As Central Florida's landscape evolves, some of the roles that the roadways have played begin to change, as well.

  • Major changes could be coming to Corrine Drive
  • MetroPlan Orlando is asking for the public's input
  • Fill out the survey at corrinedrivestudy.org

Corrine Drive, near the Orlando-Winter Park border, is one of those roads.

"When I first moved here, we had the (U.S.) Navy base, which is now Baldwin Park," said Jennifer Marvel, who has lived near Corrine Drive in the Audubon Park area since 1990. "The businesses here tended to focus on retired military or the recruits that were coming through every six weeks. Then, when the Navy base shut down, the area kind of went through an identity crisis."

Times have changed, but Corrine Drive hasn't, Marvel said.

"It's unsafe, it's ugly," she said. "People use it as a high-speed cut-through."

Corrine Drive's profile is now one with small businesses, like breweries, specialty shops and organic markets within walking distance to large neighborhoods. That means a growing amount of pedestrians walking along the roadway.

"There are folks that live there and it's an important regional connector to move traffic to different parts of the region," Marvel said. "So, we need to make sure we balance the needs of those different users."

MetroPlan Orlando, a metropolitan planning organization for Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, needs and wants your help.

After completing an initial study of Corrine Drive, MetroPlan Orlando has issued a survey that anyone can take.

"We want to make Corrine Drive a lot more comfortable for pedestrians, for cyclists, for transit users," said Cynthia Lambert, of MetroPlan Orlando. "And for everybody that wants to enjoy the businesses and atmosphere of the neighborhood."

Corrine Drive is unique in that the road is owned by Orange County but maintained by the city of Orlando. MetroPlan Orlando's job is to present its finding and suggest a course of action that all parties agree with. The agency will also heavily weight the public's opinion.

"My hope is that people who are engaged here — stakeholders, residents, property owners, business owners — will have more of a say in the changes that happen to Corrine Drive long term," Marvel said.

The survey will be available until May 31. MetroPlan Orlando hopes to have a plan in place by next spring.

Fill out the survey at corrinedrivestudy.org.