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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 unemployment topping 11 percent, and the rail money going to someone else if we don't get it, sitting on our hands is not a good option.
High-speed rail is the kind of thing the stimulus money was supposed to be spent on, capital projects, instead of propping up operations to duck needed spending cuts and revenue increases.
Our own attitude has changed toward bullet trains.
The high-speed rail amendment that voters passed in 2000 (and repealed in 2004) was a boondoggle looking for a place to happen. The boondoggle risk has not disappeared, but it is outweighed by the chance to create thousands of sorely needed jobs-42,000, says the state transportation department.
The legislation, passed Monday by the House, would create SunRail, a Central Florida commuter rail system that has died twice before in the Senate; and prop up the troubled Tri-Rail urban commuter system in Southeast Florida. This would create or save another 14,000 jobs, estimates say.
If it passes, it is supposed to give Florida a chance at that $2.6 billion in bullet-train money.
The current legislation is not cheap. None of this stuff is. SunRail is expected to cost $2.66 billion over 30 years with the state, federal and local governments each contributing $700 million and the rest coming from fares. Tri-Rail needs $13 million to $15 million more in subsidies a year.
But Florida needs jobs, economic diversification and better transit to reduce highway congestion, which is sure to increase as the economy recovers.
The legislation was guided in the House by Transportation Chairman Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, a businessman with strong conservative credentials. He says many of the problems with previous SunRail legislation have been ironed out, resulting in a better bill this time around.
Let our senators know your opinion on this issue.
CONTACT THEM
• Sen. Garrett Richter, District 37, 338-2777 in Lee or 417-6205 in Collier
• Sen. Dave Aronberg, District 27, 338-2646,
• Sen. Mike Bennett, District 21, 225-3697
