Florida Department of Transportation approved a Brightline application to negotiate for land along I-4 for a high-speed passenger rail service from Orlando to Tampa.

LAKELAND — Maybe this time it's for real.

On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Transportation approved an application from Brightline to negotiate for land for a high-speed passenger rail service from Orlando to Tampa with a stop in Lakeland.

Brightline now has 90 days to work out an agreement with the Central Florida Expressway Authority to build the rail service along Interstate 4.

Lakeland has been down this path before.

In 2011, Gov. Rick Scott rejected a $2.4 billion federal expansion of high-speed rail, saying he was concerned about cost overruns.

The decision by Scott followed a heated dispute between city commissioners and other politicians on the eastern side of the county over where the stop would be located.

Before Scott's decision was made, city commissioners had voted for a resolution supporting the stop at Clark Road near the western portion of the Polk Parkway. But Polk County commissioners and city commissions and chambers of commerce in central and east Polk County had endorsed a stop at what is now Florida Polytechnic University.

Details about where this stop may be in Lakeland haven't been decided. Documents submitted in Brightline's proposal for the lease of right-of-way owned by the Florida Department of Transportation show that Lakeland is listed as a "future station under consideration" and that Brightline "will plan our alignment in a manner that can accommodate this without impact to I-4 and Brightline operations."

Other documents in the proposal list Lakeland Electric, Duke Energy, Orlando Utilities Commission and Tampa Electric as utilities that will have "significant adjustments."

City Manager Tony Delgado said it was exciting news.

"I know there are a lot of things that have to be done," Delgado said. "I was energized when I heard about it."

Delgado said he spoke with a Brightline official for about an hour during the summer about the company's plans for Lakeland.

He said Bob O'Malley, vice president of government affairs for the company, told him that Lakeland was in the mix for a stop. Delgado said he told O'Malley about the past division within the county over the location of a stop.

Delgado said Thursday that he thinks the area "has grown a bit from that time before" and the decision by Brightline will likely be based on research done by the city and county.

"I hope they would allow as a city to make suggestions," Delgado said.

Chuck Barmby, the city's transportation planner, said his team will likely conduct new traffic research to determine the best spot for workers and residents.

A stop at U.S. 98 North and I-4 would make sense from "a pure transportation standpoint" because there has been discussion about plans for a rapid bus transit service from the interstate to Bartow, Barmby said.

"I'd say, to me, I really like the connectivity options in the U.S. 98/Kathleen Road area," Barmby said.

But he added that a stop at the Florida Poly area might make sense for future development plans.

Maggie Mariucci, a spokeswoman for Florida Poly, said a stop at the school would bring the region together and work well with the university's vision for a nearby research park.

Political leaders in Polk were mostly optimistic about the news.

"We cannot keep paving new lanes on I-4," Commissioner Don Selvage said.

He said city and county leaders should organize a coalition to select the best stop for the county.

County Commissioner George Lindsey said the county was fortunate to be included in the talks.

Once a stop has been chosen, Lindsey said transit leaders will need to meet to discuss how the Citrus Connection will change.

Tom Phillips, executive director of Citrus Connection, said the transit system will completely change if Brightline picks a stop in Lakeland.

"I could easily see the Brightline transit depot becoming the new center of the bus universe," Phillips said.

Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz said his only concern is whether the plan will be sustainable.

"Is Lakeland a logical stop? Absolutely," Mutz said. "But let's see the numbers."

Brightline President Patrick Goddard said the company looks forward to working with the expressway authority in “strengthening Florida's infrastructure” and called the proposal the company's “next step in our efforts to expand intercity passenger rail in Florida.”

“The private investment we have made has created thousands of jobs and generated substantial economic impact,” Goddard said in a prepared statement after getting the Department of Transportation approval. “By connecting Florida's major economic centers, Brightline provides a safe, efficient and productive way for residents and tourists to travel the state.”

As part of its application, Brightline projects the 88-mile route, which would require 44-foot-wide spaces mostly along Interstate 4, would produce about 16,500 temporary jobs during the three years of construction. It would produce about 1,600 permanent jobs, and stations would be expected in Orlando, Tampa and the Celebration and Lakeland areas.

Additional negotiations are expected by the privately funded rail service with utilities, local land owners and communities along the route — which would go from Orlando International Airport, through Osceola and Polk counties, to downtown Tampa.

“For us right now, our biggest involvement is this (Wednesday's approval),” Department of Transportation spokesman Ed Seifert said. “Without this, they don't have a line.”

Brightline, which now operates between Miami and West Palm Beach, recently signed a deal with new minority investor Virgin Group, with Brightline planning to rename itself Virgin Trains USA. As part of the move, Virgin Trains USA is seeking Securities and Exchange Commission permission to conduct an initial public stock offering.

Scott in June announced his administration would seek proposals for an Orlando-to-Tampa route, pointing to the possibility of a privately funded project.

Brightline was the only company that submitted a proposal.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this article. John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588.