The Florida Department of Transportationhas started the process of extending SunRail into Orlando International Airport.

Known as SunRail Phase 3, the transportation department last month submitted a project development proposal to the Federal Transit Administration for a 5.5-mile extension of Central Florida’s commuter rail from just north of the planned Meadow Woods Station into the airport’s planned $215 million intermodal transit facility.

The transportation department’s Tawny Olore told the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission at a June 21 meeting that this is the first step in making this portion of SunRail a reality.

The rail expansion would incorporate 3.5 miles of existing track owned by the city of Orlando, and 2 miles on a new alignment on airport property.

Meanwhile, the transportation department also is making progress on its Phase 2 south alignment into Osceola County. The department is set to meet with the Federal Transit Administration on June 21 for a field review. The full funding grant agreement is slated to be finalized in February and construction would start next summer.

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