SunRail construction to kick off Jan. 27

Shovels are set to hit the ground later this month for Central Florida’s commuter rail.

Florida officials broke ground on SunRail commuter-rail project last week

On Friday, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad, U.S. Reps. John Mica (R-Fla.) and Corinne Brown (D-Fla.), and Federal Transit Administration Regional Administrator Yvette Taylor joined local funding partners and several hundred supporters at a groundbreaking ceremony at the future SunRail station in Altamonte Springs to signal the start of construction on the SunRail commuter-rail project in central Florida.

500 celebrate the start of SunRail

Florida's top transportation administrator promised Friday to do his part to boost ridership on the SunRail commuter train.

Gopher tortoises delay some SunRail work

LAKE MARY — The small, gray gopher tortoise was about 20 feet from the railroad tracks, slowly making its way in the scrub and sand, its destination unclear on a recent afternoon.

That unsuspecting turtle, spooked into its shell at one point, and others of its kind have put a halt to any SunRail commuter-rail construction in the area because they are members of an endangered species.
...
The tortoises, one of the oldest living species in North America, also are losing land to development, Serviss said. They are less likely to be bothered by the people working or living near the tracks, he said, and they seem to stay a safe distance from the rails.