ORLANDO, Fla. — A new SunRail expansion could make commutes to the airport a lot easier soon, especially from the International Drive area.

Brightline, SunRail and Universal are working together to make airport stops a reality, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced Thursday. The plan calls for the development and operation of a SunRail connection between the Orlando International Airport and the Orange County Convention Center.

What You Need To Know

  • Plans for a rail connection between Orlando International Drive and I-Drive were announced

  • Brightline, SunRail and Universal are some of the partners on the project

  • The proposal is expected to cost about $1 billion to implement

  • A timeline for the project has not been revealed yet

Although no official timeline is in place for the project yet, the expansion would cost about $1 billion.

“We think within the year we might have some planning and development money,” Dyer said.

The goal is to have Brightline, the high-speed rail on track to run between Orlando and Miami, to stop every hour and for SunRail, the Central Florida rail line, to stop at the airport every 15 minutes, Dyer said.

“Every person that you put on a SunRail train is one less person that is driving on I-4 or some of the other roads,” Dyer said.

Alicia Walker, who has been living in Orlando for about a year, likes the idea.

“I think most Central Floridians that have traveled to MCO are familiar with the parking situation we have here,” said Walker, who was waiting to check in for her flight at the airport.

“I think having that extra option will create a better traffic flow,” explained Walker, a frequent traveler.

On most of her trips, Walker prefers driving to and parking her car at the airport. It’s been the most convenient option so far that allows her to head home immediately after a flight. If a train were available, she says she would take advantage of it.

“If you’re a person that’s having someone drop you off, it’s really no different other than you’re saving that person driving you from coming into congestion.”

Walker said she hopes the plans come to fruition soon.

Universal said it would support up to $125 million in private activity bonds for the dedicated project and pledged 13 acres of land at no cost to be used for a convention center station with intermodal capability and a section of the rail corridor.

 Universal and other partners will contribute to and collectively guarantee $13 million in annual ticket sales, according to the plan.

Project planning remains underway so some of the details could change.

 

Sunrail Presentation 050522 by Deanna Gugel on Scribd