FDOT and Passenger Rail | Gabe Matthews, Florida Department of Transportation

“Business of Transit”

FDOT and Passenger Rail

APA Florida Public Policy Workshop January 25, 2024

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FDOT’s Role In Passenger Rail

Provide vision and strategy for passenger rail in the state

Support the development of passenger rail (FRE)

Collaborate with public and private partners

Leverage new federal funding to develop new and enhanced intercity passenger rail corridors

2

Passenger Rail in Florida Tri-Rail

Amtrak

Metromover

TECO Streetcar Brightline

MetroRail

SunRail

Intercity

Commuter

Jacksonville Skyway

Urban Rail Transit

State-Owned Rail Corridors South Florida Ra il Corridor

● Purchased from CSX in 1988 ● 72 miles ● 18 stations ● Serving Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties

Ce ntra l Florida Ra il Corridor ● Purchased from CSX in 2011 ● 61.5 miles ● 16 stations ● Serving Orange, Seminole and Volusia Counties

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State-Owned Rail Corridors: Recent Developments South Florida Ra il Corridor

Ce ntra l Florida Ra il Corridor

Tri-Rail train arrives at the Brightline's Miami Central Station (1/12/24)

New SunRail station set to open this year in Deland. Picture from soft opening in 2023 5

SunRail FDOT currently owns and operates SunRail 40 SunRail trains per day operate in the limits of the CFRC Phase 1

DeBary to Sand Lake– 2014

Phase 2 South

Sand Lake to Poinciana - 2018

Phase 2 North

DeBary to DeLand – expected 2024 6

Transition to Locals Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission (CFCRC) will be governing board LYNX will oversee operations Fare collection system being replaced with Mobile Ticketing App

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Sunshine Corridor

8

Intercity Rail Amtrak

Brightline

9

Intercity Passenger Rail Updates – FRA Corridor ID

FDOT submitted 5 applications for FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development (CID) Program Awarded 2 Corridors − Jax-OrlandoMiami − Tampa- Orlando Miami 10

Florida's State Rail Plan 

Articulates state passenger and freight rail vision



Specifies Rail Service and Investment Program



Identifies rail improvements and needs



Required by Florida Statute § 341.302

Passenger Rail Investments Programmed Projects

Amount Programmed

Short Term (2023-2026)

36

$532,843,929

Long Term (2027-2042)

5

$124,962,868 11

FDOT Rail and Transit Funding $1.7B

Aviation

26%

Florida Department of Transportation Work Program Total Modal Developments FY 2024-2028

37%

Seaports

$0.6B

10%

Intermodal Access

10%

Five Year Work Program - $6.4B

Transit

$2.3B

$0.7B

Transportation Disadvantaged Rail

12%

$0.7B

5%

$0.3B 12

Funding State - Florida Rail Enterprise - Intermodal Development Program - New Starts Transit Program - State Infrastructure Bank - Strategic Intermodal System - Transportation Regional Incentive Program

FTA - All Stations Accessibility Program - BUILD - 5307 - 5309 - 5337 - Competitive Grants for Rail Vehicle Replacement Program

FRA

FHWA

- Corridor ID

- PROTECT

- CRISI

- RAISE

- CARSI

- MEGA

- Fed-State Partnership

- Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)

- Railroad Crossing Elimination Program

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Discussion

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