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$68 Mil Commuter Rail Line Concept Revived

ORLANDO-The never-say-die developer is submitting a new application for $8 million in startup state funds and $22 million in long-range money. The 35-mile system would run from Lake County to Downtown Orlando. The state pulled the plug on the project in January.

By Alex Finkelstein | Updated on November 27, 2000

ORLANDO-Like a good salesman, Ben Biscan, vice president and general manager of Florida Central Railroad, never takes no for an answer. Eleven months ago, the Florida Transportation Department, closed the window on his proposed $68 million, 35-mile commuter rail line from Lake County to Downtown Orlando because Biscan couldn’t produce a ridership study and documented local government support for the concept.

But today, the railroad man is back in the game, awaiting a reply from his new application to the state for $8 million in startup funds and another $22 million in multi-year money. He also will be submitting a $250,000 ridership study expected to be finished in three months.

That may or may not be in time. Biscan won’t get a partial answer until January when the transportation agency makes its annual funding recommendations to the Legislature.

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