FAA making demands on All Aboard Florida

[spuwho]

The requirements from the FAA for All Aboard Florida to reach MCO has reached the courts in Atlanta.

From the Orlando Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2013/02/13/goaa-faa-in-dispute-over-rail-line.html

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is appealing changes the Federal Aviation Administration wants at Orlando International Airport to allow All Aboard Florida’s proposed train to travel along State Road 528 and through the northern entrance of the airport, Orlando Business Journal has learned.
The FAA was concerned the rail path would be too close to airport runways and asked the authority to require All Aboard Florida to locate the rail line six feet below ground level or move the runway by 1,020 feet.
The authority concluded sinking the rail line six feet wouldn’t work because Florida’s water table is lower than six feet, and moving the runway would impact the airport dramatically.
The authority quietly filed the appeal with the Appeals Court in Atlanta Nov. 21. It came to light at the Feb. 1 authority board meeting when board attorney Marcos Marchena was asked about the status of the appeal.
The FAA did not immediately respond to an email and call seeking comment.

[thelakelander]

LOL. I assume the proposed rail corridor must be between the runway and the toll road? Someone asked in another thread why do some transit projects end up costing so much? Because demands like this are made.

[Ocklawaha]

The solution for a quick build is rather simple, leave the 528 at Monument Parkway, join the OUC RR or the right-of-way as it angles southeast to the 417, following that to CR530. The OUC line joins the SUNRAIL route just below Sand Lake Road and would make it possible for some of the future trains to enter downtown Orlando/Winter Park, as well as allow SUNRAIL to operate future commuter runs to Cocoa between AAF trains. This type of railroad operational agreement is done all of the time.

Originating and terminating at OIA might work for AAF, but entering the downtown core (which is rapidly expanding) would make it more attractive. The Sunrail to AAF transfer at the airport is going to be a unnecessary inconvenience considering the strength of rail is not the ability to 'fly non-stop' but to serve several cities in between (which could be done with 5 trains out of 20 for example. Those 5 would be the trains that carried Florida residents and businessmen. They way they have it planned now it is only going to appeal to mice in the long run.