Transportation

Seminole County is perfectly situated at the crossroads of Central Florida. Businesspeople and residents have found that the transportation available here, from the high-tech Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), to the modern Lynx bus service, major highways linking its seven cities and the upcoming commuter rail all contribute to the superior quality-of-life in Seminole County.

Managing growth in Seminole County has never been more important than it is today. Local government and business leaders have joined hands to make sure the prosperity we have enjoyed continues well into the future.

Business travelers and vacationers are rapidly learning about the ease and convenience of flying out of Orlando Sanford International Airport

The huge growth at the airport has led to the opening of a new five-story, $12 million parking garage. The garage has spaces for 830 cars and costs $15/day. The garage also has a covered crossover bridge so passengers can go straight from their cars to the terminals without going outside.

The garage is a dynamic symbol of the exponential growth of SFB. It has rebounded strongly from September 11, 2001, becoming the fastest growing airport in North America in the following few years. Larry Dale, President and CEO, understands the need for growth and for a close working relationship with the county and local governments.

“I think there is going to be some big expansion here in the next few years,” he said, “You first have to have the infrastructure to market your airport to the airlines. You can’t really market to your community until you have the airlines and the destinations they serve and you can’t get that until you have the infrastructure to bring in the airlines.”

The airport’s domestic and international service has grown so much that the phrase

“Plan for growth” is key to describing the airport officials’ master plan for the future.

Michael Caires, Public Relations Manager for TBI Airport Management, Inc., which helps manage the day-to-day running of the airport, said there are about an equal number of domestic and international flights right now.

Since contracting with TBI in 1997, SFB has undergone tremendous growth including a $25 million expansion that added a two-story domestic terminal complex and increased the number of gates from five to 12. In 2005, TBI was acquired by abertis, a leading international transport and communications infrastructure management company.

“Our fastest-growing segment is domestic,” he said, pointing to the major increase in service by Allegiant Air. Allegiant started with flights to four cities less than two-and-a-half years ago and now has increased to 29 cities around the nation.

SFB became an international airport in the mid-1990’s as a popular destination for charter flights arriving from the U.K. The airport just started regularly scheduled international service last year and it has already been a big hit with travelers.

Two major European carriers, flyglobespan of Scotland and Icelandair, now have flights with connections all over the continent, from London to Frankfurt, Germany and many more.

“Demand will lead the way to even more international flights,” said Diane Crews, Vice-President of the Sanford Airport Authority, adding, “they have been very successful so far.”

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Crews.

“I can rarely go anywhere without people telling me that they have flown Allegiant Air out of Sanford and enjoyed it,” she said, “I have had nothing but positive comments about flying Allegiant, and the convenience of using Sanford’s airport.”

Crews said, “The airline industry as a whole is very fragile but Allegiant had a conservative growth plan that they have far exceeded. They definitely appear to have the right formula for success.”

SFB’s size is another factor that is drawing more travelers.

“People are intimidated by the sheer size of many major airports, “Crews said, “SFB continues to be cited as a very convenient and user-friendly alternative.”

SFB is also the busiest General Aviation airport in Florida and in the FAA’s eight-state southern region. It is currently the fourth-busiest in the nation and has been as high as number two.

SFB offers first-class Fixed-Base Operations for both private and corporate clients at Avion Jet Center and Starport.

Both offer a full range of services, including maintenance, fueling, flight planning and much more.

If you want to learn how to fly, SFB has everything you need. Delta Connection Academy, Avion Flight Academy, and Falcon Flight are all based at the Orlando Sanford International Airport. Businesses that are not aviation-related should also consider establishing locations at SFB.

There are over 90 tenants in the industrial park with lines of businesses ranging from automotive bumper repair to residential truss manufacturing. The industrial park consists of 395 acres, of which approximately 125 acres remain undeveloped.

“Airports encouraged by the FAA to look for diverse streams of revenue to fund their operations,” Crews said, “We have over 115 properties under our oversight, and we are listed among the top 20 commerce parks in Central Florida.”

The park also features a business incubator, the Airport Enterprise Center. This facility offers entrepreneurial assistance and office/warehouse space to young firms that are in their most vulnerable stage of development.

Crews said lease revenue brings in over $5 million per year- over half of SFB’s operating revenue.

“We have worked very closely with Seminole County and the City of Sanford to grow the Commerce Park. The Airport is a tremendous economic engine for the city and county,” she said. There are over 5,000 employees at SFB and the adjacent Airport Commerce Park.

SFI is also a leader in addressing environmental concerns. TBI Airport Management, Inc and the Sanford Airport Authority have partnered with Energy Systems Group (ESG) in a 10-year energy savings contract for key energy conservation and facility upgrades throughout Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). Underlining the Sanford Airport Authority’s green and environmental initiatives, the project implemented by ESG will allow a 35.4% reduction of carbon emissions produced by the existing electrical usage at the airport, as well as reduced water consumption of about 982,080 gallons per year.

With implementation slated to be complete by first quarter 2009, the ESG initiatives will provide the airport with over $4.7 million in energy and operational savings over the 10-year agreement.

“The Orlando Sanford International Airport now has the potential to significantly improve the environment and reduce their operating costs through the energy conservation measures ESG has been contracted to perform,” stated Bruce Grenier, ESG Senior Energy Engineer.

“The environment and resource conservation have been at the forefront of our company’s agenda for quite some time,” commented Larry Gouldthorpe, President of TBI Airport Management, Inc. at Orlando Sanford. “Working with the airport authority’s own initiatives and ESG’s expertise make this partnership a rewarding first step in an enduring purpose.”

“It is great to work with a customer that is concerned about reducing the impact to the environment, but was also able to add value to their shareholders by reduced electrical and maintenance costs,” said Jeffrey Merdich, ESG Account Executive.

According to Airport President and CEO, Larry Dale, “The long-awaited implementation of our energy conservation program is the result of many months of planning by both Airport management and ESG. Without a doubt, these improvements will dynamically impact our ongoing efforts to safeguard the environment, conserve resources wherever practical, and prudently manage the costs of running an international airport.”

The major highways, such as I-4 and the Greenway, are continually being improved to limit congestion. I-4 goes east-to-west, linking Daytona Beach on the Atlantic coast to Tampa on the Gulf coast. The interstate thoroughfare brings millions of visitors to the area every year and helps commuters get to and from jobs and recreational activities.

Seminole County is perfectly located along I-4 to make it a convenient jumping on and off point for residents and tourists alike. The Florida Department of Transportation plans to renovate over 70 miles of I-4 from the Central Florida attractions area at the Osceola/Polk County line to Daytona, linking up with I-95.

“Future I-4,” part of the “Ultimate Plan,” completed by FDOT in 2002, includes new ideas for roadway design, noise walls and Intelligent Transportation Systems.

ITS is a network of closed circuit cameras and detectors on roadways that will feed images to FDOT’s Operations Center. This will allow faster response times in case of accidents or other traffic delays.

In addition to ITS, FDOT also has a free 511 travel service. Drivers can call 511 to get the latest information on evacuations, toll suspensions and “contraflow”- when all lanes of a highway flow in one direction in case of an emergency- along with updates on traffic, construction and bad weather.

FDOT recently added a new feature which enables users to receive personalized trip information along their most commonly-traveled routes. The new My Florida 511 feature allows users to sign up and create customized trip profiles, then call 511 to hear instant traffic reports along their pre-selected routes.

Commuters simply create a custom profile online at the FL511.com Web site, register up to two phone numbers and select their most traveled roadways. When a call is then placed to 511 from a previously registered number—like from a cell or home phone—the caller will hear real-time travel information for their personalized routes.

My Florida 511 gives users a choice of setting up their custom trips on the 15 roadways covered by Central Florida's 511 regional system, or all Florida interstate highways and Florida's turnpike covered by the statewide service. Up to 10 different trip profiles can be created, each of which can include up to five road segments. You can also choose from among pre-named profiles or create your own.

Another major state road in Seminole County is State Road 417, known as The Greenway. It is a multi-lane toll road connecting with I-4 in the northern part of the county, providing fast and easy access to Orlando and beyond by avoiding more congested roads.

There are also millions of dollars in improvements being done or planned in Seminole County, on major roads such as SR 434, US Hwy 17-92 and SR 436.

A new flyover ramp from eastbound I-4 to US 17-92 in Sanford recently opened to traffic. The new ramp provides traffic congestion relief, in particular during the afternoon rush hour. Emergency responders now have a more direct route to the nearby Central Florida Regional Hospital. Nearly half a mile long, the new ramp elevates traffic over Orange Boulevard, a set of active railroad tracks and an I-4 entrance ramp before looping around and ending at US 17-92. The $22.2 million project included new retention ponds and other drainage improvements. Work began in November 2006 and the project was completed three months ahead of schedule.

Local officials hope the Commuter Rail project, which will offer convenient and inexpensive transportation, will be operational in 2010. It will allow many residents to cut back on driving, thereby eliminating the need for more costly and untimely road construction.

The first of three phases is set to open in 2010 with a station in DeBarry and Seminole County stations in Sanford, Lake Mary, Longwood and Altamonte Springs.

The route will continue into Orange County with stations at Winter Park’s Park Avenue, Florida Hospital, Lynx Central Station, Church Street and Orlando Regional Medical Center. The commuter rail project will use existing freight train track so little new construction will be required other than new train stations.

“Commuter rail will be the spine of a very strong transportation system in Central Florida,” according to Lynx Executive Director Linda Watson, “it’s a huge benefit for this region.”

FDOT officials are hoping the new commuter rail will carry 3,500-4,000 passengers per weekday at first and be equal to one entire lane of I-4 traffic at peak hours, easing congestion on major roads. The tentative fare schedule is $2.50 for travel within a county and one dollar more for each additional county in the four-county area of Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola covered by the route.

George Lovett of FDOT said commuter rail “will provide other options that people need and help change commuting behavior.”

Known as DMUs (Diesel Multiple Unit), the train cars produce 72% less pollution and 75% less noise than traditional diesel locomotives. All cars will have wireless internet connections, power outlets, commuter work spaces and ADA compliant restrooms. FDOT will build covered platforms, seating, information and ticket kiosks and parking lots.

Seminole County cities will be able to manage their area’s growth by being in charge of determining what type of commercial and residential development can take place alongside the stations.

By encouraging a mix of business and homes, more residents will find it convenient to live, work and shop near public transportation. This will cut back on the unchecked urban sprawl that is the bane of so many communities nationwide.

Lynx, the public bus service, plays a major role in our local transportation plans.

As our population grows, mass transit becomes more important and Lynx is doing its share to help.

Lynx provides over 80,000 weekday passenger trips and over 26 million last year, a ridership record for the 23rd year out of the last 24. The transit company, with a fleet of 290 buses, accomplished this with the lowest operating cost per passenger mile in the state, 46 cents per mile. It serves an area of 2,500 square miles, equal to the state of Delaware.

Lynx is so important to the community that over half of its riders say they couldn’t get to work without it. Lynx’ positive environmental impact is impressive too- one bus removes 40 cars from side streets and major roads. That can save the average Orlando driver about $510 in time and gasoline. Lynx also removes 85% of harmful emissions from the atmosphere and is working to convert the entire fleet to bio-diesel..

As the new commuter rail comes online, Lynx will also play a major role by transporting commuters to and from the new stations. Linda Watson, Lynx CEO, said Lynx will provide a “seamless transportation option” for commuters and shoppers.

All 290 of the Lynx fixed-route buses in the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority system will be equipped with Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) devices. The installation of the AVL system is the first step in establishing a communication network for the agency. Utilizing real time, this will provide considerable efficiency measures by allowing supervisors to pinpoint any bus traveling the Central Florida roadways.

Using computer monitors at Lynx Dispatch with a regional map as background, each bus will show up as a triangle with the point of the triangle headed in the direction of travel and time.

“The AVL is an essential building block for our system,” said Watson. “This will allow for more safety and security, significant improvements towards growing the system and the ability to provide superior customer service. For example, if a bus were to go off route we would be able to see exactly when, where and how long it was off route. If the bus is stationary, we would be able to question the operator about any delay.”

Further advancements are expected to include “Next Bus” notification electronic signs at major SuperStops (like LYMMO) and the ability to offer passengers a real time look at the actual location of buses on Lynx’ Trip Planner at www.golynx.com.