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Gov. Scott Rejects Florida High Speed Rail Money

February 16, 2011 | WMFE - Florida Governor Rick Scott is rejecting federal funding for a proposed high speed train line between Orlando and Tampa. The decision had been under consideration since Scott took office this year, and now supporters of the project are scrambling to figure out their next move.

 

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When President Obama announced plans to provide billions of dollars in stimulus money to create a nationwide high speed rail network in the spring of 2009, Florida officials jumped into action.

The state’s high speed rail plan had been quietly gathering dust after it was killed by Florida voters in 2004.  But over the past 2 years, the Obama administration has awarded Florida $2.4 billion for the project, so many thought the time had come for a super-fast train across the Sunshine State.

That was, until Governor Rick Scott made his announcement before a small gathering of media Wednesday morning.

“Rather than investing in a high risk rail project, we should be focused on improving our port, highway, and rail infrastructure,” Scott said, “to be in a position attract the increased shipping that will result when the Panama Canal is expanded, when the free trade agreements with Columbia and Panama are ratified, and with the expansion of economies in Central and South America.”

Scott may want to expand rail, but not in the way state transportation officials were hoping.  They wanted Florida to lead the nation’s high speed rail initiative with a train between Tampa and Orlando traveling at 168 miles an hour.

The federal contribution of $2.4 billion would have covered roughly 90% of the $2.6 billion cost for the project.  Rail backers were hoping private companies could cover the remainder.  Governor Scott said that wasn’t enough to convince him of the project’s value. 

“If you enter into a project where it’s not a good transaction for the other side, it always comes back to be a problem for you,” Scott said, “That’s my problem with this, you look at the ridership studies, and I don’t see anyway you’re going to get a return.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressed disappointment with Scott’s decision, as did U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL).

Nelson says he and LaHood are working on a legal solution to out-maneuver the Governor.

“Both of us and I’m sure the Congressional delegation are very intent that this project has to go forward,” Nelson said. “It’s the future of our transportation in Florida.”

Nelson is looking at whether cities along the proposed rail line could continue the project without the state's involvement.

Governor Scott says he’s still reviewing plans for Florida's other proposed rail project, a commuter train for Central Florida known as SunRail.

 

  

 

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