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Comprehensive Plan Economic Development Element to obtain financing for new homes and made it difficult for people to sell their existing homes if they desire to relocate. While the increase in housing affordability is an economic development potential for the county, the financing issue constitutes a constraint. Market Relationships/Access to Markets One of the county's economic development constraints is its distance from large, economically diverse metropolitan areas. Because of larger consumer markets and economic linkages, major metropolitan areas provide economic development benefits for adjacent non -metropolitan counties. Compared to other communities, such as Martin County, that are located adjacent to highly populated urban markets, Indian River County is at a competitive disadvantage. Also, Indian River County is not located near resources and supplies that might be utilized within various types of industries (manufacturing, electronics, automotive, etc.) and does not have well established industry clusters. Transportation In terms of transportation, Indian River County has various advantages. With its location at the intersection of two major transportation routes, SR 60 and I-95, the county has good roadway linkages both north/south and east/west. This is an economic potential for the county. Within the county, the current road system operates at or above established levels of service. This is important because highway accessibility has been ranked as an important site location factor by the American Planning Association. While public rail freight service is available in Indian River County, AMTRAK passenger service is not available in the county. Although this is not likely to be a major factor in the short term, the lack of passenger service may be a more important constraint in the long term. In terms of aviation, Indian River County has challenges. While the City of Vero Beach has an excellent airport, the lack of scheduled commercial air service at the Vero Beach Airport is an economic development constraint. Consequently, the closest scheduled commercial air service for county residents and businesses is the Melbourne International Airport, approximately 38 miles to the north. Through Indian River Transit's GoLine, the county provides limited mass transit services within the county. This mass transit service is growing and providing more service each year; however, it does not have headways as low as mass transit services in large metropolitan areas. This can be seen as a constraint in that workers have to own a car or otherwise rely on someone with a car to get to work. The intercoastal waterway provides Indian River County with a navigable waterway. Community Development Department Indian River County 34