The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) at its board meeting yesterday, unanimously approved a plan for the future location of the airport’s high-speed rail station.
The station, to be located at a soon-to-be built south terminal at the airport, is being designed to handle four rail systems, including high-speed rail, SunRail and the proposed elevated rail system connecting the two systems. A true inter-modal station is envisioned.
No indications have yet been given regarding cost of the three-story station at OIA nor where the funds would come from.
Florida received some $1.25 billion in federal funds to go toward high-speed rail, estimated to cost $2.5 billion for the Tampa-Orlando leg. Meanwhile, the funding for SunRail is already in place and it is estimated that work could begin later in 2010 or early next year.
Concerning the light rail connector, there are reports that the price tag would run to about $233 million and that it would be privately funded.
The State of Florida would now need to approved the new station plans for OIA.
