Florida’s Sunshine Corridor Builds Upon State’s High-Speed Rail Plan

An Extensive History

This project is a culmination of various extensive plans by the state of Florida from the past 50 years which Brightline and SunRail took advantage of. From initial study commissions of high-speed rail throughout the 1970s and 80s, awarded concessions in the 90s, pledged funding in the 2010s, and ultimate cancellation in 2011, passenger rail in Florida has had a rocky timeline. But with Brightline firmly establishing their intercity regional rail service from Miami to Orlando 2023 interest in rail transportation has been revived.

Collaborative Administration

This project, compared to others like it in the U.S, can serve as an example of successful partnerships between public and private entities and demographics. Originally meant to cater to intercity travelers via Brightline, the pushback from Universal, alongside FDOT’s recognized need to address mobility issues in Orlando, culminated in the partnership and plan we see today. Brightline, FDOT, Universal, and potentially Disney, and of course local residents and officials came together to contribute ideas, resources, and funding:

• Universal Studios – Created a 719-acre tax district to help pay for the proposed station at South International Drive + contributed $172M for construction + pledges $13M in ticket sales for funding
• Public Engagement – Open houses and surveys allowed the public to provide suggestions and opinions about the project. 98% of the participants approved of the rail corridor.
• Disney – Plans are still on the table for a Disney Springs station on the route, connecting to Orlando International Airport and thus Brightline’s existing corridor to Miami
• Brightline – Secured $15.9M in funds from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program to help pay for initial environmental review and engineering.

These various entities coming together signals a bright future for Orlando, enticing tourists and locals alike to travel car-free.

Next Steps

Two years on from its announcement, the Sunshine Corridor has made significant progress, with plans moving from the page to reality. 2023 was a collection of milestones:

• Oct 2023 – Universal pledges $174M in bonds as part of its special 719-acre tax district to help fund the South International Drive station
• Dec 2023 – Central Florida Representative Maxwell Frost announces a $500k grant for the Sunshine Corridor. Funds would help FDOT develop plans and cost estimates for the corridor. He hopes that with this project in the advanced planning stages, it will generate incentive to be funded by the Federal Government
• 2024 – TCAR (Transit Concepts and Alternative Review) process evaluated commuter rail against other transport options, commuter rail is chosen for the project.

Funding sources are not solidified yet, but FDOT hopes for strong public-private partnerships. These relationships within Florida are well-underway as seen with the above developments. Now, FDOT hopes that moving on from preliminary planning will attract potential funding from the federal government and its respective organizations:

Department of Transportation’s RAISE and MEGA initiatives: Financial packages are dedicated to infrastructure and mobility investments too large to fund by a single state. The programs have seen massive success in funding public transport projects, such as Brightline West, California High-Speed Rail, and Raleigh to Richmond’s rail corridor

Federal Transit Administration’s New and Small Starts: Plans will be sent to the FTA to be evaluated and rated for their merit

Federal Railroad Administration’s CRISI: Provides funding for intercity passenger and freight rail’s safety, efficiency, and reliability

Federal Highway Administration Section 130: Program that provides funds to eliminate safety hazards at railway highway crossings

Lessons to Take Away

The Sunshine Corridor’s unique collaboration should serve as a blueprint for successful transportation initiatives. Rather than restricting service to one group, effort should be made to accommodate all. Shifting from Brightline-only to the shared corridor we see today was a bold yet beneficial move, as now the passenger rail benefits locals and tourists alike. And this move opened opportunities for support: Universal was able to contribute with their tax district, Brightline with initial funding, and local politicians with support in words and finance. All of these entities came together supporting their vision to elevate mobility in a shared region.