ORLANDO — Central Florida would receive $8 million to buy commuter-rail cars under legislation pushed by Rep. John Mica, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Since the region has not decided whether commuter rail is the answer to congestion woes, the money could end up being lost. This happened with an earlier project for light rail that died despite a promise of $345 million in federal aid.
Local officials, though, said they were glad to hear of the funding while they weigh how to alleviate the congestion that chokes Interstate 4.
“I think it’s good he’s got the money,” said Orange County Chairman Rich Crotty. “I think this will somewhat test the mood of the community.”
Mica, a member of the House Transportation Committee, said $8 million would buy four or five Diesel Multiple Unit passenger cars, which are lighter than traditional rail cars and don’t require a separate locomotive. The cars would run from Volusia County to Orlando during rush hour to get people to work and back. The cars are a new technology that has not yet been approved in the United States.
Harold Barley of Metroplan Orlando, which oversees transportation projects in the region, said local leaders are weighing commuter rail against other options, such as light rail. Fixing up the CSX freight tracks to handle commuter rail would be expensive, he said.
“It will be a major investment but an important alternative to I-4, which is only getting busier every day, ” he said.
If Central Florida opts not to start a commuter rail, the train cars will go to another city, Mica said. Once the budget is signed into law, the cars could arrive from the assembly line in two years.
The money was added to the annual transportation budget bill. The House Appropriations Committee began working on the bill Thursday and will take a final vote Tuesday. Mica said he expects the Senate to follow suit with his proposed project.
The bill also includes $3 million for Lynx bus amenities, which Cheryl Harrison-Lee of Lynx said would be used for projects such as bus shelters.
Another $2.1 million was set aside for a bus and train station in DeLand.
A proposed high-speed rail system between Orlando and Tampa also would receive $2 million.