SunRail board approves $6M study for Sunshine Corridor project

Business Journals

24-04-2025

Local officials and business leaders are expressing enthusiasm for a potential new rail corridor, though the path from study to reality involves navigating complex funding and logistical challenges.
Story Highlights Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission approves $6 million Sunshine Corridor study.
Proposed corridor includes stops at Orlando airport and convention center.
Study will run until May 2027, informing SunRail's project decision.
SunRail's governing board approved a key study tied to the proposed Sunshine Corridor with Brightline and SunRail.
The Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission voted unanimously April 24 to advance a $6 million, two-year project development and environment study for the corridor.
John Tyler, District 5 secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation, told Orlando Business Journal the vote starts a "key step" for the project, setting the stage to apply for federal government funding and answer key questions like how transfers would work, as well as finalize project costs, construction timelines and more. He said those details are needed to help the commission determine whether it wants to dedicate more local dollars to the project. "This is a foundational step in moving the Sunshine Corridor forward."
The proposed corridor would have stops at Orlando International Airport, near the Orange County Convention Center and South International Drive, plus with a route along Interstate 4 to allow Brightline to expand to Tampa.
The study is fully funded, with commitments of $2 million each from the Florida Department of Transportation and Universal Destinations & Experiences, as well as $500,000 apiece from the city of Orlando, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, and Seminole, Osceola and Orange counties.
FDOT on April 28 will advertise for a consultant to lead the study, and one will be picked in late June. That company will collaborate with consultants from Brightline and Universal's Shingle Creek Transit & Utility Community Development District.
The process will run from now until May 2027 and include engagement with the general public, preliminary engineering and more detailed cost estimates.
Amy Lockhart, chair of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission and a Seminole County commissioner, told OBJ figuring out the funding picture for the local partners will be key. That includes seeing how much private, federal or state funding the project could get, which would give a clear picture of how much local government money may be needed.
"Every funding partner will have a different view on how they think they can best participate," she said. "We all have a different level of resources available to us, so we will need to make sure we allow flexibility for partners to participate in the ways they can."
Those who voiced support of the corridor during the meeting included RIDA Development Corp. — which owns the Hilton Orlando near the proposed convention center station — Maria Triscari of the I-Drive Resort Area Chamber of Commerce and the Orlando Economic Partnership.
Bob O'Malley, senior vice president of government affairs for Orlando Economic Partnership, said he has heard interest from dozens of members of the community about the corridor, as well as those from places like Tampa. "The support for this extends beyond our region."
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