Solving Orlando’s Traffic Problem: How Public Transit Can Make a Difference

Florida is known for many things. From the oranges and the wildlife, which range from the American alligator to the scrub jay, to the theme parks and constant traffic, there is a lot to take in. Looking at you, I-4!

Interstate 4, or I-4, was even mentioned in a recent episode of Jeopardy, making fun of the “I-4 eyesore,” a building in Altamonte Springs that has been unfinished for more than two decades and looms over the highway. But why is traffic such a notorious problem in the state? If it is so bad, why haven’t our representatives fixed it?

A new group is working to change that. Sunrise Orlando, the Orlando chapter of the Sunrise Movement, believes the solution to traffic congestion is right in front of us: public transportation. Their plan is called S.T.A.R., which stands for Sunshine Transit Advancement Resolution.

The plan focuses on six corridors where residents of the Sunshine State are already traveling and aims to improve public transportation to reduce congestion. It stretches from Zellwood all the way to Alafaya. That is a lot of ground to cover, but it all falls within one county. As someone who lives in Apopka, just south of Zellwood, I experience the traffic on these lines every day. The plan is widespread yet focused, and it offers a real solution to a problem many of us face.

This plan was designed by the community to make transit smoother in Orlando. The next step is for the Orange County Board of Commissioners to pass the STAR Plan ordinance. Passing it would secure funding for the plan and make rapid transit a reality for people in the area. A better tomorrow might not make national news, but a better way for tomorrow could appear on your local news. Change is possible if people take action.

To go more in-depth on the STAR Plan and Sunrise Orlando, I spoke with Giancarlo Rodriguez, the Hub Coordinator for Sunrise Orlando. Giancarlo has been involved in this movement since 2023 and helped co-found the Orlando chapter. He believes Orlando is a progressive city, but its governing body does not always represent residents accurately. He uses the chapter to push for change and to fight climate change.

As a hub coordinator, Giancarlo leads all facilitators for the different teams within Sunrise Orlando. The organization has four teams, each with different priorities, which keeps him busy. As an Orlando native, the transit team and STAR Plan are his key focus. He realized that the long drives across relatively short distances are part of the city’s design. Urban sprawl isolates people, and constant car use reinforces that. Fast and well-used public transportation could reduce these problems and make the city more connected, not just on the road, but in daily life.

The next step involves the Orange County Transportation Mobility and Advisory Commission, or TransMAC. This commission can create a resolution for the Orange County Board of Commissioners to vote on, which would help improve the public transportation system. Supporting the STAR Plan means supporting a city where people can get where they need to go faster, safer, and with less stress. It means connecting communities, reducing traffic, and taking real action on climate change. You can make a difference by learning more about the plan, joining Sunrise Orlando, and urging Orange County to fund this program. Together, we can turn the vision of better transit into a reality for everyone in Orlando.

You can learn more about Sunrise Orlando and the STAR Plan on their website here. If you want to join the team, you can fill out their interest form here. You can also take action by asking Orange County to fund this program. Sunrise Orlando has provided a letter for you to send. You can personalize it or contact the county commissioners directly to show how important this is for residents of Orange County.

An inclusion of the commissioners and their contact numbers are here:

Mayra Uribe - Commissioner, District 3: (407) 836-5140

Maribel Gomez Cordero - Commissioner, District 4: (407) 836-7350

Michael “Mike” Scott - Commissioner, District 6: (407) 836-5860

Christine Moore - Commissioner, District 2:  (407) 836-7350

Nicole H. Wilson - Commissioner, District 1: (407) 836-7312

Jerry L. Demings - Orange County Mayor:  (407) 836-7370