Letters of Support Appendix B
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Appendix B: Letters of Support
DARREN SOTO WASHINGTON OFFICE
9TH DISTRICT, FLORIDA 1507 LONGWORTH HOB
WASHINGTON, DC 20515
(202) 225-9889
KISSIMMEE DISTRICT OFFICE
804 BRYAN STREET
KISSIMMEE, FL 34741
(407) 452-1171
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
July 9, 2019
The Honorable Secretary Elaine Chao
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Orange County’s proposal for BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant
Dear Madam Secretary:
I write to you today to express my strong support of the Orange County proposal for the Better
Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grant.
I understand that with a population of over 1.4 million residents and 75 million annual visitors to
the area, Central Florida remains one of the most mobility challenged areas in the United States.
The area of Orange County that I represent, Lake Nona, will receive over 12 million annual
visitors including hotel guests, competitive tennis players at the USTA National Campus, and
visitors to the growing Medical City by 2022. By building a Local Alternative Mobility Network
(LAMN), the proposed project will advance significant infrastructure investments including new
autonomous transit shuttles and the improvement of pedestrian and bicycle facilities designed to
reduce automotive traffic.
The project is unique to Central Florida and its findings will inform future regional approaches to
existing transit and mobility needs. Orange County has reported to me they have created an
investment model from many resources including Tavistock, a global development company;
Beep, Inc., a technology company and the University of Central Florida. Once implemented, this
project will continue the transformation of Lake Nona from a greenfield site fifteen years ago into
its continued evolution of a healthy, sustainable, vibrant community able to adapt to new
technologies, innovations and global trends.
I appreciate your full and fair consideration for the application of Orange County’s proposal for
the BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant.
Sincerely,
Darren Soto
Member of CongressOffice of the President P.O. Box 160002 Orlando, FL 32816-0002 July 10, 2019 The Honorable Elaine L. Chao Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Chao: I am pleased to provide this letter of support for Orange County, Florida’s Reimagining Mobility Plan BUILD grant application. This project will provide Orange County and the Lake Nona region with a first-of-its-kind, robust Local Alternative Mobility Network (LAMN), utilizing a connected network of multi-use corridors, dedicated commuter ways, and transit hubs for cyclists and electric assist personal vehicles. Established in 2006 and located in Lake Nona Medical City, the UCF College of Medicine is one of the first U.S. medical schools in decades to be built from the ground up. As the medical school at one of the nation’s largest universities, UCF’s program epitomizes innovation, high-tech learning tools, and a pioneering spirit to educate young doctors and scientists in a new and better way for the 21st century. The university’s M.D. graduates score in the top quartile nationally in all measures of student performance. And the soon to open UCF Lake Nona Medical Center will be on land directly adjacent to the UCF College of Medicine. It will be just minutes from the Orlando International Airport and will be easily accessible from major roads including Florida’s Turnpike, State Road 417, and the East-West Expressway. Through partnerships with government and industry, UCF is no stranger to supporting and leading large-scale projects that improve transportation systems, making them safer and more efficient. Earlier this year, UCF was announced as a finalist with Ford Motor Co. in a national competition to improve traffic safety, having beaten out more than 50 other teams in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Solving for Safety Visualization Challenge. The UCF team proposed a computer program that uses big data to predict – and hopefully prevent – traffic accidents before they happen. Additionally, UCF is helping advance several intelligent transportation system technologies across Central Florida aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety and easing congestion, thanks to a nearly $12 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration. Phone: 407.823.1823 • Fax: 407.823.2264 An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Institution
July 10, 2019 Page 2 We would be happy to support the LAMN project with expertise from our nationally recognized faculty in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. And we’re in full support of this project, which will provide our students, faculty, staff, and guests with access to a fleet of autonomous vehicles, a bicycle transportation network, and other modes of transportation that will reduce automobile dependency and better connect them to essential services, hotels, retail, and entertainment districts within Lake Nona. Thank you for your consideration of this proposal as a critical piece that will help transform our region. Sincerely, Thad Seymour, Jr. Interim President Phone: 407.823.1823 • Fax: 407.823.2264 An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Institution
July 10, 2019 Secretary Elaine Chao United States Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Chao Please accept this letter of support on behalf of the Orlando Economic Partnership, its 250+ major investors and more than 1,000 Chamber members in support of Orange County’s application for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grant. The dollars requested in Orange County’s application will be used to advance a Local Alternative Mobility Network (LAMN) through significant infrastructure investments. These include new autonomous transit shuttles, transit waiting environments, improvement of existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities, green infrastructure, streetscaping, and wayfinding aimed at reducing auto dependency while supporting a higher density, mixed-use community. Given the population in our seven-county region is growing at a rate of 1,500 new residents per week, it is critical that we find new ways to improve transportation infrastructure through new technologies. Improved transit and infrastructure provide added freedom to our residents and enhance their ability to improve their way of life. With partners such as Tavistock Group and Beep Inc. willing to collaborate and fund such projects, we are certain that any federal dollars will be appropriately leveraged. Our region is excited about the possibilities this project will bring. We anticipate this will be the first of many alternative networks that will support our fast-growing region. We strongly support the Orange County application as it will advance innovation and transform our region. Onward, Tim Giuliani President & CEO
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao
Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
July 9, 2019
Dear Secretary Chao:
I am pleased to provide this letter of support for Orange County, Florida's Reimagining Mobility Plan
BUILD grant application. This project will provide the region with a first of its kind, robust Local
Alternative Mobility Network (LAMN), utilizing a connected network of multi-use corridors, dedicated
commuter ways, and transit hubs for cyclists and electric assist personal vehicles.
As the Home of American Tennis, the USTA National Campus welcomes approximately 300,000 tennis
professionals, competitors and athletes to our campus each year. The project will provide our guests
and more than 200 employees with access to a fleet of autonomous vehicles, a bicycle transportation
network, and other modes of transportation that will reduce automobile dependency and better
connect them to essential services, hotels, retail and entertainment districts within Lake Nona.
I am excited to participate in this innovative approach to transportation and request that you give full
and fair consideration to this grant application.
Sincerely,
Kurt Kamperman
Chief Executive USTA National Campus
USTA National Campus
10000 USTA Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32827
www.usta.comYou can also read
