Disney World's modern rail trains may no longer be a novelty in the state of Florida. Voters in the Sunshine State approved a constitutional amendment last November that requires the state to commence building a high-speed rail line by 2003. Fifty-three percent of Florida voters approved the measure that would have trains whisking commuters between Orlando and Tampa at 120 miles per hour. The rail line will serve a population of 3.9 million in the greater Orlando and Tampa MSA areas. Eventually the line will link St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando and Miami.
      Lawmakers in Tallahassee allotted US $54 million for a rail authority to begin designing the project and luring private investors. The estimated price tag for the train is $21.9 billion, and Gov. Jeb Bush's administration has not allotted funds in the upcoming fiscal budget for the project. State officials are looking for private investors. "The governor is very interested in seeing the state reach out to the private sector," says Bush spokeswoman Liz Hirst.
      State officials are confident about getting matching federal money, and legislators are looking at two likely corridors between Orlando and Tampa: the middle of the highway strip on Interstate 4 and the CSX Railroad right-of-way. The Florida Department of Transportation labeled the I-4 corridor as the cheapest alternative in a study issued in March. Plus, the interstate corridor would have minimal environmental effect. "I don't think we'll find too many endangered species in the I-4 median," says Florida State Sen. Jim Sebesta, R - St. Petersburg.
      The study also posted a staggering prediction: the area could see $46 million in benefits by 2010. This is music to the ears of officials in the Orlando and Tampa areas who are lobbying for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The area has more hotel rooms than any other U.S. city contending for the bid. Officials hope the rail project will enhance the appeal of the area's bid process.
      City officials in Tampa are also looking to build a rail system. "The system will be between Tampa, St. Pete and around the airport," says Tampa attorney Ronald Weaver. "The project will be known as the Links."