Osceola County invests $500,000 in SunRail extension study

Osceola County commissioners have agreed to allocate $500,000 for a study on extending SunRail from Orlando International Airport to local theme parks. The decision was made unanimously during their meeting on Monday evening. The study, which costs a total of $6 million, will focus on the feasibility of the Sunshine Corridor, an important east-west rail extension that could connect to Universal Studios, the Orange County Convention Center, and Disney Springs. This project could help improve SunRail’s ridership, which has struggled since the pandemic. Initially, some commissioners expressed doubts about the funding. They worried that the project's impact on local traffic might not justify the costs. Commissioner Ricky Booth had earlier asked for clarity on how much the extension would help relieve traffic in Osceola County. Another commissioner, Peggy Choudhry, raised questions about future funding after the study. The funding from Osceola County comes with a condition that there will be no commitments beyond the completion of the study. This study will assess potential ridership, maintenance costs, environmental effects, and station locations. It is expected to take about two years to finish. Other local governments are also contributing to the study. Seminole County has agreed to provide $500,000, and Orlando pledged the same amount. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will contribute $2 million, with Universal Orlando matching that by the end of February. Orange County is set to vote on their contribution soon. The goal of this project is to connect SunRail, which currently operates over 61 miles in Central Florida, eastward to one of the busiest airports in the country.