Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[IzzyB]

Why doesn't Orlando annex it? Are there benefits if they do?

They need infrastructure to annex it and they are still completing that for the last piece of land (lake nona) that they annexed. When they did that last time they had to put up temp fire stations and everything else. Police was hardly ever out that way, it was not good. I imagine something like I4 would need even more infrastructure that I don't think the city would have money for right now.

 

[peteralt]

So, just to clarify things, in this map below, just the purple properties are the 475 acres Comcast-Universal has acquired, correct?

 

[s8film40]

This could be why it hasn't been announced yet. Because this stage is the most critical in terms of property values potentially going up.

I'm pretty sure the secret is out. If someone who owns land in that area doesn't realize that anyone buying land in that area either could be Universal or some other business looking to own land near a theme park then an announcement wouldn't make much of a difference.

 

[Disneyhead]

It's not like land in the I Drive/Convention Center area was cheap before.

 

[Teebin]

So, just to clarify things, in this map below, just the purple properties are the 475 acres Comcast-Universal has acquired, correct?

Goodness, that diagram gives me heartburn... money, politics, power. I think I have a new idea for a tv show!

 

[Blue]

Monorail is the only thing that makes sense imo. Much easier to maintain than repaving the roads every 5-10 years. It'd be better to avoid the traffic altogether anyway.

 

[Mad Dog]

Goodness, that diagram gives me heartburn... money, politics, power. I think I have a new idea for a tv show!

It will have to be on cable. I'm sure it's rated Adults only.

 

[Scott W.]

Monorail is the only thing that makes sense imo. Much easier to maintain than repaving the roads every 5-10 years. It'd be better to avoid the traffic altogether anyway.

I think buses will be used to begin with but I can see a lot of problems rising from it, mainly traffic and insurance if an accident were to happen.

A monorail seems like the best choice for several reasons.

1) It avoids traffic and allows Universal more control over the travel times.
2) If the track is raised, the windows can potentially be blocked out. I'm not saying create something similar to HE but anything would be better than looking at the hotels and some of eye sores on I Drive.
3) I think a few people have mentioned that when Universal Blvd was built, it was built with the intention of a monorail being added at a later date, hence the wide median for most of the road. (Speculation on my part but there could already be plans there for it since Universal previously owned this land) Looking at it on a map, I do see some trouble spots in crossing Sand Lake Road and I4 into the resort.
4) Depending on how many stops it makes between resorts (If any besides the Wet n Wild plot) there could be a potential for external funding.
5) They have high capacity
6) They're essentially giant bill boards travelling between the resorts.

As an idea, I've added the MK monorail station and added it next to the RP car park. I think this would allow enough space for the track to loop back around onto Universal Blvd. I think the station is close enough to CityWalk for guests to walk via the existing walkways from the hotels (Obviously this will have to be widened) For any of the guests staying at the hotels, a boat stop could also be added.

 

[s8film40]

I think buses will be used to begin with but I can see a lot of problems rising from it, mainly traffic and insurance if an accident were to happen.

A monorail seems like the best choice for several reasons.

1) It avoids traffic and allows Universal more control over the travel times.
2) If the track is raised, the windows can potentially be blocked out. I'm not saying create something similar to HE but anything would be better than looking at the hotels and some of eye sores on I Drive.
3) I think a few people have mentioned that when Universal Blvd was built, it was built with the intention of a monorail being added at a later date, hence the wide median for most of the road. (Speculation on my part but there could already be plans there for it since Universal previously owned this land) Looking at it on a map, I do see some trouble spots in crossing Sand Lake Road and I4 into the resort.
4) Depending on how many stops it makes between resorts (If any besides the Wet n Wild plot) there could be a potential for external funding.
5) They have high capacity
6) They're essentially giant bill boards travelling between the resorts.

As an idea, I've added the MK monorail station and added it next to the RP car park. I think this would allow enough space for the track to loop back around onto Universal Blvd. I think the station is close enough to CityWalk for guests to walk via the existing walkways from the hotels (Obviously this will have to be widened) For any of the guests staying at the hotels, a boat stop could also be added.

I think you chose one of the worst monorail stations in existence for your diagram.

I think the best place for the station would be above the bus/taxi drop off area dead ending right into the entrance hub there. Where the escalators now come up could be the entrance exit, and new escalators added to the middle of the station.

 

[GAcoaster]

We could see what Disney is doing now around Disney Springs, creating bus specific lanes down the middle of Kirkman. That would keep things safer and keep things moving for the buses even when traffic is slow.

Even if we see them add a rail system, there will always have to be a way to have buses for backup and to supplement the rails.

 

[Mad Dog]

We could see what Disney is doing now around Disney Springs, creating bus specific lanes down the middle of Kirkman. That would keep things safer and keep things moving for the buses even when traffic is slow.

Even if we see them add a rail system, there will always have to be a way to have buses for backup and to supplement the rails.

Bus Lanes, probably a good chance. Makes sense.

 

[MillenniumDragons]

I think it would be interesting, maybe not possible, to add a second level onto the main hub connecting the parking garage and then have the monorail's station be in a U shape around the hub. (Then launch from 0-100 real quick)

 

[WAJAS]

We could see what Disney is doing now around Disney Springs, creating bus specific lanes down the middle of Kirkman. That would keep things safer and keep things moving for the buses even when traffic is slow.

Even if we see them add a rail system, there will always have to be a way to have buses for backup and to supplement the rails.

Funny you should mention that. Construction is within a few months of starting on the new I-Drive ROW layout, which just so happens to include Bus Lanes. They are on I-Drive itself from just south of SeaWorld up to Via Mercado and on Universal Boulevard from Via Mercado to I-Drive. The City of Orlando already built the Bus Lanes these are supposed to connect to on I-Drive from Universal Boulevard to the Premium Outlets. Also, new bus lanes are a part of the new bridge going over I-4 near the Outlets.

TL;DR: Bus Lanes are already being built from South Universal to the Wet n Wild property.

CORRECTION:
The following image shows the current project area. The last bit on I-Drive from Sand Lake to Mercado does is the only portion that does not include Bus Lanes. The project is not set to begin construction till January 2017, but (like many I-Drive projects now) the schedule can be accelerated depending on Universal's project plans. Basically, if they are needed sooner, then funds will be redirected, so they will be built sooner.

Upon further research, the timeline has been extended for this project because it is now planned to include protected bike lanes in both directions.

This link shows the typical cross section of each part of the roads in the project after completion: https://www.orangecountyfl.net/Portals/0/Library/Traffic-Transportation/docs/I-DriveTransit Lanes Typical Sections.pdf

 

[Viator]

So, just to clarify things, in this map below, just the purple properties are the 475 acres Comcast-Universal has acquired, correct?
View attachment 2089

Doesn't seem as small as some made it out to be now right?

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

We could see what Disney is doing now around Disney Springs, creating bus specific lanes down the middle of Kirkman. That would keep things safer and keep things moving for the buses even when traffic is slow.

Even if we see them add a rail system, there will always have to be a way to have buses for backup and to supplement the rails.

This is likely to happen. Very similar to what City of Orlando did for Lynx on I Drive

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

Funny you should mention that. Construction is within a few months of starting on the new I-Drive ROW layout, which just so happens to include Bus Lanes. They are on I-Drive itself from just south of SeaWorld up to Via Mercado and on Universal Boulevard from Via Mercado to I-Drive. The City of Orlando already built the Bus Lanes these are supposed to connect to on I-Drive from Universal Boulevard to the Premium Outlets. Also, new bus lanes are a part of the new bridge going over I-4 near the Outlets.

TL;DR: Bus Lanes are already being built from South Universal to the Wet n Wild property.

CORRECTION:
The following image shows the current project area. The last bit on I-Drive from Sand Lake to Mercado does is the only portion that does not include Bus Lanes. The project is not set to begin construction till January 2017, but (like many I-Drive projects now) the schedule can be accelerated depending on Universal's project plans. Basically, if they are needed sooner, then funds will be redirected, so they will be built sooner.

Upon further research, the timeline has been extended for this project because it is now planned to include protected bike lanes in both directions.

This link shows the typical cross section of each part of the roads in the project after completion: https://www.orangecountyfl.net/Portals/0/Library/Traffic-Transportation/docs/I-DriveTransit Lanes Typical Sections.pdf

Oops, same thing I just posted. Didnt see this post but yes.

 

[Kungaloosh1937]

Whatever happens I cannot see it being bus only. No way. Bus transportation from UO proper to another resort complex is a nail in the coffin to UO South at the very beginning.

 

[gator]

So, just to clarify things, in this map below, just the purple properties are the 475 acres Comcast-Universal has acquired, correct?
View attachment 2089

Yeah the SLRC land is theirs but all the property listed shown as UCPM III LLC looks perfect for roadways, stormwater ponds, wetland mitigation areas, etc. Almost like it was purposely split off in advance for Universal to acquire back super cheap (who could use it?) and then pawn it off to the county to build out and maintain that infrastructure.

 

[misterID]

I don't see them relying strictly on busses. That's not going to be cheap, and the construction for a bus lane isn't going to be simple or pretty.

 

[s8film40]

I don't see them relying strictly on busses. That's not going to be cheap, and the construction for a bus lane isn't going to be simple or pretty.

Exactly, buses aren't cheap. The labor cost alone is huge and only goes up every year. If they were simply adding a hotel this would make sense. They are very clearly making a long term investment here and it would make sense to pay out a little more now and save money down the road.

I don't see the bus lane thing ever happening. It's too confusing as to wether it's public or private. If they basically give Universal a lane on the road people will complain when traffic gets busy that Universal has access to part of the road the public doesn't. Not to mention all the ongoing costs of upkeep and maintenance that primarily serve a private business. If Universal is paying for a monorail and keeps it separate from the road only using small spaces for pylons that would otherwise be unused, people will see that as taking traffic off the road and expenses away from the county.

Not to mention Universal is going to want to create the cohesive feel of a resort. Transporting guests in buses on public roads just isn't going to cut it. It works at Disney because the roads are all within the resort, it's not the same thing here.