ORLANDO, Fla. — Its members charged by the voters to tackle needs in the county, the Orange County Transportation Mobility Advisory Commission, or TransMAC, met for the first time Thursday.

During the meeting, the seven Orange County residents who make up the commission elected TransMAC's chair and vice chair.

What You Need To Know

  • The Orange County Transportation Mobility Advisory Commission, or TransMAC, met for the first time Thursday

  • During the meeting, the seven Orange County residents who make up the commission elected TransMAC's chair and vice chair

  • In his welcoming address, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the Board of County Commissioners is already having discussions about another potential sales tax increase

  • He said TransMAC will play a significant role in those discussions

In his welcoming address, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the Board of County Commissioners is already having discussions about another potential sales tax increase, and that TransMAC will play a significant role in those discussions.

Demings called TransMAC members: “The county’s ambassadors for transportation.”

They’ll soon start making recommendations to the Board on transportation expenses, which would ultimately become proposals for the county’s annual budget.

Overall, the goal will be to manage the county’s growth and issues like traffic congestion. But it will also look at things like mobility innovation and review past transportation expenses.

During Thursday’s meeting, residents spoke out about some of the county’s needs, which they said included minimizing traffic concerns, creating easier access to the airport and making Orange County more walkable.

Demings said 1.5 million people currently call Orange County home, and the county is continuing to grow quickly.

He said that by 2050, the county’s population is projected to increase by another 500,000 people.

With more than 74 million visitors coming to Orange County every year, Demings said county officials are continuing to expect “a lot of traffic.”

Any increase may be a hard sell to the voters, though, considering they rejected a 1-cent sales tax increase in 2022.

County officials said that penny sales tax increase would have generated about $600 million each year to address transportation needs.

TransMAC will be working with a budget of about $500,000 to hire personnel and cover operating costs.

Some of the members on Thursday said they have to start thinking outside the box to make Orange County’s transportation system better.

The next public hearing is Thursday, Feb. 13.