Groundbreaking for SunRail commuter rail

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) -  

After years of planning and wrangling, officials from four counties gathered on Friday in Altamonte Springs to drive in ceremonial spikes for the 61 mile commuter train. SunRail comes with the promise of jobs, but just how many remains a point of contention. During the approval process, Congresswoman Corrine Brown said the project would bring 250,000 jobs all told. She has since revised the number downward.

"For every billion dollars we spend, it generates 44,000 permanent jobs. This project alone will generate over 15,000 jobs.”

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says there is much to do before trains can run on the CSX tracks. Service is set to begin in May of 2014.

“Securing the corridor, and then double tracking the entire 61 miles. It’s going to be done in 2 phases. First 31 miles, then another 30 miles. Construction of the platforms at each of the stations."

One of the big questions remaining about SunRail is what will people do once the exit the station. For example, there is very little that is within walking distance of the SunRail stop in Altamonte Springs, just a Pep Boys, furniture outlet, gas station and Altamonte City Hall. Mayor Dyer does not anticipate the same problem in Orlando.

“It is imperative that we have connectivity from the SunRail stations to locations around the various areas. Now, we just took steps in Orlando to expand the free Lymmo service east and west from Thornton Park to Parramore.”

There will also be a new free service running north to south to connect Florida Hospital and Orlando Regional Medical Center to downtown. Other communities will need expanded bus service from Lynx. Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad said the state will try and be a partner when possible, but don't come looking to them for the bus fares.

“At the end of the day, locals have to step up for it. A lot of times in these kinds of things everybody wants a lot of things, but they don’t know how to pay for it.”

Local officials like Carlton Henley of Seminole County are already calling for a regional transportation tax that would be a dedicated funding source for mass transit in the region. Secretary Prasad is very concerned about SunRail's ability to attract riders. Estimates done by train supporters show about 3,500 people will ride the train each day.

“We need more than that. We need more than that. I can’t tell you the exact number, but people need to be riding on it... we’re going to hold the local governments and the private sector accountable to the commitments they made to the Governor, because that’s what’s needed to make sure SunRail is successful.”

Ridership numbers are expected to improve once construction on Interstate 4 begins. FDOT plans to start in 2014, the same year the train service will begin. Mayor Dyer says a communications push will also try and get people to ride SunRail.