Veterans group pushes for rail to Lake Nona
ORLANDO -- A Central Florida veterans group wants a proposed commuter rail system to be expanded to Lake Nona. But backers of the $600 million rail system say it needs to be up and running first -- before expanding anywhere.
The Central Florida Veterans Inc. proposal includes using the Orlando Utilities Commission-owned rail already in place that runs from Taft to the power plant near Waterford Lakes, says President Jerry Pierce.
By adding that rail and a train station, shuttle service then could provide transportation to the many medical locations planned for Lake Nona, such as the VA Medical Center, the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, the proposed Nemours children's hospital and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, he says.
Commuter rail to Lake Nona also could help alleviate some potential parking issues for veterans, says Mike Dixon, Orange County veterans service officer.
The VA estimates only 30 percent of its 650,000 annual patients will use public transportation, he says.
Pierce says rail would also be useful for the thousands of people to be employed in the new medical city.
Management at Tavistock Group, developer of Lake Nona agrees.
"In time, we certainly see Lake Nona fitting into this regional solution," says Rasesh Thakkar, senior managing director of the Tavistock Group.
Final local approval for the commuter rail system is expected by month-end.
Tiffany Beck can be reached at (407) 241-2894 or via e-mail at tbeck@bizjournals.com.
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