Office of Operations Freight Management and Operations
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Urban Freight Case Studies - Orlando

Geographic Description

The study area includes most of Central Florida, which encompasses Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties, as well as the area surrounding the Bee Line corridor stretching to Port Canaveral through Brevard County (Figure 1). Central Florida is home to approximately 2.03 million people.2

Figure 1: Project Area Map

Figure 1, Project Area Map. This map illustrates the project area, which includes most of Central Florida and encompasses Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties as well as the area surrounding the Bee Line corridor stretching to Port Canaveral through Brevard County.

Source: Metropolitan Orlando Regional Transportation Partnership, Central Florida Freight,
Goods and Services Mobility Strategy Plan (Orlando, FL: 2003).

Orlando, the largest city in Central Florida, is accessible by vehicle via several major highways, including I-4, which begins in Daytona Beach and ends in Tampa. Because it is a key connector to downtown Orlando, industry, suburbs, tourist attractions, and both coasts, I-4 is heavy traveled and congested. SR 408 (East-West Expressway) also is a key artery to and from the city's eastern and western suburbs. Additionally, the Orlando area is served by one through railroad, CSX Transportation's A line (formerly the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's mainline) and several spurs, primarily operated by Florida Central Railroad. Amtrak passenger service runs along the CSX A line.

The region enjoys high freight activity because of its location between two busy freight centers—Jacksonville and Miami. Between 50 to 60 percent of Florida's north-south goods movement flows through the Orlando area.3

2 U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Population Estimates, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (Washington, DC: 2008).

3 Metropolitan Orlando Regional Transportation Partnership, Freight, Goods and Services Mobility Strategy Plan (Orlando, FL: 2003).

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