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Project Updates |
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CEI Scope of Services posted
Documents involving procurement of a CEI to oversee construction of SunRail have been posted on the Industry Review panel at right. For more information, please visit http://www2.dot.state.fl.us/construction/D5/
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Vehicle contracts posted
Documents involving procurement of locomotives, coaches and cab cars for the Central Florida Commuter Rail system have been posted on the Industry Review panel at right.
*** Central Florida Commuter Rail approved for Final Design
Lake Buena Vista, FL (Aug. 11, 2008) - The Central Florida Commuter Rail project made an important leap forward today when federal officials announced the project is approved to enter the Final Design phase. "This is a major milestone for Central Florida Commuter Rail, with federal green light approval to proceed to Final Design," said U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (FL-07), the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican Leader in the U.S. House of Representatives at a press conference today with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Stephanie C. Kopelousos. "This announcement brings Central Florida within grasp of a cost-effective alternative to crippling gasoline costs and growing highway congestion along I-4. The Commuter Rail project now joins an elite group of only five other major New Starts transit projects in Final Design around the country." Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approval to enter Final Design marks federal recognition that all environmental work has been completed and approved, and the project sponsor can begin expenditure of federal funds for right of way acquisition, equipment and other project requirements. "Now that we are in the Final Design phase, FDOT can enter into a contract with a design-build firm and move forward to 100 percent design, including design for the 12 stations between Fort Florida Road in DeBary and Sand Lake Road in Orlando," Mica said. "In addition, Final Design means that Commuter Rail will get its own dedicated funding request in the next president's budget, instead of simply being eligible to compete for a portion of an unspecified sum of money." Once the Florida Legislature approves a liability agreement to allow rail operations along the 61-mile route, FDOT will be able to immediately negotiate a Full Funding Grant Agreement with FTA - the final step in the federal process. "Once we have a Full Funding Grant Agreement in place, actual construction can begin and Central Florida will have a more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly transportation alternative that will take thousands of cars off our roads every day," Mica added. The project is scheduled to open for revenue service in 2011. *** Supplemental Environmental Assessment approved The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on July 22, 2008 approved an Addendum to the agency's April 27, 2007 Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) as it relates to several changes in the Central Florida Commuter Rail project that were not included in the project's original Environmental Assessment. Those changes include the addition of a new station in Maitland, changes in parking lot configurations at the Longwood station, and a change in location for the Fort Florida Road/DeBary station. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) also performed a noise, vibration and grade-crossing assessment related to CSX Transportation's decision to re-reoute some freight trains to the alternate S-Line. The Addendum to the FONSI and Supplemental Environmental Assessment documents are posted to the right. The federal approval allows FDOT to purchase right-of-way needed for parking lots at the Longwood and Fort Florida Road/DeBary stations, and to advance the planning and design of the Maitland, Longwood and Fort Florida Road/DeBary stations. Public Hearing and Workshop Comment Forms The formal comment periodon the Central Florida Commuter Rail Supplemental Environmental Assessment and S-Line analyses was closed at 5 p.m. June 23, 2008. *** PUBLIC HEARINGS and WORKSHOP Public hearings on several changes to the Central Florida Commuter Rail project are scheduled for June 12 at 6 p.m. at Sanford City Hall, 300 North Park Avenue., Sanford and at the Homewood Suites, 290 South Hall Lane in Maitland. The hearings will focus on relocating the DeBary/Saxon Boulevard station to DeBary/Ft. Florida Road; changing parking lot configurations at the Longwood station; adding a Maitland station stop; and reviewing noise, vibration and grade-crossing delays associated with CSX Transportation's decision to relocate some freight traffic from the Orlando area to the alternate S-Line that runs from Jacksonville, through Ocala toWinter Haven. Identical information will be presented at both hearings, and the public is encouraged to attend. An additional workshop to discuss the S-Line assessment is scheduled for June 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Central Florida Community College -- Ocala Campus,Ocala. Documents relating to the public hearings and workshop are posted under "Supplemental EA and Supporting Documentation" located on the rightside of this page.Any persons requiring additional information or special assistance should contact Marianne Gurnee at 407-492-0836 or marianne.gurnee@dot.state.fl.us *** A message from Florida Department of Transportation District 5 Secretary Noranne Downs May 12, 2008 Albert Einstein once said that "in the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." With regard to the Central Florida Commuter Rail project, truer words perhaps were never spoken. As this year's legislative session drew to a close, there was much debate about whether lawmakers should approve liability insurance required to operate commuter rail on an existing, active freight line. When the final gavel fell, our legislators were unable to reach agreement. Difficult? Absolutely. But in concert with our local and federal funding partners, the Florida Department of Transportation remains committed to working through these challenges to bring this critical transportation project home. Why? Because opportunity abounds. Certainly, the project will provide Central Floridians with an important alternative to Interstate 4, as we prepare to reconstruct that major transportation artery. It will provide new jobs, help communities plan better for future growth and leverage more than $300 million in federal funds that we've paid for years in federal gas taxes to build transit systems elsewhere in the nation. Commuter rail will offer new economic development opportunities for businesses in our region and stimulate the economy. Perhaps most importantly, it will serve as a mass transit spine upon which we can build in the future, ultimately providing rail connections throughout the state. If we turn our backs on this rare opportunity, it will be years - if not decades - before the state again will be able to leverage federal funds for any mass transit project in Florida. And given Florida's projected growth in the next few decades, that is an unacceptable option - not just for Central Florida, but for the entire state. Fortunately, we have strong, committed partners in this process - from local government officials who unanimously agreed to pay for one-quarter of the project's $615 million cost, to CSX Transportation, which has agreed to continue negotiations in pursuit of Commuter Rail, to stalwart federal champions such as U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown and John Mica, who hold key positions on the House Infrastructure and Transportation Committee. We are just as committed to working with state lawmakers to address some of the concerns raised in the just-completed legislative session. To buy 61.5-miles of track in Central Florida and introduce passenger rail service on an active freight line, the Legislature must approve the purchase of liability insurance to protect both passengers and our investment in the project. These agreements are nothing new. Approved by state lawmakers years ago, Tri-Rail in South Florida carries similar protections. So, too, does Amtrak. Indeed, similar agreements are in place for nearly every passenger rail system in the nation that operates alongside freight trains. And here's why: But for the introduction of passenger rail into an active freight corridor, freight haulers wouldn't have any liability at all. So it makes sense. When the Florida Department of Transportation began the quest for Commuter Rail in Central Florida six years ago, we knew it would be difficult. Projects of this magnitude and complexity always are. But Commuter Rail is good for South Florida. It will be great for Central Florida. And it will provide tremendous new transportation opportunities for all of Florida. *** On Nov. 30, 2007, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and CSX Transportation (CSXT) signedagreements to bring Commuter Rail to Central Florida, providing both convenience and new opportunities for Floridians who live and work along the 61.5-mile corridor, from DeLand in Volusia County to Poinciana in Osceola County. The agreements will help meet the growing needs of the state, reduce highway congestion, increase protection for the environment and enhance transportation capacity for consumer goods and other products. The three agreements provide for state purchase of 61.5 miles of track in Central Florida; detail operating and management agreements; and resolve transitional issues during construction of the Central Florida Commuter Rail project. The Department also signed "Letters of Understanding" with bus providers Lynx and Votran to augment the Commuter Rail project. The agreements are posted on the right side of this page. Additional Project Milestones The Florida Department of Transportation isworking in the Fall of 2007 to complete preliminary engineering requirements for the project, which is needed to secure an agreement with the Federal Transit Administration to fund 50 percent of the project's capital construction costs. That work includes meeting with individual communities to finalize the location of commuter rail platforms for each station along the 61.5-mile route, as well as designing preliminary station prototypes. The station prototypes will include ticketing kiosks, lighting, security features, weather canopies and similar necessities. Local governments will have an opportunity to provide station enhancements , if so desired, at local expense.
FDOT also ispreparing documents to design, build, operate and maintain the system. As those documents are finalized within the next few months, job opportunities will be posted. Additionally, FDOT is starting to negotiate right-of-way purchases required to build parking areas around some of the station stops. Please check back frequently at the http://www.cfrail.com/ website for additional project updates. *** The Florida Department of Transportation's local partners in Orange, Volusia, Seminole and Osceola counties, and the city of Orlando, have unanimously approved local funding and operating agreements for the proposed Central Florida Commuter Rail project. The extraordinary display of local leadership and regional cooperation, finalized July 31, 2007, allows FDOT to move forward with design, engineering and right-of-way acquisition for the project, and sets the stage for final federal approval of a full funding grant agreement in 2008. Contract negotiations that would allow for the public purchase of 61.5-miles of CSX Transportation railroad also are nearing completion. For more detailed information about the project, please browse through the http://www.cfrail.com/ website. In March, 2007, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave the go-ahead for the proposed Central Florida Commuter Rail project to move into final engineering and design - a major milestone in the project's evolution. And on April 27, 2007, the project cleared another federal hurdle with FTA approval of the Environmental Assessment, posted on the bottom right of this page. The federal "Finding of No Significant Impact" or FONSI is posted below. |
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