Central Florida is finally taking passenger rail from a plan to a reality with the commuter rail system known as SunRail and a recently announced high-speed rail that will run from Orlando to Tampa. So, now that we know we’re going to be riding the rails, what’s the next step?

The first segment of the 61.5 mile SunRail corridor system is expected to be up and running by late 2012 and includes a 31 mile segment of track between DeBary and Sand Lake Road. Stations in this segment will include Lake Mary, Winter Park, Florida Hospital and Church Street, to name a few. The next segment of the track is scheduled to open in late 2014 and include stations in Osceola.

In the near future, as far as funding is concerned, capital costs for the system - about $615 million - are shared. “Federal funding covers 50 percent, state funding covers 25 and the local funding partners cover the remaining 25,” says Kelley Teague, director of public affairs and strategic planning for MetroPlan Orlando. “To provide some context, the City of Orlando is committed to spending about $68 million over the next 30 years on SunRail. That’s a little more than $2 million per year - roughly the same amount Orange County spends on sidewalks each year.”

Ultimately, each local funding partner will decide how to allocate and generate their dollars toward the project, meaning a dedicated funding source has not yet been selected for future maintenance and operations costs.

“SunRail is the spine of a much broader future passenger rail system in Central Florida,” says Teague. “The system, which connects 15 percent of the state’s population, two of the region’s largest employers and four different counties, provides a strong foundation for future connections.”

As for the high-speed rail project, the story really starts about a decade ago when Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment mandating the development of a high-speed passenger rail network linking the state’s major population centers.

“Significant investments were made during I-4 reconstruction projects, preserving a corridor in the median of I-4 for future rail use,” says Teague, thanks in part to a study entitled the Final Environmental Impact Statement. “The Orlando International Airport also created an ‘envelop’ reserved for a future high-speed rail connection.”

Last year, President Obama announced a high-speed rail vision as part of the stimulus package. As part of a competitive process to develop a nationwide program of high-speed passenger rail, $8 billion became available for funding.

The state was recently awarded $1.25 billion in federal funds as something of a down payment to begin the project. “And, $1 billion a year has been budgeted to support the systems for the next five years in the federal budget,” says Teague. Capital costs for the first Orlando to Tampa segment are expected to be fully funded by federal dollars. Funding following the federal dollars has yet to be finalized.

The next step involved for both systems will be ironing out the supplemental services required to make them a success, such as stations, bus routes and parking. To make a true multimodal transportation system work correctly, a strong ground transportation system must be in place leaders, say. “Just as our road network requires connectivity, from highways to arterial roads and local roads, an effective passenger rail system will also include connectivity,” says Teague.

According to her, work is already underway to identify and advance projects to support passenger rail in Central Florida. MetroPlan is proceeding with a streetcar/bus rapid transit study to identify the best connections to the SunRail line.

Additionally, the SunRail project itself includes increased bus service to feed the station stops. LYNX will also be receiving funding from the Department of Transportation to supplement existing services. How that will play out with an estimated seven percent budget cut from Orange County remains to be seen.

“We’re planning and looking to ensure that we can put as much service into the stations and surrounding areas where people want to go so it’s convenient for everyone,” says Tony Walter, director of planning and development for LYNX. “That’s the key to the whole thing is having connections that get people to where they want to go.”

Article by Corey Gehrold