If Brightline were to locate a stop near the convention center, I-Drive business leaders say it would open the door to connecting I-Drive to other rail services, like SunRail. “You will definitely see people stepping up,” said Stine, who adds the cost difference between the two routes is still unclear. Stine says with expansion in sight for his group, they are building two new attractions at ICON park, along with Universal and the convention center’s plans for growth, he expects the business community to help get Brightline to change its mind. “In order to look at the 528 alignment, there’s an additional cost and it’s undetermined at this point if the private sector, the private sector businesses, including the International Drive area are willing to pay for that connectivity,” said Demings. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings says it is up to businesses to pick up the tab if they are serious about moving Brightline’s route. “We’re close to finalizing our lease agreement along the initial preferred route, but we have left the door open and discussions open to continue to explore that alternate route,” Goddard said. Goddard said the preferred route along State Road 417 is a billion dollars cheaper. “The two routes both have their merits, one is more significantly costly than the other,” Brightline President Patrick Goddard told Spectrum News. The only problem with that plan is the cost. The I-Drive Chamber of Commerce is urging Brightline to instead build a rail line along State Road 528 west towards the Orange County Convention Center and then travel along I-4 down to Disney and Tampa. “We have been looking at that and talking about that for 25 years.” “We would like to see rail service here on the drive,” said Stine.
“It misses Central Florida altogether,” said Stine, who adds the State Road 417 route would disrupt communities in Hunters Creek and nearby wetlands. Right now, Brightline is considering building a track along State Road 417 to connect its Orlando International Airport station to Disney Springs, and then follow Interstate 4 down to Tampa. “People coming from Tampa, they want to go a little further than Disney and the airport,” said John Stine, the Slingshot Group director of Sales and Marketing and an executive board member of the I-Drive Chamber of Commerce. I-Drive businesses want Brightline to build route along State Road 528īusinesses along International Drive, including Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando, are urging Brightline to change its proposed route.
Brightline prefers route along State Road 417.Brightline wants to build route to connect Orlando’s airport to Disney & Tampa.
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