Welcome
BREAKING NEWS - The Florida Legislature's Special Session on Statewide Rail Transit has concluded with the passage of House Bill 1. The House on Monday passed HB-1 by a Vote of 84-25. The Senate on Tuesday passed the bill by a Vote of 27-10. Here is a copy of the legislation awaiting the Governor's signature.
Thanks to all of you who supported this historic measure through the Central Florida Partnership!
The Central Florida Partnership (CFP) is where positive ideas are advanced on behalf of our region -- ideas that matter most to the millions of people who live, work, learn and play in Central Florida. It takes its responsibility seriously in promoting, providing for, and protecting its future by moving ideas to results and advancing key strategies on behalf of the region.
CFP understands the need for a modern and streamlined transportation system if the region is to remain competitive. Commuter Rail is poised to transform this region. That is why we are encouraged by recent developments at the state and federal level in realizing a high capacity transit system through commuter rail and high speed rail.
President Obama has allocated 8 billion dollars in federal funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for transportation projects across the country. The Florida Department of Transportation has applied for 2.5 billion dollars of this funding for high speed rail to connect Orlando and Tampa and lay the groundwork for an Orlando to Miami corridor. Competition is fierce and a decision is expected January 2010 from the federal government on which states are to receive the funds.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, when visiting the Sunshine State, voiced concern that Florida lawmakers have yet to support commuter rail in the Miami and Orlando areas, and without such support, it will be difficult to secure high speed rail dollars.
Florida’s Senators and Congressmen are urging the Florida Legislature to call a special session in December to pass commuter rail, a critical component in securing a portion of the $8 billion stimulus dollars. Time is of the essence.
With Florida’s unemployment rate over 11 percent, we need jobs now. These rail projects are shovel ready and will provide, in the case of commuter rail, 113,065 construction jobs, with over 260,000 in new jobs and about $8.8 billion in economic benefit over 30 years. Read the SunRail Economic Impact Numbers here.
If we are unwilling to take decisive action while we have the chance, we will watch as our community perishes. We will watch the world's great regions move forward as we move backward. And we will watch as the economic vitality and quality of life in Central Florida are destroyed.
This web site is devoted to the issue of Commuter Rail. Learn more about what it means to you, our economy, and the future of Florida.
We have both the power and the responsibility to make change happen.
Get the facts. Join in the debate. It's up to all of us to get this done.
To read the SunRail Economic Impact Study, click here:
For the Commuter Rail Executive Summary, click here:
Check out the 2009 SunRail Briefing Book here:
