Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[Happytycho]

The documents for this meeting have already been published. There's several thousands of pages of studies and data for each section of the extension project - North and Middle - but the section that cuts through the Universal land is the Middle section. I've briefly skimmed its 2196 page report and included some of the interesting tidbits below:

Where might one find these documents?

 

[ParkRumors]

Copy and paste this for the Middle section PDF:

ftp://ftp.ocfl.net/divisions/Public_Works/pub/Transportation%20Planning/Kirkman%20Extension/PDS/

 

[DisneyDoof]

ftp://ftp.ocfl.net/divisions/Public_Works/pub/Transportation%20Planning/Kirkman%20Extension/PDS

Link isn't working.

 

[ParkRumors]

Looks like the form software automatically appends http:// to all links, which breaks FTP addresses. I've removed the hyperlink - copy and paste the URL and it'll work.

 

[DisneyDoof]

Looks like the form software automatically appends http:// to all links, which breaks FTP addresses. I've removed the hyperlink - copy and paste the URL and it'll work.

Seems to work now. WOW, that's a big document.

 

[gator]

Yep, looks like a dedicated bus lane, similar to the one near Disney Springs.

I agree with that assessment, 100% are bus lanes. I'm still hoping for the Samsung monorail in addition to the buses

 

[DisneyDoof]

I agree with that assessment, 100% are bus lanes. I'm still hoping for the Samsung monorail in addition to the buses

Yep it's a transit lane. From the document:

 

[Scott W.]

I guess we know where the main entrance will be now:



At least I know I got one thing right from this map from a few months ago:

 

[ParkRumors]

Okay, so that Internal Roadway Trail..has some fascinating details.. :stun:

Yep, looks like a dedicated bus lane, similar to the one near Disney Springs.

Yep it's a transit lane. From the document:

Yes, there's dedicated transit lanes on the Kirkman road extension - they're specifically mentioned in the quotes I inculded in my first post. However, just to avoid confusion, that internal road you're talking about isn't detailed on any of the drawings, so the only look we have at it is that one sheet with the landscaping and trail.

 

[Scott W.]

Future entrance marked in the orange circle.

From what I can gather. The completion date is 2022, so that makes anything opening in the new resort before then as an impossibility.

 

[ParkRumors]

I feel like you may have missed some posts on the previous page, Scott. :tease:

 

[Teebin]

Well this is fun new news. I love proposal drawings.

 

[JunoSynth]

I guess we know where the main entrance will be now:

View attachment 8264

At least I know I got one thing right from this map from a few months ago:

View attachment 8265

I'm not good at reading these. Where will the main entrance be? The same as your map?

Edit: Oh missed your latest post. Sorry.

 

[GoUCFKnights]

what in the world is the purpose of that apparent elevated roundabout with only 2 exits? wouldn't a normal ramp be more functional and cheaper? what in the world is with that concept?

 

[ParkRumors]

Traffic will primarily be coming from and exiting to the north, so this design allows for constant traffic flow both off of southbound Kirkman and into the resort and out of the resort and onto northbound Kirkman. The ramp for the roundabout starts about a quarter mile down Kirkman, so traffic will be able to flow unimpeded by lights both into and out of the main artery for the resort.

 

[WAJAS]

what in the world is the purpose of that apparent elevated roundabout with only 2 exits? wouldn't a normal ramp be more functional and cheaper? what in the world is with that concept?

Look closely at the lane markings, it is not actually a roundabout. Southbound Kirkman traffic only goes into the eastbound road, while westbound traffic on the other road only goes to northbound Kirkman. By the way, that westbound to northbound upper level lane is very obviously only for busses because it is only one lane and only goes into the transit-only lanes on Kirkman.

My assumption is that Universal suggested the design to make the entrance more 'iconic,' and the county didn't care either way. It also leaves more room for backups.

 

[WAJAS]

Another thing, there is some detailed future traffic conditions analysis in the papers. They even separate transit and general traffic. By looking at this data, it looks like UOR buses will be taking the following route from north to south: Universal Blvd south, Carrier Dr east, Kirkman south, local road east with the Kirkman and a portion of Carrier Dr being in transit-only lanes

CORRECTION: Exact numbers per hour (for the year 2022) are -
5 buses from Carrier to I-Drive via Kirkman
8 buses from Carrier to the northern entrance via Kirkman
105 buses from Carrier to the southern entrance via Kirkman

EDIT again:
I just verified, and any buses trying to access the transit lanes will only be able to access and leave them using Carrier Drive from their northern terminus. From the southern terminus at I-Drive, they can only enter it using Tradeshow but can exit any direction.

 

[WAJAS]

Sorry for the triple post, but...
You can see the new internal road in the below map from the same document in Appendix G. It is highlighted in yellow and the Kirkman extension is circled in blue. The map is oriented with the top being east.

 

[DisneyDoof]

Sorry for the triple post, but...
You can see the new internal road in the below map from the same document in Appendix G. It is highlighted in yellow and the Kirkman extension is circled in blue. The map is oriented with the top being east.
View attachment 8267

That is not 408, it should be labeled 528.

 

[WAJAS]

That is not 408, it should be labeled 528.

Wow... I literally live minutes away and labeled it wrong. For the record, I was ‘thinking’ 528 when I wrote it.