January 5, 2023 – Orlando’s Right Rail coalition and Universal Orlando Resort have announced significant progress towards the vision of commuter rail connectivity throughout Central Florida. They have created the Shingle Creek Transit Utility Community Development District, a limited-purpose public entity that will plan, finance, construct, operate, own, and maintain a new Orange County Convention Center SunRail station.
John Sprouls, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Universal Parks & Resorts, stated that “the new SunRail corridor and convention center station will make it easier for residents to get to work, the airport and to the places they love. And it will enable business growth within the International Drive area and across the region.”
The new District will quickly begin work to make the station a reality, beginning with infrastructure and site planning. Rail transportation experts have said the Sunshine Corridor is set to become one of the country’s most productive and important commuter rail corridors. The new Orange County Convention Center station is projected to help more than double SunRail’s annual ridership and revenue and comes at no cost to Orange County taxpayers.
Universal Orlando will pledge 13 acres of land to the District at no cost to taxpayers to be used for the convention center station with inter-modal capability and a substantial section of rail corridor. They will also support the District’s financing of up to $125 million in private activity bonds to be used to fund the rail corridor and convention center station. Additionally, Universal will support the operation and maintenance of the station so there is no cost to Orange County taxpayers, currently estimated at $2 million annually. Along with its partners in the Orlando Right Rail coalition, Universal will also contribute to and collectively support the District’s guarantee of $13 million in annual ticket sales for the Sunshine Corridor.
