We are continuing to march toward commuter rail in Central Florida and it’s time Osceola County decided how to fund its share of the cost. Phase 1 stations are expected to open in 2013, while phase two stations, which would include those in our county, would open in 2015, which is less than five years away.

We need to decide on a funding mechanism because if we don’t, then the Florida Department of Transportation ultimately will decide for us – in the form of money earmarked for road projects in our county being shifted to support SunRail instead.

District 5 transportation department officials Monday at a County Commission workshop outlined how the county would see reduced funding for road and bridge projects if it were not prepared – for whatever reason – to fund its share of maintenance and operating costs beginning in the eighth year of SunRail’s operation. The state is picking up the tab for the system’s operation and maintenance for the first seven years, giving us plenty of time to get funding in place.

The state also will now cover all of the cost of acquiring the CSX track on which SunRail would run, saving Osceola County more than $37 million. In addition, the state, until the second phase of construction is completed, would pay to establish a Lynx bus route linking Osceola County to the Sand Lake Road SunRail station. Those two factors should help make SunRail a little bit more palatable to local residents who may still oppose it.

County officials previously discussed imposing a gas tax of several pennies per gallon to fund SunRail. We don’t believe that would be unreasonable, given that tourists – not just property owners – would help foot the commuter rail bill.

One question raised by a commissioner Monday was whether SunRail would be “profitable.” The answer, of course, is no, as expected, just as Lynx’s operation or the maintenance and expansion of Interstate 4 must be subsidized. The better question would be whether the anticipated $2.50 one-way fare to ride SunRail is sufficient. We think it could be higher.

As is the case with most transportation projects, not everyone would benefit directly from SunRail, just as not everyone benefits directly from a new school or a new highway. However, local economic development around transit stations will increase both the county’s overall assessed value and our overall sales tax revenue. Plus, many jobs would be created both in the construction of and operation of SunRail.