Supporters of high speed rail in Florida have one week from today to come up with a new plan to get back on track, following Governor Rick Scott’s unilateral decision earlier this week to reject $2.4 billion in federal funding for the Orlando to Tampa bullet train. With 90 percent funding in hand, Scott said the project was too risky, without any consideration for the more than 30,000 jobs estimated to have been created with its construction.
On Thursday, led by rail Senator Paula Dockery, a bipartisian group of 26 Florida senators wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood suggesting that two rail panels that had been created, the Statewide Passenger Rail Commission and Florida Rail Enterprise, had the legal authority to accept the federal cash, the News Service of Florida reports. As well, other options are being explored, including whether it is feasible for the four counties directly involved with the Tampa to Orlando rail, to work directly with the federal government.
Scott said he did not think it was a good idea for the money to be given to municipal governments in Central Florida.
Meanwhile on Friday, Rep. Geraldine Thompson (District 39-Orlando), an “avid supporter” of rail in Florida, called Scott’s decision to reject federal funding for the bullet train “short sighted”.
“It would provide options for people who could live in one area of Central Florida and accept employment in another, because they could rely on good transportation,” said Thompson in a statement. “The Governor’s decision to reject federal funding for high speed rail in Florida is short sighted and does not show respect for the kind of collaboration and exchange that needs to take place in achieving good government.”
Similarly, Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell (District 6) voiced her disappointment with Scott’s decision in a memorandum on Friday to Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and fellow commissioners.
“I would like to express my disappointment with Governor Rick Scott’s recent decision to reject the high speed rail funding and to convey my continued support for the vision of President Barack Obama and the implementation of the High Speed Rail System here in the State of Florida,” said Moore Russell.
Noting that Central Florida had long held itself out as a leading tourism destination, Moore Russell noted, failure to pursue the rail system not only placed undue strain on other modes of transportation, but permanently constrained the region’s capacity to grow.
Recognizing that Scott’s decision was based on his perception that the “risk far outweighed the benefits”, as opposed to “decades of bi-partisan work” by both public and private leaders, Moore Russell said she “vehemently supports any course of action that would lead to securing high speed rail in the State of Florida.”
