Central Florida Commuter Rail

Central Florida Commuter Rail is a proposed commuter rail system in the Central Florida (Orlando) area. The rail line is expected to be fully completed and running sometime in 2013 (with the first phase operating as early as 2010). It will run for 61 miles along the CSX Transportation "A" Line (former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad main line) from Poinciana Boulevard near Kissimmee through downtown Orlando to DeLand. The line is presently used by two daily Amtrak round trips, the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star. Also, it was used by an Amtrak tri-weekly trip, the Sunset Limited from Orlando to Los Angeles, now being suspended until further notice due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The new commuter rail system will be financed by counties, the state, and the federal government.

Volusia County, Seminole County, Orange County, the City of Orlando and Osceola County are the partners in the project. The local partners combine to foot 25% of the bill, which the State of Florida will match. The remaining 50% will come from a Federal transit "New Starts" grant funds. The total cost of the system is estimated at $615 million.

On November 29 2007, the State of Florida agreed to pay $491 million to CSX to purchase the "A" Line from DeLand to Poinciana outright. The money was above and beyond the $615 million quoted for the system, which was being used to makes track improvements, construct train stations and purchase rail cars. CSX will still run some limited freight at night on the "A" Line, but most freight traffic will be rerouted. [ [http://www.cfrail.com/newsevents.asp?type=news&id=43#Article News & Events - CFRail.com ] ]

The Florida legislature must approve the CSX-Florida Department of Transportation agreement in order for project construction to begin. The legislature failed to consider the agreement in the 2008 session. At issue were provisions regarding liability and indemnification. Commenting on the bill, state senator Paula Dockery said, "I don't envision a time anytime soon where thoughtful senators are going to say that there's some kind of good public policy involved in taking liability away from somebody who was at fault and putting it on the taxpayers of the state of Florida." The current contract between CSX and Florida DOT is in place through June 30, 2009, and the legislature will have another opportunity to consider and approve the agrement in the 2009 legislative session. [cite news | url=http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02POL050108.htm | title=Senate applies brakes to commuter rail | first=James | last=Miller | work=Daytona Beach News-Journal | date=May 1 2008 | accessdate=2008-05-02] [cite news | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2008/05/05/daily9.html?t=printable | title=State won't buy CSX track in Central Florida | work=Tampa Bay Business Journal | date=May 6 2008 | accessdate=2008-05-06]

The first segment of the Central Florida Commuter Rail project was approved to enter Final Design by the Federal Transit Administration on August 11, 2008.

Station stops

The following station stops were proposed:
*Poinciana Industrial Park
*Kissimmee (Amtrak station)
*Osceola Parkway
*Meadow Woods
*Sand Lake Road
*Orlando (Amtrak station)/Orlando Regional Medical Center
*Church Street Station (downtown Orlando)
*Lynx Central Station (downtown Orlando)
*Florida Hospital
*Winter Park/Park Avenue
*Maitland
*Altamonte Springs
*Longwood
*Lake Mary
*Sanford/State Road 46 (Amtrak station)
*DeBary/Fort Florida Road
*DeLand (Amtrak station)

Approval Votes

*Orange County - 7-0 - July 19 2007 [http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/7/19/first_commuter_rail_vote_happens_thursday.html]
*City of Orlando - 7-0 - July 23 2007 [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/orl-rail2407jul24,0,2290468.story]
*Seminole County - 5-0 - July 24 2007 [http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/7/24/commuter_rail_votes_chug_along.html]
*Osceola County - 5-0† - July 30 2007 [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/orl-rail2407jul24,0,2290468.story]
*Volusia County - July 31 2007 [http://volusia.org/countycouncil/actions/073107.htm]

† Osceola County has agreed in principle, but is examining how to fund their $9.3-million share.

References

External links

* [http://www.cfrail.com/ Central Florida Commuter Rail]
* [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-rail1407jul14,0,3460230.story July 14 article by the Orlando Sentinel]
* [http://www.wesh.com/news/13717584/detail.html "Orlando Commuter Rail On Track For Completion"]