SunRail: Station opens in Winter Park; Obama budget includes phase two funding

On Monday, government and business dignitaries gathered for a grand-opening ceremony at a rail station in Winter Park, Fla., which will serve Amtrak and SunRail riders.

In addition to touring the new station, visitors at Monday's events were invited to tour the SunRail train. The new station replaces an adjacent Amtrak station. Winter Park will be one of 12 stops on the first phase of SunRail service, which is scheduled to launch in early May.

Meanwhile, in his proposed fiscal-year 2015 budget proposal released yesterday, President Obama included $63 million in New Starts funding for SunRail Phase II South, according to U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), whose district includes Winter Park.

"The president’s inclusion of SunRail Phase II is a significant step in moving the next phase of this project forward in Central Florida. Now, state and local leaders must work together to ensure the completion of this of multi-county regional fixed transit system," Mica said in a prepared statement.