Disney train route choices, costs revealed by Brightline

A $1 billion rail extension paralleling State Road 417 from Orlando International Airport to Disney World station at Disney Springs is the preferred route by Brightline, according to various reports.

The rail company unveiled two possible routes and price tags. The company favors State Road 417 through over a $2 billion route along State Road 528 to International Drive, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

This is all part of Brightline’s plan to building high-speed rail from Miami to Tampa, via Orlando. Work is already underway for the extension to Orlando International Airport.

There is some contention over the two routes proposed from the airport. The State Road 417 route goes through Hunters Creek where residents are concerned about noise and vibration from the trains. Meanwhile, there are those in favor of State Road 528 because it would link the airport to International Drive and Orange County Convention Center’s tourism business.

The two routes are about the same length in distance, about 17 miles.

Here are the specifics, according to the Sentinel:

• The State Road 417 route would cost $1.03 billion, require 342,000 square feet of bridges, involve three private properties and offer efficient sharing of corridor space with a proposed SunRail link between the airport and its main line.
• The State Road 528 route would cost $2.1 billion, require 1.9 million square feet of bridges, affect 76 private properties and involve a complex arrangement with SunRail.

After getting to the Disney Springs, the rail line would be extended to Tampa paralleling I-4.

No timeline has yet been announced on when a decision will be made.