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March 3, 2007
Daytona Beach News-Journal Article

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	What's next A commuter train could be barrelling down the track between DeBary and Orlando by December 2009, but there's still work to be done. · Later this month, the Volusia County Council is expected to vote on an agreement with other partners to set up an agency to run the commuter rail system and pay shares of capital start-up costs and annual operating and maintenance expenses. The county could pay between $2 million and $3 million a year for the next 30 years. · After the DeBary-to-Orlando rail opens in 2009, plans call for an extension to Poinciana by 2013. There is no date for a northern extension to DeLand, which is a key element for the County Council.

Federal government gives approval to project

By BOB KOSLOW
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Staff Writer

WINTER PARK -- Central Florida's commuter rail dream is finally moving to the drawing board.

The Federal Transit Administration approved the start of preliminary engineering efforts to build a commuter rail system between Volusia County through Orlando to Poinciana, U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, announced Friday.

"This basically means the federal government has approved its full participation in the project," Mica said at the Winter Park Amtrak station. "This is one of the monumental announcements of federal participation, if you look at the history of transportation projects, whether it's I-4 or U.S. 17."

Local governments, including Volusia, could still derail at least portions of the project if they fail to approve their part of the costs, but most officials were upbeat after Friday's news.

Building the 61-mile-long system will cost about $600 million for trains, double tracking sections of the CSX corridor, stations and other improvements. The federal government has pledged to pay half.

Friday's announcement of the beginning of preliminary engineering is the initial payment, said Stephanie Kopelousos, acting director of the Florida Department of Transportation.

"This really shows the federal belief that this is a viable project. It wouldn't get this far if they didn't think so," she said. "We are making it to the next step and really delivering commuter rail to Central Florida. It's time that we are bringing transit to this area and really change the way we look at things."

Florida has pledged to pay 25 percent of the system's capital costs while Orlando and the four counties -- Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola -- must pay the remaining 25 percent. The Volusia County Council last week approved a State Infrastructure Bank loan to cover its $14 million share.

Volusia County will finalize the loan this summer, if it approves an interlocal agreement later this month to pay between $2 and $3 million a year for 30 years in operating and maintenance costs and other start-up expenditures.

"I am excited that the federal commitment is real and happening," Volusia County Councilman Andy Kelly said Friday. "I think we can afford what we have to pay. I don't see this as something for today, but as an investment to the future. We can't afford to have each one of us driving around in a car. We need to get cars off the road and reduce pollution."

Significant project support from most of the County Council rides in getting the system to include the DeLand Amtrak station. Right now, the plan calls for the system to run from DeBary to Orlando by December 2009 and then be extended to Poinciana by 2013. There is no date for a northern extension to DeLand.

County officials have been negotiating to get a 2013 date for a DeLand extension in the interlocal agreement.

"Usually when they get to this step, there is very rarely a reneging. Our commitment is there. The rest is up to the communities. They could bail if they wanted to. That's not my decision," Mica said.

bob.koslow@news-jrnl.com