ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida transportation leaders say they are moving toward the next step in opening a SunRail route between Orlando International Airport and the Orange County Convention Center, but that rail line is still years away.
Florida Department of Transportation District 5 Secretary John Tyler gave the update on the Sunshine Corridor project to the Orange County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.
The proposed rail route would expand SunRail to connect Orlando International Airport, then west to the Orange County Convention Center, and eventually southwest to the Disney Springs area.
FDOT officials are looking at a plan that has options on how to connect travelers to the airport from the Downtown Orlando or Kissimmee stations, along with the Sunshine Corridor itself, which would eventually have stops near Orange County Convention Center, a second stop further south on International Drive, and finally a stop near Disney Springs.
“This option would be able to create connections, not just the visitors that want to go to those places... because those locations are the highest attractors of visitors right here in Central Florida, but they’re also some of the largest employers in Central Florida as well. So, people need to work there. They’re looking for multimodal, options to get to work,” Tyler said.
None of the planned stops have been finalized. Tyler said that the proposals would triple existing annual ridership figures, and maybe even exceed that because of tourist travel.
[RELATED: Read the Sunshine Corridor report from FDOT]
The preliminary costs for all of the new routes and stations could be upwards of $4 billion to 5 billion when all is said and done. The most expensive piece would be the connection between the airport and the convention center itself, which is estimated to cost between $1.75 billion and $2.4 billion.
The preliminary estimated cost to extend the line to Disney Springs, $173 million to $247 million, includes $16 million to add an additional train.
Part of the rail line’s cost would be paid by a new special taxing district for Universal’s Epic Universe, which would help handle the cost for the convention center station.
[RELATED: What will transportation be like when Epic Universe opens?]
Tyler said the good news is the agency believes there is good ridership potential for the line and support from the public to make it happen.
“Any transportation project is expensive, but it can deliver transformational results,” Tyler said.
The next step is to do a Project, Development and Environment study. It will be used to better evaluate the economic impacts and engineering options, and refine the cost figures before moving ahead with construction. That will take up to two years.
The agency has also begun talking to the Federal Transit Administration to determine how much money the federal government could contribute.
Tyler said traditionally the initial cost of a project like this would be split up between the different governments, with the federal government covering 50%, the state government covering 25% and local governments covering the remaining 25%, but we won’t know what the feds will be willing to play until the project is ready for review.
“Whatever we do, it’s going to take a coalition of willing funding partners to make the Sunshine Corridor a reality, and I think everyone involved at this point understands that,” Tyler said.
The public will also be able to weigh in when meetings are scheduled.
“I would encourage everyone that has a voice that has an idea to please come out and engage with us. Tell us what you’re thinking. Give us your comments and, and watch our progress as well,” Tyler said.
Construction of the rail line itself could take four to five years, Tyler said.
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