Latest news with #SunshineCorridor
Business Journals
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
SunRail board approves $6M study for Sunshine Corridor project
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." Sign up for the Business Journal's free morning and afternoon daily newsletters to receive the latest business news affecting Orlando. Download the free OBJ app for breaking news alerts on your phone. Architectural Firms 2024 C. Fla. architecture billings Rank Prior Rank Firm 1 1 HuntonBrady Architects 2 2 Baker Barrios Architects Inc. 3 3 Schenkel Shultz View this list
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Disney district to consider backing major Orlando transit expansion
Editor's note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the governing entity for the land of Walt Disney World Resort, has proposed providing the Florida Department of Transportation funds for a key Sunshine Corridor study. The district's board of supervisors on March 28 will consider approving $500,000 to support a project development & environment study for a shared rail corridor that will be utilized by both commuter rail SunRail and the Brightline intercity rail service. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District oversees more than 25,000 acres across 24 landowners in Orange and Osceola counties, including The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS). The study, which will cost $6 million, has already gotten 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, Seminole County and Osceola County. ...... Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal's website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orlando kicks in $500,000 toward SunRail expansion to airport, Universal and Disney
Orlando became the latest local government to kick in $500,000 toward studying a potential SunRail expansion to Orlando International Airport, Universal Studios, the convention center and Disney Springs. The city council voted unanimously to approve the funding Monday, joining what they hope will be a coalition of governments and perhaps private businesses to help pay for the $6 million study, which is needed to persuade the federal government to help construct the so-called Sunshine Corridor. 'Certainly our traffic problems are only going to get worse if we don't embrace transit,' Mayor Buddy Dyer said Monday, ahead of the vote. The proposed rail expansion would open the commuter train up to more than 100,000 people who work around the airport and theme parks, and officials argue it's a crucial piece of the long-term success of the train. The two-year study is expected to dig into projected ridership of the expansion, maintenance and operation costs, environmental impacts, station locations and track alignments. Early estimates put the cost of the full project at $4.4 billion. Seminole County commissioners voted last month to fund their county's $500,000 share of the study. Orange County leaders have been supportive of the effort and are expected to take up the issue soon. Osceola and Volusia Counties have yet to commit to funding. The Florida Department of Transportation — which would oversee the study — agreed last year to pay $2 million as long as governments and other private entities along the route kick in the remaining $4 million. rygillespie@
