The onset of the pandemic in 2020 saw the postponement of a variety of public projects and initiatives, including one of the most-anticipated, the Transportation Tax Initiative.

Relaunched in 2022, Mayor Demings’ transportation penny sales tax aims to raise the necessary funds to “reduce congestion, increase safety for all transportation users, and to offer more and better options for commuters.” If passed, it’s estimated that it could generate almost $600 million per year that would be dedicated to transportation, infrastructure, technology, and transit projects.

The County has launched an online platform where residents can weigh in on the state of local transportation challenges and priorities via a multiple-choice survey, available in English, Spanish, and Creole. The survey will be available through April 25, HERE.

The Mayor still has to convince at least three county commissioners to get the initiative on the November ballot, and then get the public to pass it – which didn’t happen in 2003 when county leaders tried to do something similar and it was struck down 54:46 by county residents.

“If we want to truly transform our community in terms of having multimodal transportation options with a dedicated funding source, I believe the sales tax is the best option we have.”

– ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR DEMINGS

The earnings would be split as follows – 45% to transit initiatives like SunRail and Lynx, 45% to road improvements and improving pedestrian/bicycle safety, and 10% to be shared among 11 cities for their own special projects.

You can click HERE for more information.

Brendan O'Connor

Editor in Chief of Bungalower.com

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