Light rail train at OIA not dead, mayors say

A deal to bring a light rail train from Orlando International Airport to the Orange County Convention Center may not be dead just yet.

Global Via told Eyewitness News earlier this week that it had suspended its talks with airport officials to bring in the privately funded train.

The mayors of Orlando and Orange County told Channel 9's Jamie Holmes that despite Global Via's claims, the deal may have not reached a dead end.

"I'm not done trying. I can tell you that,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

"You want light rail? You think we need a connection,” Holmes asked.

"I know we need a connection?” Jacobs said.

Global Via, a Spanish based rail company, was going to invest $600 million of its own money to connect Orlando International and the Orange County Convention Center.

The Airport Authority said they could lose more than $5 million a year in money from passengers who rode Global Via, instead of using other airport transportation. That's called revenue diversion, and the FAA has rules against it.

"If you say they're doing community benefit and don't make them pay what they should pay, that is absolutely revenue diversion under the FAA rules,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

The airport wanted Global Via to cover the losses, but the company said, no.

The airport though already has one foot into light rail. There's a new berth that's been built for some kind of connector train at the now under construction transportation hub. But without Global Via, it could sit empty, since this is the only company in the world that's made an offer.

Jacobs said she's going to fight for a deal, because otherwise, she thinks a train will come to fill the spot, and it will be taxpayers that foot the bill.

"Ultimately, we're going to have this, and we're going to pay for this 100 percent with tax dollars, or we can have it privately funded,” Jacobs said.

The Airport Authority and Global Via have until the end of the year to try and work out a deal.

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