FDOT Secretary Prasad Meets with Osceola County Commissioners and Supporters of Sunrail

SunRail Must Move Forward for Job Creation and Economic Development in Region

Osceola County, Florida - Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Ananth Prasad today met with Osceola County Commissioners to discuss with local leaders the SunRail commuter rail project. It is one of six meetings which took place today and in anticipation of Florida Governor Rick Scott's July 1st decision on whether the 61-mile project will move forward in the Central Florida region.

"We are pleased any time we have an opportunity to meet here with our colleagues from Tallahassee," said Osceola County Chairman Brandon Arrington, "and we hope this to be the final step in securing funding for this important project."

Secretary Prasad was named head of FDOT in April 2011. He hosted a one-hour workshop at each location to gather input from the local community about the project. The one-day tour included six stops: Volusia County Council in Daytona Beach, Seminole County Commission in Sanford, the City of Maitland, the City of Orlando, Orange County Commission in Orlando, and the Osceola County Commission in Kissimmee. Today's meeting with the Osceola County Commission was held at One Courthouse Square, Suite 4700 in Kissimmee from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The $615 million in capital costs for Phase I and Phase II for SunRail is funded 50 percent through the Federal Government, 25 percent through the Florida Department of Transportation, and 25 percent divided by the five local partners (Volusia at $26.5 million; Seminole at $46.2 million; Orange at $40.4 million; Osceola at $27.1 million; Orlando at $13.7 million).

Through construction, operation and maintenance, SunRail will realize over 13,500 new jobs and approximately $1.55 billion in economic benefit. Transit Oriented Development associated with SunRail will bring over 245,800 new jobs and $7.1 billion in economic benefit. For additional information on SunRail and its job creation and economic development impact, go to www.SunRail.com.