TAMPA, Fla. — Haines City could be the next stop added to the Florida Department of Transportation SunRail expansion that currently serves 17 stations in the Orlando region.
A project development and environment study is underway.
Business owners like Suzette Gomez hope the project passes. She started her own business, 555 Nutrition.
“Everything here is healthy, and we also do free full body scans,” she said.
Gomez opened the store five years ago in downtown Haines City. She was drawn to its growth and a welcoming atmosphere.
“I really love the community here in Haines City and I love being around different cultures,” she said.
She sees about 40 to 50 customers a day, a number she hopes will increase if Haines City becomes a stop in the FDOT’s SunRail expansion.
“A lot of people will start knowing more of the downtown area,” Gomez said. “There’s a lot of small businesses here.”
SunRail currently operates over 61 miles with 17 stations.
With Polk County being one of the state’s fastest growing counties, Haines City Mayor Morris West said this could help alleviate traffic congestion.
“Haines City is a destination for people that are retiring and moving here,” West said. “We’re working diligently as a city commission and as city council members to make sure we get some alternative transportation for our Haines City residents and beyond.”
City officials have been staying proactive in the project by purchasing buildings near the proposed location to help make way for more parking.
Gomez says it could be an impactful addition. “For those who either don’t drive or don’t feel comfortable riding here on a bike,” she said.
To serve as that connection to the heart of downtown and beyond.
The first public meeting for the SunRail expansion in Haines City project will be held in September. The date and location haven’t been announced yet.
Lizbeth Gutierrez
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