We told you HERE in July 2018 that the City of Orlando was launching a study that would weigh the feasibility of making Orange Avenue and Magnolia Avenue two-way streets in downtown’s North Quarter district.
The first phase of the study was engaged in September 2017 and concluded with a recommendation from an engineering firm that both Orange and Magnolia could indeed be restored to two-way streets, at least technically speaking.
The City now has the report in-hand, the result of two four-day public workshops, that includes a hearty recommendation to make it a reality from Amelia Street through to South Ivanhoe Boulevard.
Orlando converted its downtown streets into one-way arteries back in the 1970s to facilitate fast entrances and exits from the Central Business District at the beginning and end of the workday. Yet as the Downtown core becomes more mixed-use and residential, the needs have changed.
Two-way streets are proven to increase access to local businesses, simplify wayfinding, and reduce speeding. The proposal for this corridor includes more pedestrian crossings, enhanced landscaping, protected two-way bike paths on both Magnolia and Orange Avenue, and designated bus lanes for Rapid Transit.
The City is still finalizing the funding for this project and an overall timeline to carry it out.
If you’re curious about the final study results scroll down for more information, including some of the standout plans we noticed.