How to fix Orlando's traffic nightmare

[bw1]

Hey, everyone, Here are some of my random thoughts on fixing
Orlando... I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as well. As a
casual observer It appears to me that a priority for fixing Orlando's
traffic problems should be to introduce express buses connecting our
major activity centers. Express bus routes were tried years ago by
Lynx, but were dropped for some reason. I'm thinking they dropped
them to save money. But couldn't the fares for the express buses be
priced so that they cover the costs? One of the main reasons a lot of
people aren't using Lynx is because it's so crazy inconvenient to get
around on it. We ought to consider express routes to speed up cross-
town trips. Keep it simple. Just add a few express routes between
major destinations, say, the airports, downtown Orlando, the
attractions, Maitland, UCF, Altamonte Springs, The Florida Mall, etc.
Have the express bus limit it's stops to about every mile. Those
designated stops along the route being 1 mi. apart would help the
whole system by providing express transfer points to local routes,
while still providing for streamlined express trips. Also, anybody
along the route only has to walk around 1/2 mi. to catch the express
bus. Adding these routes would be a whole lot more cost-effective
than adding rail lines and could increase the efficiency of the whole
system dramatically. Hasn't anyone else thought of this? --bw

[bw1]

So, would express buses "fix" Orlando? By themselves? Of course
not. They would be a step toward fixing our traffic problems. If we
improve the efficiency of our bus system more people will choose to
ride instead of driving. Another important thing is to plan more
walkable destinations around the metro area. Mixed use development at
transit-supporting densities needs to be incentivised. If we
encourage developers to build more walkable mixed-use centers we
further reduce the need to drive. Without a viable transit system the
mixed-use center won't be easy to create. To create a walkable center
you have to reduce the number of cars you need to park and reduce the
amount of car traffic up and down the commercial streets. Neither of
these is going to happen without a drastically improved mass transit
system for the entire metro area.