Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs who met with Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ananth Prasad today to discuss the stalled SunRail project, made another plug for the commuter rail line.
“We had a frank and productive community discussion with Secretary Prasad,” said Jacobs. “I hope in the end, Governor Scott will allow SunRail to get rolling to create jobs, improve mobility and promote economic growth in our region.”
At the request of Gov. Rick Scott, Prasad is on a one-day tour throughout Central Florida to guage the level of support for the commuter rail project which was stopped by the governor in March. By the end of day on Tuesday, Prasad would have visited the Volusia County Council, Seminole County Commission, Osceola County Commission, Orange County Board of County Commissioners, Maitland City Council, and Orlando City Council.
Prasad has warned local officials that if SunRail goes ahead and counties come up short while operating the commuter rail line, there won’t be any bailout from the state.
Estimated to create more than 13,500 new jobs through the construction, operation and maintenance phases, as well as, generate approximately $1.55 billion in economic benefit, Scott has been reviewing SunRail since being sworn in earlier this year. He froze four contracts for SunRail in January, put out by the DOT totaling $235 million, as part of his review of all agreements over $1 million.
The 61-mile project, estimated at a cost of $1.2 billion, has a capital requirement of $615 million for Phase I and Phase II, 50 percent of which is funded through the federal government, 25 percent through DOT and 25 percent divided up between the five local partners–Volusia = $26.5 million; Seminole = $46.2 million; Orange = $40.4 million; Osceola = $27.1 million; Orlando = $13.7 million
Scott is expected to make a decision on the project later this week, after discussing the outcomes of Prasad’s Central Florida meetings. Sources say, Scott is leaning towards approving the project.
