LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Now that the SunRail is coming to Central Florida, some Orange County leaders want other new commuter trains to come to town as well. That includes one that would link Eustis in Lake County to downtown Orlando. Eyewitness News learned that just studying the train could cost $1.5 million.
Lake and Orange County leaders want a high-speed commuter train connecting their counties. They'd call it the "Orange Blossom Express."
Lake County resident Dawn White thinks it's a good idea.
"We can use the public transportation. It's definitely faster than hopping on a bus," White said.
Orange County Commissioner Fred Brummer agrees. He plans to ask the council for $1.5 million to do an alternative analysis study to make sure enough people would use the Express and it won't harm the environment.
"This is horse before the cart, which is the right way to do this," Brummer said.
Lake Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization believes the plan compliments the SunRail project.
"This will connect into SunRail project providing extra ride-share," said Pamela Richmond, Lake Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization.
According to census figures, about 20,000 commuters drive from Lake to Orange County daily. The Orange Blossom Express would travel 32 miles to Orlando and $55 million is the estimated cost. Also, $15 million of that total would be used to upgrade tracks from Eustis to Plymouth, welding steel rails into one continuous track that can support a train traveling around 60 mph.
But some think $1.5 million is a lot of money for a study.
"Anytime you use the million-dollar word it causes my hair to stand up," Brummer said.
Brummer says the study is pricey because the Federal Transit Authority set the strict guidelines and will hopefully foot most of the bill for the project.
WFTV
