Commuter Rail Timeline

Winter Park Station

Winter Park Commuter Rail

The Central Florida Commuter Rail is coming to Winter Park and some local residents are torn about whether it will help or hinder the community.
The Winter Park Station is included in Phase I Commuter Rail Alignment, which includes 31 miles and 12 stations from Debary in Volusia County to Sand Lake Road and is expected to be operational by 2011. Phase II of the commuter rail will include 30 miles and five stations from Sand Lake Road to Poinciana in Osceola County and from Debary to Deland in Volusia County is expected to be operational by 2013.
Local business owners in Winter Park are hoping the commuter rail will bring will be a positive step in stimulating economic growth to the area, while some residents are concerned about the side affects the commuter rail could have on the community.
Donald Marcotte, assistant director and city engineer of Winter Park’s Public Works Department, said the hope for the commuter rail is not to bring growth in terms of density, but in terms of economic stimulation.
“The theory behind our station is that we already have TOD [Transit Oriented Development], we have an entire community that is built around this station already, so we don’t want to grow anymore, we just need to bring people in to spend their money on the retail that we already have,” said Marcotte. “So there’s a theory that whoever’s coming here to work or to visit is going to help the economy here.”
Marcotte also said that even though the economy could be stimulated by the rail, it is not the city’s main goal.
“Typically if it’s just used for people going back and forth to work, that’s not a tourist type of revenue that you’re going to receive,” he said. “It’s not designed to move tourists.”
Melixa Carbonell, owner of Shou’Ture Shoe Boutique on Park Avenue, is excited about the commuter rail coming to Winter Park and is hoping that although the rail is not designed for tourists it will still attract more to the area.
“One of the biggest downfalls in term of getting them [clients] to come into Winter Park is that they don’t want to have to drive,” Carbonell said. “And with the construction on I’4 getting ready to start in 2010, for I’4 expansion, getting here will be even more difficult, so for myself and many of the business owners here, a commuter rail is crucial for keeping us alive.”
When it comes to the commuter rail Carbonell believes it is not an option but a necessary for small business owners like herself.
“I think the commuter rail would help us in terms of tourism and would be something that our Windermere clients would utilize,” she said.
Carbonell, a resident of Winter Park, is excited to see the outcome of the commuter rail for her business, and is excited to use it herself.
“I do like to go downtown to get dinner or see a Magic game and to be able to hop on a train to get to the arena,” she said. “It’s just common sense to have that ability to go and visit your city.”
She is also looking forward to saving money on gas and believes public transportation is a great way to utilize energy costs.
“With rising fuel costs people are very cautious in terms of what they spend,” Carbonell said. “Being able to use something that is cost effective and energy efficient to get around, I think is a no-brainer.”
C.J. Cantú, owner of Haagen Daz on New England Avenue, is also looking forward to cutting costs on fuel by riding the commuter rail from his home in Altamonte.
He said riding the rail to work would also help eliminate his problems with limited parking around Park Avenue, but is not sure it would stimulate his business much.
“It depends on the demographics the rail brings,” Cantú said. “People that ride the Lynx bus are not coming in to buy ice cream.”
Although Cantú is uncertain of the outcome the commuter rail may have on the economic conditions of the community, he is still excited to see the end result.
“Change is good,” he said. “We learn from it.”
Luisa Cannon, a Winter Park resident and Sales Associate for Red Marq, a greeting business on Park Avenue, is not so excited about the outcome of the rail.
She said she is torn on the idea of the commuter rail coming to Winter Park.
“I live right behind the train, so I’m afraid of the noise and I don’t know if I’m going to loose property or if we are going to have crime,” Cannon said. “But on the other hand, I think it could be good for business and will attract more people.”
She also said although the rail could possibly attract more tourists to local businesses, she is not sure the costs and benefits of the rail will be worth it.
“I’m all for public transportation, but I have a bad feeling about it [the rail],” Cannon said. “I am skeptical. I get the feeling that it’s not really going to make a good difference.”

Elections cause racist hate

The Orlando Sentinel reported that a noose was found hanging by an Obama/Biden sign in Clermont. Deputies do not know who put the noose there, but after the recent KKK assignation attempt of Obama I'm not too surprised.

I just can't believe we still live in a country that displays this kind of racism. It's ridiculous! It's 2008, not 1950. Too think we live in the biggest melting pot in the world but still manage to have racist hate living among us is crazy!

I know the elections have been cut-throat, but this is just out of control!

Check it out the whole story at:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-noose-clermont-obama-102908,0,3912792.story

Amazing Slide Show

New Times has done it again. They have put together a great slide show from their pictures of the day and the pictures are (of course) amazing. I think they are a great display of phenomenal photojournalism.

I really like how they cover such a wide range of global news. I think it is important to have this kind of multi-media because it really brings emotion to a story and reminds us what challenges people in other countries are experiencing, which I think is easy to forget with everything going on in our own country.

I especially like the one of the Congolese woman with her children, enduring so much, but still remaining to look so strong. The helicopter delivering the generator in Afghanistan is another one of my favorites. Not only is it a great picture overall, but it does an amazing job of telling the story. This is what photojournalism is about! Well done!

Check it out: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/10/27/nytfrontpage/20081027POD_4.html

'Backbone of America'

"Photo project gives a voice to 'backbone of America,'" is a interesting piece of journalism about a book that captures the detailed lives of everyday Americans called "The Oxford Project." The book combines photos with inmate details of the lives of residents in the small town of Oxford, Iowa over 20 years.

I think the photo project does a great job of giving a voice to the residents of Oxford, because it captures the real-life experiences they have experienced throughout their lives. The article also does a great job of using multi-media to tell the story by adding links to photos over 20 years, video, a map and information on the town of Oxford.

"The Oxford Project" not only documents the lives of ordinary people, but it presents them in a not so ordinary way. Check out the video on author Stephen Bloom speaking about giving a voice to the voiceless and not talking to the decision makers, but the people that are affected by the decision makers. It reminds me that everyone has a story... which is one of the reasons why I was originally attracted to the world of journalism in the first place.
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/07/oxford.project/index.html