan

The proposed 84-mile high-speed rail line connecting Lakewood, Orlando and Tamps would be the first of its kind in the country. But is it smart planning? Edward Russell reports.

December 9, 2010 - Next American City

CA & FL To Win $900 Million & $800 Million For HSR

Awards for high speed rail projects will be announced Oct. 26. CA will receive $902 million for 18 projects from SF to San Diego, the largest in the Central Valley. Florida will get $800 million for the Orlando to Tampa line

October 26, 2010 - Los Angeles Times - L.A. NOW

Suburbs Go Head To Head With The City

"With cities worldwide busy repurposing their industrial districts and docklands as upmarket housing and waterfront retail centres, the suburbs need to find a new competitive edge," writes Sarah Murray.

September 12, 2010 - Financial Times

Mickey Mouse McMansions

The Disney Company is betting against the struggling Florida housing market with plans to build million-dollar luxury homes near its Orlando theme park.

June 29, 2010 - The Wall Street Journal

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