April 24, 2024
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transportation
Freight State
Florida's largest landowners are planning to capitalize by changing the way freight moves around the state.
Cynthia Barnett | 3/1/2010
Commuter Rail Projects
Projects either under way or envisioned for Florida
- High-speed rail, Tampa to Orlando: President Obama announced $1.25 billion in economic stimulus funding for the project in January. The Department of Transportation plans to start work on the 84-mile segment between Tampa and Orlando in mid-2011. Completion is expected in 2014. Officials expect 16 round-trips per day at speeds up to 168 mph. It should take less than an hour to travel between the two cities.
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High-speed rail, Orlando to Miami: The second phase of Florida’s high-speed rail plan isn’t funded, but state and federal officials envision a 230-mile line with trains operating up to 186 mph, making travel between Miami and
Orlando about two hours. - Tri-Rail: Currently the state’s only commuter rail line, Tri-Rail has grown into a heavily subsidized system with about 13,000 daily riders. It extends 71 miles from Miami to Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach, with 18 stations, including links to the three international airports. The Legislature in its December special session on rail agreed to keep Tri-Rail operating with an annual subsidy of about $15 million.
- SunRail: Florida lawmakers in December signed off on this four-county project that will turn 61 miles of CSX freight rail tracks into a commuter rail system running from Poinciana south of Kissimmee north to DeLand. The state will spend $432 million to the buy the track from CSX; the federal government and four counties will pay another $462 million for additional improvements. Service is expected to begin in 2012, just as the Department of Transportation starts a major I-4 reconstruction project through the area.
- Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority: The Legislature created TBARTA in 2007 to implement a master plan for Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. The authority has developed a master plan that includes a 135-mile short-distance rail system; a 115-mile commuter rail system and various forms of bus transit, including express and exclusive-lane. Hillsborough County residents are expected to vote this November on a 1-cent tax — which TBARTA would support — to fund transportation improvements including light rail. or envisioned for Florida.
