(The following story by Dave Hodges appeared on the Tallahassee Democrat website on July 26, 2009.)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A commuter rail line winding 61 miles through Central Florida, SunRail is the state’s proposal for providing its own passenger service.
Advertisement
This past session of the Florida Legislature brought the plan to a halt, as the Senate defeated the bill allowing the state to purchase the CSX tracks needed for the project. Aside from the cost involved, accommodating the passenger service involves relocating CSX’s freight trains to a corridor that runs through Ocala, Lakeland and other communities, where some residents object to the added rail traffic.
As a condition of the track purchase, CSX has also asked that the state assume all liability for rail accidents that may occur on the SunRail line, but lawmakers weren’t willing to grant that.
“We certainly haven’t abandoned the SunRail project,” said Fred Wise, manager of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Rail Office. “We are working with local government and looking at the options in terms of how we might proceed.”
“It was a significant setback, but we haven’t given up,” he said.
SunRail’s main artery would begin in DeLand and continue through Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, Winter Park, Orlando and through Kissimmee to Poinciana.
The train would provide at least five trips during morning and afternoon rush hours. It would operate on a 30-minute frequency during those peak hours and a two-hour frequency during non-peak hours.
SunRail supporters also note that federal-stimulus dollars could be available for the purchase of the CSX line. Opponents, however, say they are determined to stand their ground.