Mayor: Plans for high-speed rail west to Tampa need to move quicker

Brightline work at the Orlando International Airport.

Brightline

One official is saying if Florida wants a high-speed rail line from Orlando to Tampa it may need to take on the process a little faster.

Earlier this week, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings urged community leaders to get on board with the idea because time was of the essence, especially where federal money is involved. If officials want to take advantage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that was recently signed by President Biden, all the ducks need to be in a row.

The Sunshine Corridor Program would extend SunRail commuter train service to the Orlando International Airport and the Orange County Convention Center. Brightline high-speed rail service also would connect from the airport to Walt Disney World and on to Tampa under the program.

The planned route from the Orlando International Airport is still under debate. A northern corridor would run along S.R. 528 and connect to the convention center, Orlando’s International Drive, and theme parks in the area. A southern route, which is considered to be simpler and less expensive, but also less community friendly, would run along S.R. 417 from the airport to Disney World.

The Sunshine Corridor could use plans created by the Florida DOT, SunRail and the Central Florida Expressway Authority and combine them with Brightline’s plan to move west to Tampa. The Brightline route would take the southern corridor. Brightline and SunRail would upgrade existing railroad tracks that run from the airport to the SunRail station at Pine Castle. A new western line would be constructed from Pine Castle to the Orange County Convention Center, and from there a new southern line would be built to Walt Disney World and then on to Tampa.

Demings said the deadline to submit applications for infrastructure dollars is imminent.

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