Utility Relocations Start For SunRail’s Southern Expansion
By Space Coast Daily // July 22, 2015
SANFORD, FLORIDA – To prepare for construction of SunRail’s southern expansion, the Florida Department of Transportation today announced that contractors have started work on relocating utilities along the Central Florida Rail Corridor.
The utility relocations are required to accommodate parking lots, retention ponds and to add a second track along most of the Phase 2 South expansion route, which will extend SunRail service about 17 miles into Osceola County.
Phase 2 South plans call for four additional SunRail stations at Meadow Woods in Orange County, and Osceola Parkway (known as the Tupperware Station), downtown Kissimmee and the Poinciana area in Osceola County.
Station, track and signal construction on the $187 million Phase 2 South project is expected to begin later this year, pending receipt of a federal Full Funding Grant Agreement that will cover half of the project’s capital costs.
The balance will be split between the state of Florida and Orange and Osceola counties.
Federal funding approval is anticipated this fall, and Phase 2 South service is expected to open for passenger service in late 2017.
The utility relocation work, which began on July 7 and will cost about $1.4 million, is included in the overall capital costs for Phase 2 South.
The work will include clearing and grubbing along the railroad corridor south of SunRail’s current Sand Lake Road station, and is expected to continue for approximately 5 months.
To learn more about SunRail, including train schedules, pricing and other information, go to www.sunrail.com.
Safety along the Central Florida rail system is a top priority for SunRail. Be Smart. Be Safe.
