After the initial reluctance, Osceola County commissioners decided to kick $500,000 towards an investigation into the feasibility of an extension of Sunrail from Orlando’s airport to the theme park.
The commissioner held a unanimous discussion Monday evening, helping to investigate the Sunshine Corridor for $6 million.
The committee’s decision will result in a project that is deemed essential to reverse Sunrail’s struggling ridership.
The Florida Department of Transport estimates that Sunshine Corridor will increase its Sunrail ridership to 6.4 million people at the start of the season. The ridership was a point of competition as it didn’t recover after the pandemic. Currently, thousands of passengers are on the train every month.
Commissioners were hesitant in December to express concern that the extension’s traffic impact is not worth its financial contribution.
“We want to see what that percentage will ease traffic in Osceola County,” Commissioner Ricky Booth said at the time.
Commissioner Peggy Choudhry questioned what would come after the research. Construction of the expansion is estimated to cost $4.4 billion.
“What are our expectations… for future funding?” Choudhry asked in December.
Neither the booth nor Choudhry were available on Tuesday to comment on why they ultimately supported the funds.
The county’s financial support includes the provision that “there are no commitments or contracts other than the PD&E investigation.”
Project Development and Environment (PD&E) investigations must be completed before federal and state governments agree to provide funding for the project. This study dives into predicted ridership, system maintenance, operational costs, environmental impacts, station location, and tracking alignment. It could take about two years to complete.
Other governments in the area where Sunrail serves are already committed to funding.
Seminole County in January first agreed to Orlando’s $500,000 donation in February.
FDOT, the agency overseeing the project, said it would pitch for $2 million, and Universal Orlando would match that in late February.
The Orange County commissioner has not yet voted on the issue, but a spokesman said he will soon vote for a $500,000 donation.
“Mayor Demings and the County Commission (BCC) have expressed support for the Sunshine Corridor,” county spokesman Amanda Dukes said in an email. “In the near future we will bring agenda items to the BCC and decide on a portion of Orange County for local funding contributions.”
Volusia County officials did not respond to requests for information regarding the status of funding for the investigation.
When Sunrail trains first rolled down the truck over a decade ago, supporters said the ultimate goal was to connect the train lines. It runs 61 miles north and south through Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties, dealing with more than 60 million passengers a year.
