We look forward to continuing these conversations and working with all our local partners to advance this shared vision to increase transportation options throughout our region.” “We are in the very early planning stages, including evaluating ridership and station locations. “Connecting our residents to jobs and expanding our region’s transit options is the driving vision for the Sunshine Corridor - an expansion of SunRail to the airport and to our region’s largest industry in hospitality,” Dyer said. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer agreed, saying he looks forward to working with “local partners.” I look forward to continuing the conversation about such public/private partnerships.” Significant private sector investments are required to make the plans viable, and Brightline is that catalyst. This is important to both our workers and visitors in improving our transit system. As our population grows, so will the need to move people around efficiently. “It signifies that many investors are interested in doing business in metropolitan Orlando. “Expansion of our theme parks, along with businesses located in our tourist corridor is exciting news for our region,” he said. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings called the move “exciting news.” Currently, the line runs from Miami to West Palm Beach. The $2.4 billion project will extend the company’s current rail line from West Palm Beach to Orlando. In addition to the airport, one new station will be located at the Orange County Convention Center, and an alternative station will be placed near the original Disney Springs site, albeit not on land owned by Disney.” Along with a broad range of stakeholders, we have identified a solution now known as the Sunshine Corridor, which contemplates two new stations and integrates Brightline’s intercity service with SunRail through an east-west expansion. “The original plan called for a single station at Disney Springs. “Late last year, we were asked by several community leaders to explore alternative alignments for our planned expansion from OIA to Tampa,” Mitzner said. SR 417 and SR 528 Intercity Rail Alignments (Dewberry) Taken together, the three integrated stations provide access to the largest economic and employment centers in Central Florida and offer the best opportunity for the success of Brightline and SunRail,” Ben Porritt, Brightline SVP of corporate affairs, said in a statement.īrightline Director of Public Affairs Katie Mitzner said the stops will “provide access to the larges economic and employment centers in central Florida and offer the best opportunity for the success of Brightline and SunRail.” “In addition to the airport, one new station will be located at the Orange County Convention Center, and an alternative station will be placed near the original Disney Springs site, albeit not on land owned by Disney.

The initial proposed route, which cost $1 billion less, according to Brightline, ran down State Road 417, avoiding the Orlando tourist district but stopping at Disney Springs and continuing along Interstate 4 toward Tampa.īut after strong support from Central Florida leaders and Universal Orlando, which has offered to donate more than a dozen acres for a train station, Brightline said a solution is to run right through International Drive along SR-528, stopping at the Orange County Convention Center and again near Disney Springs, but not on Disney property. The company, which initially planned to include a single station at Disney Springs to coincide with the expansion, is now considering the “Sunshine Corridor which contemplates two new stations and integrates Brightline’s intercity service with SunRail, through an east-west expansion.” – Brightline will no longer have a station at Disney Springs as part of its 320-mile higher-speed passenger train service stretching from Miami to Orlando to Tampa Bay, railway officials said in a statement on Tuesday.

Brightline trains