Central Florida commuter rail passes another milestone

GRAPHIC COURTESY FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Depot design — DeBary will be the northern terminus of SunRail, possibly as soon as 2012 or 2013. The service, using 61 miles of CSX rail, is destined to be expanded to DeLand and Poinciana in 2014. The proposed SunRail depot in DeBary may be built along Fort Florida Road. Supporters of SunRail say it will offer an alternative to a traffic-clogged Interstate 4.

GRAPHIC COURTESY FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Depot design — DeBary will be the northern terminus of SunRail, possibly as soon as 2012 or 2013. The service, using 61 miles of CSX rail, is destined to be expanded to DeLand and Poinciana in 2014. The proposed SunRail depot in DeBary may be built along Fort Florida Road. Supporters of SunRail say it will offer an alternative to a traffic-clogged Interstate 4.

By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Dec 11, 2009 - 12:15:27pm

Barring some other unforeseen development, commuter rail between Volusia County and Orlando is on track for development over the next two to three years.

"We need to proceed in working with FDOT [Florida Department of Transportation] and the federal government," Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno said. "Nothing can occur unless we get the money from the federal government."

After twice defeating a deal between the state and CSX Railway, on Dec. 8 the Florida Senate approved a rail plan that clears the way for the $1.2 billion mass transit system between DeLand and Poinciana. The latest vote was not even close, as 27 senators voted for the rail bill and 10 opposed it.

SunRail is a partnership among the Federal Transit Administration, the FDOT, and five local governments. The five local partners are Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties and the City of Orlando.

The federal share of the project is for capital expenses, and it will be at least $300 million and perhaps more. U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, who has worked to create the system, said earlier this year he will also work to secure another $250 million in stimulus funds for commuter rail.

The bill provides funding for the project and for Tri-Rail in South Florida, as well as setting the stage for a high-speed rail linking Orlando and Tampa. Local leaders had lobbied for the Legislature to close the deal to secure federal stimulus funds.

"The next step is to have DOT [Florida Department of Transportation] apply for, and we expect we'll get, the full funding agreement," said Karl Welzenbach, executive director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Volusia County.

The first phase of commuter-rail service, linking DeBary and Downtown Orlando, may begin "probably late 2012 or 2013," Welzenbach said. The second phase, which adds service to DeLand and Poinciana, may be added in 2014.

Welzenbach said the Florida Senate's rejection of liability and funding arrangements last year and again in May had not stopped transportation officials from continuing to plan.

"All this time, we've been making progress," he told The Beacon. "The right of way has already been purchased, and the operating agreement is already in place. Station designs have been approved."

The bill passed by the Florida Legislature now goes to Gov. Charlie Crist for his signature. Crist, who had pressed state lawmakers to pass the measure, has said he will sign the bill in a few days.

Volusia County has already spent $1.8 million planning for commuter rail. The county's 2009-10 budget has no funds earmarked for the project, but Bruno said some funding for the county's infrastructure costs — including the development of rail stations — may be taken from the Department of Economic Development.

"No money is going to be spent until the federal government comes up with their share, and also the state," Bruno said. "Everything is on hold until all the pieces come together."

When Volusia County and the other localities ratified the commuter-rail operating and governance agreements in 2007, Volusia committed to pay as much as $150 million over 30 years for its share of capital costs. That equates to an annual local cost of approximately $4.8 million. The bonded debt would come from the county's general fund.

Bruno said the County Council will discuss possible changes in the agreements — in light of possible changes in federal funding — at its Dec. 17 meeting.

— al@beacononlinenews.com

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