TALLAHASSEE - On Wednesday, February 4th, Florida Governor Charlie Crist, along with a host of lawmakers from around the state including State Senator Lee Constantine (R-Altamonte Springs), State Senator Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando), State Representative Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park), Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, gathered to officially release the findings of an economic impact analysis of SunRail, the Central Florida Commuter Rail project. The Governor also urged legislators to support the project.

The economic impact study, commissioned by the Florida Department of Transportation, includes projections for SunRail’s construction and operation as well as numbers for transit-oriented development around the rail line’s station stops

“Our future economic success depends on a strong infrastructure that accommodates growth and the needs of our businesses while protecting our environment,” said Governor Crist. “SunRail is just the kind of transportation project that Florida needs to create thousands of jobs and generate millions in additional revenue for Central Florida and all of Florida.”

“We’re talking tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars over the next couple decades,” remarked Mayor Dyer, Chairman of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission. “The best part is, this project is ‘shovel ready.’ SunRail will begin to create jobs and infuse much needed money into our economy in only a matter of weeks after approval by the state legislature. This analysis clearly re-emphasizes what we have said all along - that while SunRail is critical to Central Florida’s future it’s also just as important to the future of our state as a whole.”

Highlights of the SunRail economic impact study:

1. SunRail’s construction and operations
   • An infusion of more than a billion dollars into Florida’s economy for construction and operation of SunRail over the next 30 years
      
   • The creation of more than 13-thousand construction and operations jobs, the bulk of which occur almost immediately, totaling more than 350 million dollars in household earnings.
      
2. SunRail’s potential transit-oriented development
   • The creation of more than 113-thousand construction jobs within ½ mile of station stops
      
   • 4.6 billion dollars in earnings for the construction sector in the next 20 years
      
   • Property values within ½ mile of station stops will increase almost 9 times their value
      
   • Secondary economic impacts (the economic benefit created when workers spend their earnings in the area) are forecast at more than 2.5 billion dollars.

You can see the full study online at: http://www.sunrail.com/economicdevelopment.asp

*Note: the full study has breakdowns for Central Florida counties as well as the region as a whole

About SunRail:

SunRail, the Central Florida Commuter Rail project, is an ambitious partnership between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and local governments in Central Florida to provide commuter rail service in the greater Orlando area. When completed, it will consist of 61 miles along existing CSXT freight tracks, connecting four Central Florida counties.

SunRail represents an unprecedented regional partnership between the City of Orlando and Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Volusia counties. The project has the full support of both of Florida’s U.S. Senators, the Central Florida Congressional delegation as well as the highest level of the Federal Transit Authority.

Additionally, a host of civic groups from Tampa to Jacksonville as well as some of the largest employers in Florida stand in support of the project.

SunRail is one of only five projects to be approved for “Final Design” by the FTA. This elite designation by the federal government means that all the environmental requirements have been met and the project is ready for inclusion in the President’s budget.

Funding remains authorized at the local, state and federal levels. The only “piece of the puzzle” reaming is liability language which must be approved by the Florida legislature.