The $66 million dollars received for preliminary engineering projects for Orlando to Tampa High Speed Rail could be money down the toilet, if Gov. Rick Scott does not reverse his reckless decision to stop the project or if another viable option is not found to move the bullet train forward. The federal government which has already ponied up $2.4 billion toward the rail project says, it will hold off reallocating these funds, giving time for Florida’s congressional, state and county officials to explore other options for moving forward with the 84-mile rail system.
At a hastily-called news conference on Wednesday, Scott touted his business background, (Scott was a former CEO of Columbia/HCA which ended up paying the federal government $1.7 billion for defrauding Medicaid and Medicare, three years after he left) and slammed President Obama’s budget proposals before outlining the reasons why he was rejecting the bullet train. According to Scott, he was concerned about capital cost overruns that could put Florida taxpayers on the hook for an additional $3 billion; ongoing subsidies that the state will have to meet if ridership and revenue projections do not pan out and possibly having to return the $2.6 billion to the federal government, if the project is shut down because of too high cost.
Meanwhile, Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer, while expressing his disappointment with Scott’s rail decision, said he was working with Florida’s congressional delegation to educate the governor further on the project, its ridership estimates and the protections being built-in, which would have the private sector assume the risk associated with construction and operation of the bullet train.
“I am hopeful that Governor Scott will reconsider his position on this issue and choose to work together toward a day when High Speed Rail will be a reality for Floridians, a reality that creates jobs and prosperity for everyone who calls our great state home,” said Mayor Dyer in a statement.
Dyer also reminded that, the High Speed Rail project was created collectively and supported by broad coalition around the state–residents, businesses and lawmakers. It would only seem reasonable that a decision to cancel a once-in-a-generation project of this magnitude would be made collaboratively, rather than unilaterally by Florida’s new chief executive, Dyer added.
Congressman John Mica (R-FL), said all options were being explored to move the High Speed Rail project forward, including determining whether it is feasible for the four counties directly involved, could reach agreement on their own with the federal government, according to news reports.
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) blasted Scott for his decision not to move ahead with the bullet train and like Congressman Mica and Mayor Dyer said, he was looking into whether the project can go forward without involving the state government.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) the $2.9 billion Orlando to Tampa bullet train, of which 90 percent is already financed from federal funds ($2.4 billion), was projected to create 71,000 job-years of direct construction jobs and spin-off employment during the four-year construction period.
Scott’s goal of creating 700,000 jobs in 7 years, in a state which currently has an unemployment rate of 12 percent, is beginning to sound hollow, particularly as regards his misguided decision on Florida High Speed Rail.
