The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority has given the green light for an agreement with Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) to develop the first passenger rail service from the Orlando International Airport to Miami, the Authority said Wednesday.
Privately-owned FECI plans to add approximately 40 miles of new track that will link Orlando to the company’s 200 miles of rail infrastructure already in place. The passenger rail service will be called All Aboard Florida.
“We view the potential opportunity as positive news because it follows our master and strategic plans. The addition of rail, which has always been viewed as significant, will make Orlando International Airport truly an intermodal gateway,” says Phil Brown, Executive Director Orlando International Airport.
All Aboard Florida is estimated to cost about $1 billion and expected to create some 6,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs, FECI said.
Although trainsets are still be be determined, the company plans to operate trains at speeds of 100 mph to 11 mph.
It is unclear when actual construction will commence, although completion is slated for 2015.
Last year, Gov. Rick Scott sent back more than $2.4 billion in federal dollars earmarked for high speed rail between Tampa and Orlando.
