Central Florida Commuter Rail

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Central Florida Commuter Rail is a proposed commuter rail system in the Central Florida (Orlando) area. The rail line is expected to be fully completed and running sometime in 2013 (with the first phase operting as early as 2010). It would run for 61 miles along the CSX Transportation "A" Line (former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad main line) from Poinciana Boulevard near Kissimmee through downtown Orlando to DeLand. This line is presently used by two daily Amtrak round trips. The system will be finaced by counties, the state, and the federal government.

Volusia County, Seminole County, Orange County, the City of Orlando and Osceola County are the partners in the project. The local partners will combine to foot 25% of the bill, which the State of Florida will match. The remaining 50% will come from a Federal grant provided for by the 2005 SAFETEA-LU act. The total cost of the system is $615 million.

On November 29, 2007, the State of Florida paid $491 million to CSX and purchased the "A" Line from DeLand to Poinciana outright. The money was above and beyond the $615 million quoted for the system, which is being used to construct train stations and purchase rail cars. CSX will use its money to reroute freight traffic off of the "A" Line.^[1]