Seminole County commits $500,000 toward FDOT PD&E for Sunshine Corridor; commissioners vote unanimously

Seminole County commissioners unanimously agreed to contribute $500,000 toward a Project Development & Environmental (PD&E) study of the Sunshine Corridor, a commuter-rail project supported by the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Commissioner Amy Lockhart, who said she is the county's representative and chair on the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission, urged the board to join other jurisdictions and the private sector in contributing to the PD&E study. "I posed to the board that we are looking for contributions from the local government funding partners to match FDOT's $2,000,000 for the PD&E study and ... $500,000 would be the number that's been suggested," Lockhart said. Senior assistant county attorney Brijesh Patel told the board FDOT estimates the PD&E study cost at roughly $6 million; FDOT has committed about $2 million and discussions are ongoing with other jurisdictions and private partners for the remainder.

John Slott (for the record, identified in the meeting as public works director) and other staff confirmed that FDOT would be the requesting agency for the PD&E and that funding partners are being asked to show "skin in the game" to support a competitive federal application. Commissioners discussed timing, scope and whether a reduced (tailored) study could be completed more quickly if total funding were less than the full PD&E estimate.

After discussion, the board made and approved a motion to contribute $500,000 from Seminole County toward the PD&E study; the motion passed unanimously. Commissioners said the commitment is intended to keep Seminole County at the table as partners finalize the study scope, funding shares and schedules. Staff noted that partner contributions, private-sector support and the total funding package will influence how quickly and how fully the study can be completed.