Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer told more than 120 political, business and community leaders that construction on SunRail, Central Florida’s first-ever commuter rail system will begin this fall and that Orlando is becoming known as “Transportation Central.” Dyer was explaining the current construction and operations’ plans for SunRail and how companies might get involved, at the Orlando Business Journal’s (OBJ) SunRail Power Breakfast on Friday morning.
Dyer said, since the signing of the full funding grant agreement in mid-July, work had begun on a number of other activities. These included notices to proceed with the completion of the design of track and signal work; commencement of the design and manufacture of seven SunRail locomotives; design and construction of 5 coaches and cab cars and authorization granted to HNTP to begin construction oversight of services.
Requests for proposals for ticketing vending machines and a public involvement/marketing strategy were expected to be put out in mid-September. Expected advertisements for station finishes contracts and operations and maintenance were likely to take place in the fall of 2011 and early 2012, Dyer said.
SunRail, the 61 mile commuter rail system is anticipated to create more than 12,000 jobs for construction, operation and maintenance and will likely generate about $1 billion in commercial sales. But, Dyer said, perhaps more importantly are the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) jobs that will be created by the private sector around the respective stations.
For example, potential TOD jobs around the Florida Hospital Station stop is estimated to be more than 30,000 leading to an economic impact of $843 million. Already in the works are plans by Florida Hospital to invest $810 million in a new Health Village and new corporate headquarters, among other projects.
SunRail will be undertaken in two phases, with phase one from Debary in Volusia County to Sand Lake Road–31 miles and 12 stations, becoming operational in 2013, Dyer said. The second phase of the project will commence in 2013, from Sand Lake Road to Poinciana in Osceola County and from DeBary to Deland in Volusia County, another 30 miles of rail line, with 5 stations along the way.
Dyer also briefly discussed the Creative Village, which aims to redevelop the existing Amway Arena site, turning it into a place where high-tech companies locate and employees of those businesses and other residents live, work, learn and play. Dyer said that, the city was getting ready to take down the old arena in preparation for the Creative Village.
“Cities that will be successful are those that will attract talented people,” he said.
One of the station stops for Sunrail is the LYNX Central Station, downtown Orlando, walking distance of the proposed Creative Village.
Orlando is home to one of the nation’s largest digital media and simulation clusters with more than 1,200 companies, 30,000 employees and collective annual revenues estimated at around $9 billion.
