Recent News Articles
High-speed rail is on fast track; Governor, Legislature put rail squarely in Florida's future
Leadership won the day in Tallahassee with Tuesday's passage of the rail funding bill. That leadership will keep Florida in the running for $2.5 billion in federal stimulus money for a high-speed rail project and create new jobs. Gov. Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul traversed a field full of landmines to accomplish three...
Rail legislation will put economy back on track
The Florida Legislature, with the support of most Tampa Bay area lawmakers, has made it possible for the state to build a modern rail transit system. Good job. The vote statewide was one-sided because the need to move ahead was so obvious and strongly endorsed by business and civic leaders around the state. The issue came down to jobs, as Republican Sen....
Special legislative session's rail deal is a win for Florida's future
State lawmakers who rallied in support of a controversial rail bill Tuesday in special session deserve credit for overcoming hurdles — including union opposition — that threatened to block the historic measure and the enormous benefits it heralds for Florida’s stalled economy. Foremost among them are jobs. The legislation paves the way for...
Rail bill puts Florida on right track
Anyone setting odds on Florida's chances next month to get as much as $2.6 billion in federal stimulus money to build a Tampa-to-Orlando high-speed rail line might consider this: When the Florida Senate on Tuesday joined the Florida House in passing a sweeping passenger rail bill, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, were enjoying a...
C. Fla. gets $40M to jumpstart rail
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s office said Wednesday that congressional budget negotiators late last night agreed to spend $40 million to help jumpstart a rail system that will serve commuters in Central Florida. The $40 million is for preliminary engineering and final design of the SunRail commuter system around Orlando, as well as construction of its stations. ...
SunRail — who won, who lost?
Here's a look at who came out ahead — for now — and who didn't when SunRail cleared the Legislature on Tuesday: Winners The unemployed: SunRail proponents maintain that up to 6,700 construction jobs could be created by the $1.2billion project, with the work lasting five years and likely starting next year. That could be a big deal in Central Florida, where the...
All aboard, finally
Bravo! At last, Florida's about to become a passenger-rail leader, thanks to lawmakers' approval of visionary legislation Tuesday. It will create jobs, help thousands get to work faster and benefit the environment. Timing, tenacity and, yes, vision made it happen. Beginning in 2012, SunRail will begin serving Central Floridians from DeBary to Orlando, later extending...
My word: This labor union favors rail
This week, legislators are in Tallahassee working to finalize a commuter-rail deal in a special session. Although many obstacles remain toward accomplishing this long-awaited goal, opposition by those who are supposed to favor job creation should not be one of them. Unfortunately, our brothers and sisters in some of Florida's largest labor unions are threatening to...
Rail: The time is now
In the next day or two, state senators will vote to make it easier for Floridians to travel, approving legislation that creates SunRail, sustains Tri-Rail and makes possible high-speed rail and commuter service for Tampa and Jacksonville. In doing so they'll also be creating thousands of jobs and pouring billions of dollars into the state's economy over several decades. Or,...
Transit bill will be good for economy
The aversion of at least some Republican leaders to federal stimulus spending has eased as the state's jobless rate climbs. Legislative leaders are trying to pass a rail transit bill aimed at making the state competitive for $2.6 billion in federal stimulus money to build a bullet train that could link Tampa, Orlando and Miami by 2017. Good. With Florida's...
