Florida's HSR Program

Florida has been a strong candidate for high speed rail since the 1980s.    Our flat terrain, high growth rates, large numbers of tourists and the distance between our major cities are ideal for high speed rail.  In 1992, President Bush selected Tampa-Orlando-Miami as one of the nation’s first federally-designated high speed rail corridors.

In April 2009, the federal government unveiled a new national plan for intercity passenger rail coupled with a commitment to provide more than $13 billion in federal funding over a five year period.  On January 28, 2010, President Obama announced Florida was awarded $1.25 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to start construction of the Tampa-Orlando leg of the federally designated Tampa-Orlando-Miami high speed rail corridor.

Tampa-Orlando on Track to be America's First HSR Express Corridor

The Tampa-Orlando line will run 84 miles from downtown Tampa to Orlando International Airport.   Most of the project runs down the median of Interstate 4, which was rebuilt with a high speed rail envelope.  Right of way was preserved in the 1990s and bridges were built higher and wider to accommodate high speed trains.  Other portions of the project outside of I-4 will primarily follow existing public rights of way.  The Tampa-Orlando phase is expected to cost $2.6 billion to build.

Trains will operate at speeds as high as 168 m.p.h., though actual speeds will be less along portions of the line because of curves and station stops.

Florida is planning five stations along this corridor.   Travel time between downtown Tampa and Orlando International Airport (OIA), including stops, is projected to be under an hour.  Express trips between Tampa and OIA would be less.  The system will be designed to allow the operator to set schedules to maximize ridership and satisfy market demand.

Stations & Connectivity

The Tampa-Orlando line will have strong connections with existing road, bus and transit systems.  For example, plans at OIA call for high speed rail to stop at a new southern terminal, which it would share with a proposed extension of SunRail and a future light rail system.  The International Drive (I-Drive) stop is located at the southern end of the I-Ride trolley route and is served by Lynx.   The Tampa station is at the north end of the HART bus transit mall.  Proposed light rail service in Tampa would run directly to the high speed rail station. 

All stations will feature parking and rental car facilities and will have a full set of rail passenger services available.  Each station also will have air conditioned waiting areas and convenience services for ticketed passengers.

Ridership

Two independent ridership forecasts were conducted in 2002 and updated with more recent demographic information in 2009.   The forecasts estimate approximately 2.4 million riders will use the system in its first year of operation.  The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will be performing updated ridership studies in 2010.  FDOT’s goal is for the system operator to be responsible for covering all operating costs from system revenues.

Project Development

FDOT is responsible for building the project with oversight by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).   The federal government is the principle funding source for the project, and FRA is responsible for administering the $1.25 billion award of ARRA funds and any other future federal funding.  It is expected that the FRA and FDOT will develop a funding agreement for the balance of the project’s capital costs as the project moves forward.

The project received a Record of Decision from the FRA on May 7^th.  This allows FDOT to proceed with right of way acquisition, design and construction.    U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in Orlando on May 27^th that Florida received $66.7 million out of $80 million in ARRA funds being made available nationwide.   This money will fund FDOT’s work program for 2010 that includes taking the project to 30 percent design, updating ridership projections and preparing for issuance of bid documents in early 2011.

Project construction will likely occur in two phases.  The first phase is a proposed Early Works Safety Project, which will involve elimination of I-4 median obstacles and construction of at-grade permanent safety barriers.  This work is expected to begin in early 2011.

FDOT also is planning to bid out the main part of the project early next year.  Private consortiums will be asked to submit bids to complete the design of the system, then build, operate and maintain it.  FDOT’s goal is to secure construction bids and have the private sector cover operating costs.   FDOT expects to select the private vendor in 2011.  Construction is projected to start in 2012 and system operation is scheduled for 2015.  These schedules are subject to approval by the FRA.  To view the list of firms that have express interest to date in bidding on the design, build, operate and maintain contract click here.

FDOT also has started to evaluate the costs and environmental impacts of various alignments in the Orlando-Miami corridor, the first step toward moving forward with this project.   This planning work is expected to take approximately 30 months.