Scott puts brakes on one rail project, feds put another back on track
by Dara Kam | March 11th, 2011White House officials have opened up a new grant process for the $2.4 billion high-speed rail funds that would have been Florida’s but for Gov. Rick Scott.
Scott rejected the money, saying he feared the Tampa-to-Orlando project would have put taxpayers on the hook for cost overruns and future operational costs although state, federal and local officials repeatedly assured him that would not happen.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that the $2.4 billion will be available, through a competitive process, “to states eager to develop high-speed rail corridors across the United States.”
That’s good for Florida, according to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who asked LaHood to hold off giving the money to other states to give state, local and federal officials time to work out another way to get the funds without Scott’s approval.
Meanwhile, Scott put the brakes on the $1.2 billion SunRail commuter train in Central Florida by freezing $235 million in contracts for the project.
LaHood’s reopening of the competitive process for the high-speed rail money could breathe new life into Florida’s other transit proposal.
Nelson said it’s possible a new regional transit authority comprised of officials from cities along the future rail route – Tampa, Orlando, Lakeland and Miami – to compete against other states without Scott’s support.
The new rail authority would have to be associated with Amtrak or another established transportation authority, according to Nelson.
“Florida’s chances are alive, thanks to Secretary LaHood,” Nelson said in a statement. “Secretary LaHood said it’s possible for ‘a Florida transit group’ to apply. That means hope is alive for thousands of good-paying jobs and a modernized transportation system.”
LaHood’s taking applications until April 4.
“A merit-driven process will be used to award the newly available high-speed rail dollars to projects that can deliver public and economic benefits quickly. A project’s ability to reduce energy consumption, improve the efficiency of a region’s overall transportation network, and generate sustained economic activity along the corridor are among the selection criteria,” LaHood said in a statement announcing the money is now back on the table.
March 11th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Evidently Nelson and LaHood never learned that no means no! The people said no and Gov. Scott said no. All they want is to get Florida on the hook and this is unacceptable.
March 11th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Don’t get Ricky Ticky mad and try any funny stuff to get this money. He’s still governor for another three and a half years and can exact revenge in unheard of ways.
March 11th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
This is wonderful news! Those of us from states that long ago invested in effective mass transportation sincerely thank you for your largesse. It’s not as if we needed our tax money to go to you at any rate.
We need it – we’ll take it! Thanks a million… or, actually, two thousand four hundred million…
The 21st Century Unlimited
March 11th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Good for Scott. He can send those jobs to another state. AND that other state that will be able to attract businesses because they will have better infrastructure, schools, and workforce!
March 11th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
@BM, Rick Scott does not speak for me nor does he speak for about 80% of the Florida population who did not vote for him. I applaud Sen. Nelson as he searches for an end run around this crook. Now flush that BM and move on.
March 11th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Thank you Senator Nelson; you are the best!
March 11th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
With Gas prices soaring, when will the Governors office stop shilling for the oil companies, start working for the people of Florida and start work on a real high speed rail service. Just think how far ahead of the curve Florida could have been if Jed Bush didn’t kill the constitutional amendment passed BY FLORIDA VOTERS several years ago, that has been since overturned. Could it be cretin special interest groups want to kill it so badly because once the Jeanie is out of the bottle, people may actually want to use it? Of course we can’t have anything that may interfere with oil company profits and possibly put Floridians to work.
Shame full.
March 11th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
With Gas prices soaring, when will the Governors office stop shilling for the oil companies, start working for the people of Florida and start work on a real high speed rail service. Just think how far ahead of the curve Florida could have been if Jed Bush didn’t kill the constitutional amendment passed BY FLORIDA VOTERS several years ago, that has been since overturned. Could it be certain special interest groups want to kill it so badly because once the Jeanie is out of the bottle, people may actually want to use it? Of course we can’t have anything that may interfere with oil company profits and possibly put Floridians to work.
Shame full.
March 12th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
What cloud does Bill Nelson live on?
March 13th, 2011 at 6:39 am
thank you bill nelson!!!!
March 13th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
Maybe some of us were here in Florida while Jeb killed the rail, the Florida ammendment passed, and he did a law to kill it again. There is no rick Scott as governor. its jeb with all his Yablonski Shanahan friends!
So we need to ask:
Will the REAL GOVERNOR please stand up!?!
March 14th, 2011 at 4:11 am
Scott continues to be a hooded Fascist. The Federal Government will prevail. Jail him for tax evasion and get his reign of stupidity
March 14th, 2011 at 6:33 am
No passenger train has ever made money in Florida. The last thing we need right now is another loser.