See, this debate keeps coming up. And I had nothing to do with it this time! Those who are with me on this, don't worry. The ROW being reserved for buses could be converted into a ROW for light rail tracks or monorail beams. It's cheaper to go from Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Light Rail Transit (LRT) than it is to go straight to LRT from scratch. So, it's progress.
I mentioned this before, but the state was planning on building a monorail to Cocoa Beach in Phase II of HSR. There is a public document on the web in the state archives that details that plan. I'm sure Disney would have supported it, since it would provide a direct connect to the cruise ships.
WOW! That is AWESOME! Another file for my monorail X-files idea!!!!Yeah, speaking of the monorail expansion, (sorry if this is straying too far off topic...) one of the "future development" maps from that same FDEP filing with the trolley system shows a proposed monorail line stemming from the Epcot loop, running through the Epcot resorts and to Hollywood Studios. It's a bit faint because they chose light blue for the line, and it's a scanned photo from 1991, but if you look closely at the full resolution image, you can make out most of it (it's listed as "Proposed Monorail" in the map legend.):
Click for full res...
And then there's this reference to another proposed monorail expansion from the late 90's that at least made it to the feasibility study phase:
Walt Disney World Monorail System Expansion Project, Orlando, FL: Project architect for this Walt Disney Imagineering project involving developing six themed monorail stations as part of the concept/feasibility
phase for the proposed multibillion-dollar expansion of the existing monorail system to Disney’s MGM
Studios, Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, and Typhoon Lagoon with significant enlargement of existing
facilities at Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Project also included schematic layout of new remote
monorail maintenance facility.
That quote came from this portfolio:
ftp://ftp.dot.state.fl.us/LTS/D5/Procurement/13557_Kissimmee_Parking_Garage/LOR/Pond/Pond & Company_Resumes_433874-1-32-01.pdf
If EPCOT had been built as an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, it would have been the downfall of The Walt Disney Company and be known forever as "Disney's folly." I can't imagine how a man who spent much of his life speaking to the evils of communism somehow had, as his final great dream, a grand vision of a communist utopia.
AAF is using some of the public money that was intended for FHSR indirectly, such as the station at the OIA. AAF wants to expand west to WDW in the next phase. Likely, they will negotiate with the state for the HSR ROW that is built into the median of I-4, amounting to yet another indirect subsidy for AAF. I hope the state leases it to them with the rights reserved to run their own system on the tracks that they will likely build and the state would modify with electric overhead power.Disney doesn't wait for anyone else to build roads. They shouldn't have waited for the rail project either. Even though the governor put a stop to the public rail, All Aboard is still doing it on their own...which I'm super excited for! I'm sure if they had really wanted to, Disney could have built a train to the airport on their own...or with strategic partners. Yes, yes, I know...it costs money and would be difficult. D@mn stockholders.
I know when I used to fly in to visit Disney, I would have much rather taken a sleek train than the buses. I've never had a very "Disney experience" with the Mears people driving the Magical Express. Thankfully I no longer have to take it. That high-speed direct rail link from London to Disneyland Paris, though?? OMG LOVE!!
I'll take a piece of land in a quiet suburb away from noise and crime over a 600 square foot apartment on top of a Chinese restaurant seven days a week and twice on Sundays.
Is that a que for me to start posting what I have too? Caution: I better not. Lol
What's even more interesting is what has been developed since that was made. Of the two theme parks shown, the one that is now AK has been built. The other parcel reserved for a theme park is ESPN World of Sports. Of the hotels, H2 (AKL), H10 (Coronado Springs), H11-13 (All Stars), H9 is Blizzard Beach (I believe), H6 is Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, H8 is the Boardwalk Resort parking lot, and H19 is Wilderness Lodge.Yeah, speaking of the monorail expansion, (sorry if this is straying too far off topic...) one of the "future development" maps from that same FDEP filing with the trolley system shows a proposed monorail line stemming from the Epcot loop, running through the Epcot resorts and to Hollywood Studios. It's a bit faint because they chose light blue for the line, and it's a scanned photo from 1991, but if you look closely at the full resolution image, you can make out most of it (it's listed as "Proposed Monorail" in the map legend.):
Click for full res...
And then there's this reference to another proposed monorail expansion from the late 90's that at least made it to the feasibility study phase:
Walt Disney World Monorail System Expansion Project, Orlando, FL: Project architect for this Walt Disney Imagineering project involving developing six themed monorail stations as part of the concept/feasibility
phase for the proposed multibillion-dollar expansion of the existing monorail system to Disney’s MGM
Studios, Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, and Typhoon Lagoon with significant enlargement of existing
facilities at Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Project also included schematic layout of new remote
monorail maintenance facility.
That quote came from this portfolio:
ftp://ftp.dot.state.fl.us/LTS/D5/Procurement/13557_Kissimmee_Parking_Garage/LOR/Pond/Pond & Company_Resumes_433874-1-32-01.pdf
oh, I get all giddy when it comes to trains and monorails. My ex girlfriend used to make fun of me whenever we went to WDW or got on a train and talk to me like I was a little kid "oooooo a train!" LolMan, you guys are killin me with all these old facts and images. Keep em comin'. I love me some WDW infrastructure and/or construction ****.
Mr. Progress.City, not sure if anybody has told you this, you sir sure like your exclamation points. I feel like 90% of your posts read like a giddy school girl. Haha. Appreciate all the info tho!
Nope. West Palm beach gets a walking score of 38, which classifies it as a car dependent city. It does not even put it in the number one spot in the state let alone best in the entire nation. It is tied for the 53rd spot in the state. Orlando, one of the most un-walkable places on earth, beats West Palm with a score of 39.
Multi-BILLION dollars (in 1991) for an infrastructure project that would generate zero incremental revenue. If that were ever approved the Board of Directors and the entire C-suite would face a class action lawsuit from the shareholders for breach of fiduciary duty. And people think NextGen was a waste of money.Yeah, speaking of the monorail expansion, (sorry if this is straying too far off topic...) one of the "future development" maps from that same FDEP filing with the trolley system shows a proposed monorail line stemming from the Epcot loop, running through the Epcot resorts and to Hollywood Studios. It's a bit faint because they chose light blue for the line, and it's a scanned photo from 1991, but if you look closely at the full resolution image, you can make out most of it (it's listed as "Proposed Monorail" in the map legend.):
Click for full res...
And then there's this reference to another proposed monorail expansion from the late 90's that at least made it to the feasibility study phase:
Walt Disney World Monorail System Expansion Project, Orlando, FL: Project architect for this Walt Disney Imagineering project involving developing six themed monorail stations as part of the concept/feasibility
phase for the proposed multibillion-dollar expansion of the existing monorail system to Disney’s MGM
Studios, Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, and Typhoon Lagoon with significant enlargement of existing
facilities at Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Project also included schematic layout of new remote
monorail maintenance facility.
That quote came from this portfolio:
ftp://ftp.dot.state.fl.us/LTS/D5/Procurement/13557_Kissimmee_Parking_Garage/LOR/Pond/Pond & Company_Resumes_433874-1-32-01.pdf
I mean the downtown area...
Downtown gets an 82 which still ranks it below the entire city of New York and San Francisco.
