President's 2015 Budget Includes "Whopping Amount" of SunRail Funding
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
By: Matthew Peddie

March 4th, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando- President Obama's 2015 budget will include funding for Phase Two of Central Florida's SunRail. The 29 mile second phase of the commuter train will bring the total length of the rail line to 61 miles, once it opens in 2016.

[Congressman John Mica. Photo- Matthew Peddie, WMFE] 

The President’s 2015 fiscal year budget includes $63 million for the second phase of SunRail.

Phase two south, which will extend to Poinciana is expected to cost $173.6 million. Half of that will come from the Federal government. 

US Rep. John Mica says just getting the project in the president’s budget is a good start.

“The project will not be done in that time frame, so they’re not going to give you the full 83 (million)," says Mica.

"But they gave you a whopping amount - which is pretty significant- of 63 for the second phase,” says the Winter Park congressman

Mica, who is the former chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says he intends to see the project through to completion.

Phase One of SunRail, from Sand Lake Road to DeBary, will open on May 1st. Phase Two – which includes a northern link to DeLand- is set to open in 2016.

The Florida Department of Transportation says the current cost estimate for Phase Two North is $60.5 million. 

FDOT is requesting $30 million in Federal funding towards that part of the project. 

A department spokesperson told WMFE they are working towards getting approval for the funding.