MAITLAND, Fla. — Orange County leaders say despite funding concerns over Maitland’s SunRail station, they’re hopeful the rail stop will remain open.

Counties and cities along the SunRail line will have to begin paying costs of operating SunRail stops in 2025.

Maitland city leaders decided to opt out of an agreement with Orange County to pay for their station’s operating costs. But Orange County Public Works officials say they are renegotiating with the city, and say there are also other options to keep the station open.

“If the agreement is terminated there’s a lot of things that could happen — other funding sources could become available, this commission could decide to do something different,” said Brett Blackadar, deputy director of the Orange County Public Works Department. “So the termination is a potential option, but there’s a lot of things that would have to happen, and hopefully we can avoid that through our negotiations and find a way to keep the station open.”

Ridership data shows the Maitland SunRail station is continuously one of the least-used stops.  But Randa Black says she’s built her life around using the station, which she lives three blocks from.

“I do not have a car — for two years — because of SunRail,” she said. “I have a little scooter, I come to and from — it takes me everywhere I want to go.”