Trains'
Newswire had a recap of the plans for Sunshine Corridor to connect Orlando airport with the theme parks and provide access for Brightline on its Tampa route. The report included the announcement today in the
Orlando Sentinel (paywall) of plans to provide funding through a Community development District. Excerpts from that article
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Officials in Florida’s Orange County will be asked to approve a special development district to help pay for an 11-mile rail line that would link Brightline and SunRail service to Orlando International Airport, the county’s convention center, and theme parks.
Universal City Development Partners, which is affiliated with the Universal theme parks in the Orlando area, is asking Orange County commissioners to create the Shingle Creek Transit and Utility Community Development District. The district would cover 719 acres, most of which involves Universal-owned land for an under-construction theme park, Epic Universe. Hilton is the only other property owner in the proposed district.
The board is scheduled to vote on the request Oct. 10 after a public hearing.
Property assessments from the district and the sale of tax-exempt bonds would be used to fund $174 million in public infrastructure. That includes a commitment of $125 million by Universal and other business for the “Sunshine Corridor” rail project,
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Surprisingly Universal seems to be taking the lead here, not Disney.