Commentary: There is a better way to fund Orlando public transit

As I’ve grown up in Orlando, the biggest changes I’ve experienced are rent going up and traffic getting worse. I grew up seeing road-widening projects left and right, with the promise of making life easier for us. Despite this, according to a Texas A&M Transportation Institute study in 2024, Orlando residents were projected to lose $1,589 and 68 hours a year due to congestion. A better way is possible; it’s time for Orlando to invest in trains and buses, the form of transportation that moves the most people, is the more affordable option for residents, and allows for building housing in the urban core that can lead to lower rents and walkable communities.

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There’s a grassroots plan being pushed by the community to do so. The STAR Plan (Sunshine Transportation Advancement Resolution) establishes a countywide framework to study, secure funding for, and develop rapid transit for eight high-volume transportation corridors. These eight corridors are areas Orlandoans are familiar with: Colonial, Semoran, Silver Star, Sunshine Corridor (MCO-Disney), International Drive, Orange Blossom, Kirkman and SunRail Corridor.

Inspired by Miami-Dade County’s SMART Plan, STAR would establish a district within half a mile of the eight corridors; this district would have zoning incentives to build walkable developments and establish Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for initial funding. TIFs work by capturing any increase in property tax that occurs when new developments are built, and the captured funds are then invested directly back into the community through transit investments.

These revenues would be allocated to a citizen-managed trust fund to ensure funds are managed efficiently and transparently. This trust fund prepares us for future revenue streams to go towards transit, like the Tourist Development Tax (TDT) and any future transit sales tax. Establishing STAR also allows us to be more competitive for federal and state transit dollars, which can accelerate investments for rail expansion, new stations, and faster buses or train fleets.

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Transit incentivizes more efficient, mixed developments that place diverse housing options closer to jobs, education, and leisure while offering more choices to travel. Transit is key to making Orlando an affordable and walkable place to live. There is already momentum for the STAR plan within the county. Orange County Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad has already sponsored STAR and has requested a hearing for it later this year. If the Orange County Board of Commissioners passes the STAR plan, we can begin working towards investments in transportation now. That would mean faster Lynx buses, a SunRail that runs on weekends and a world-class rail system not just for tourists, but for all residents of Orange County. The only way for STAR to pass in Orange County is with your support.

Giancarlo Rodríguez is the co-founder of Sunrise Movement Orlando, a youth-led climate organization fighting to deliver the STAR plan.

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