ORLANDO, Fla. — Several potential infrastructure projects are likely by the wayside, at least in the near future, after Orange County officials decided to table the idea of a transportation sales tax until the next midterm elections.

What You Need To Know

  • Several potential infrastructure projects are likely by the wayside after the idea of a transportation sales tax was tabled for 2024

  • The county says there are $20 billion worth of projects to fund, and that there is not enough money to do it

  • Tourism Development Tax funding for these projects is not an option either due to Florida law

Widening roads, adding express routes for buses and even expanding SunRail service have a small chance of happening.

“It should be more reliable,” Winter Garden resident Jonathan Valles says waiting for a SunRail in Downtown Orlando. “I used to live in New York City and their buses and trains run every 15 minutes.”

Valles relies on public transportation daily to the restaurant he works at. He also relies on rides from friends when it comes to getting too and from work.

Orange County says service industry workers are their biggest majority of LYNX riders.

Wednesday, Valles’ wait for his SunRail ride to visit a friend in Poinciana was nearly an hour. Looking at the schedule for his return trip has him reconsidering his schedule.

That’s because if he misses a train after seven, the last one doesn’t come until 9:55 p.m.

“I might have to take the 6:25,” Valles said, looking at the SunRail schedule. “I’m going to get here around 3:10 something, and I will have to take the 6:25 back to make sure I get a bus.”

Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond says the funding needed to buy more buses and build more stops is not there.

“Right now you got $20 billion (...) worth of projects that need to be done,” Diamond said. “There really isn’t money to do that.”

Tourism Development Tax funding for these projects is not an option either. According to Diamond, Florida law prevents those funds from going toward those needed projects.

The county projects about 400,000 new residents by the year 2040. Valles was a new resident himself six years ago, and he sees the expanding traffic daily while commuting on city buses.

“It’s a lot more traffic since I have been living here,” Jonathan says. “A lot more people have been coming to Florida.”

How they will all commute or get around more efficiently in the future is the unanswered question.