Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2014/08/25/osceola-expressway-to-refinance-debt-to-reedy-creek-improvement-district/" target="_blank"><b>8/25/14: Osceola Expressway to Refinance Debt to Reedy Creek Improvement District</b></a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Very interesting, and I'm not quite sure what it all means. Will all of Osceola Pkwy now be under Reedy Creek jurisdiction? Isn't that what generally happens when somebody owns a road? I wonder if this will have any impact on daily operations. It could potentially change the toll prices (I could see them trying to get reduced/free tolls for CMs, for example) or daily traffic flow. I know that Osceola Pkwy is routinely closed for some of the runDisney events; perhaps they'll be able to close it more often now?
Originally Posted By leemac <<Will all of Osceola Pkwy now be under Reedy Creek jurisdiction?>> No it will remain under the ownership and management of Osceola County. The road has been a dog of a business. It never achieved the toll revenue that was forecast when it was approved for construction and the cost overruns were massive. Toll roads are typically paid for by issuing government bonds that are linked to the toll revenue and so if the toll revenue never achieves the forecast amount then there is likely to be default. RCID has stepped in to support the road as it can borrow at a lower rate than the Osceola County Expressway Authority (that is very highly leveraged) and it keeps it open - WDW Co. benefits massively from the road.
Originally Posted By schnebs Wasn't this the same road that Disney convinced Osceola to issue bonds to build instead of funding other transportation projects for the area? I remember there being an uproar in central Florida a few years ago because public funding was being used to pay for a road project that primarily benefitted WDW. Dumb question, but I'm going to ask anyway: Do authorities ever actually close a toll road when it's unsuccessful? I'd figure that if a toll road fails, the taxpayers in the jurisdiction end up stuck with it and all the associated bills, but the road would stay open. The toll roads in that other Orange County have pretty much been a failure, but I was under the impression that Caltrans got stuck with them.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've never even driven on it except the portion you use to get to the AK. Is it more heavily used by WDW employees living to the east than by visitors?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've never even driven on it except the portion you use to get to the AK. Is it more heavily used by WDW employees living to the east than by visitors?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've never even driven on it except the portion you use to get to the AK. Is it more heavily used by WDW employees living to the east than by visitors?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've never even driven on it except the portion you use to get to the AK. Is it more heavily used by WDW employees living to the east than by visitors?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Oh crap. It did it again. The touch-pad on my Netbook has a hair-trigger.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I live in South Florida and I would guess the Parkway gets most use from those of us who live here. Our first WDW exit opportunity is 192 but that road blows. The Parkway was much better (quicker) before everything blew up at the Pkwy and John Young Pkwy and that large mall. Now there are a number of lights and, at times, the road can take almost as long as riding on 192. Some day when the area around the Gaylord Palms fully develops I expect Osceola Pkwy will see its full potential.
