ORLANDO, Fla. – The SunRail system could expand to include service from Orlando International Airport to Disney Springs, at a cost of $4 billion.
Estimates from a Florida Department of Transportation assessment for the so-called “Sunshine Corridor” were shared at a Central Florida Commuter Rail Board meeting Thursday.
The total cost for the full build-out, including Disney Springs, is significant, but could also increase annual ridership six-fold within the first year of operation.
At Thursday’s meeting, the chairman acknowledged the expense but also said it will bring a lot of value to Central Florida. FDOT’s study says there are people who want to use this form of transportation and support the idea of expanding to MCO, Orange County Convention Center, International Drive, and Disney Springs.
Next week marks 10 years since SunRail was added to Central Florida’s transportation lineup. In December, SunRail reached over one million riders for the first time since 2019.
Numbers for March reveal an average daily ridership of 5,294.
Extending from the LYNX Central station to MCO would cost about $400 million alone, according to FDOT’s study. It would also increase ridership to 3.7 million in the first year, and up to 5.2 million by 2040.
If leaders decide to move forward with the entire plan for the system, annual ridership is estimated to be 6.4 million in the first year, and 9.4 million in 2040.
The commission acknowledged Thursday that ridership would likely exceed those estimates when you consider how many people travel to visit Central Florida.
There are many steps ahead as they decide what to do, and how to pay for it.
Officials at Thursday’s meeting said they would soon determine how much federal support they can get and come back to the commission with a plan to move forward later this summer.
CFCRC-4-25-24 by Christie Zizo on Scribd
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