Congress to Legislature: Fund Tri-Rail

[FayeforCure]

Congress to Legislature: Fund Tri-Rail

> Posted by William Gibson on April 14, 2009 06:32 PM



A dozen Florida members of Congress today urged the state Legislature to fund two commuter-rail projects: SunRail in Central Florida and Tri-Rail in South Florida.

The federal government is pumping millions into Tri-Rail through the economic-stimulus bill and a share of this year’s transportation spending. But most of that money is supposed to pay for capital improvements, such as buying locomotives, and cannot be used for operating costs.

John Cline, Tri-Rail’s lobbyist in Washington, says the commuter rail will be forced to limit its hours and reduce services if it can’t get enough operating funds.

The U.S. House members told leaders of the Legislature that state spending would lure more federal dollars. They signed a letter saying it would guarantee $307 million in federal transit funds and lead to more money for major transportation initiatives.

“Failure to act now during this legislative session in support of these critical transit projects will send federal transportation dollars to other states and damage Florida’s credibility as Congress considers a major federal transportation bill this year,” they wrote.

Congressmen Ron Klein, a Democrat from Boca Raton, and John Mica of Winter Park, the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, rounded up the signatures and sent the letter to the Legislature.

Here’s the letter:


April 14, 2009


The Honorable Larry Cretul
Speaker of the House

The Honorable Jeff Atwater
Senate President

The Honorable Charlie Crist
Governor of the State of Florida


Dear Speaker Cretul, Senate President Atwater, and Governor Crist:

It is vital to Florida’s future that we create transportation systems that keep pace with other states. Central Florida and South Florida must develop efficient, competitive rail systems consistent with our nation’s largest metropolitan areas.

Not only can the Central Florida Rail Project and the continued development of Tri-Rail relieve congestion, but they can also improve air quality, and stimulate economic development throughout the region and the entire state. The SunRail commuter rail project will add 246,000 additional jobs, with $7.3 billion in total transit-oriented future development. The Tri-Rail system will have a substantial impact on moving commuters, tourists and commerce through the region. Since 2007, in Charlotte, a short 9-mile light rail line has generated investments of over $1.8 billion.

The Legislature’s positive support of SunRail will guarantee $307 million in federal transit funds and lead the way for federal assistance to other areas for major transportation initiatives. Tri-Rail, for example, is facing severe budget cuts despite serving 4 million riders last yearâ€"a record number. Yet Tri-Rail is at risk of losing Federal Transit Authority funding if they cannot meet certain service levels.

Clearly, failure to act now during this legislative session in support of these critical transit projects will send federal transportation dollars to other states and damage Florida’s credibility as Congress considers a major federal transportation bill this year.

We look forward to working with you in the next few weeks toward a successful conclusion of the funding authorization of these two projects.


Sincerely,

John L. Mica
Ron Klein
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Corrine Brown
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Alcee L. Hastings
Mario Diaz-Balart
Robert Wexler
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Kendrick B. Meek
Suzanne M. Kosmas
Alan Grayson


POSTED IN: Congress (44), Tri-Rail (1)

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/dcblog/2009/04/congress_to_legislature_fund_t_1.html

[thelakelander]

The U.S. House members told leaders of the Legislature that state spending would lure more federal dollars. They signed a letter saying it would guarantee $307 million in federal transit funds and lead to more money for major transportation initiatives.

So what is Florida going to do?  The ball is in our court.

The SunRail commuter rail project will add 246,000 additional jobs, with $7.3 billion in total transit-oriented future development.

Wow, where did they get these numbers from?  If true, that's impressive.

Since 2007, in Charlotte, a short 9-mile light rail line has generated investments of over $1.8 billion.

This is pretty much what we've been saying on the site, the last few years.  Its time for Jax's leaders to take this serious.

[mtraininjax]

Quote
Since 2007, in Charlotte, a short 9-mile light rail line has generated investments of over $1.8 billion.

This is pretty much what we've been saying on the site, the last few years.  Its time for Jax's leaders to take this serious.

How many Billions has the Tri-rail system generated in South Florida? Yes, that system that teeters on solvancy...

[tufsu1]

how much congestion has it relieved on I-95 over the last 20 years?  How wide would I-95 have to be without Tri-Rail?  How much would it coast to acquire the necessary ROW?

[thelakelander]

To bad there is no rail line paralleling I-595.  Maybe then, it would not cost $1.2 billion to expand 10.5 miles of that highway.

http://www.flgov.com/release/10569

http://www.i-595.com/default.aspx

[Ocklawaha]

tufsu1, That was mean spirited man! We all know that Freeways are FREE and huge profit centers for the mayor State. Moreover that Airline tickets that cost the taxpayers $40 - $500 dollars are actually an investment, and that train tickets that cost the same taxpayers $30 dollars, are going to bring down the national budget. Come on tufsu1, our Freeways, Oil, Gas, Auto, concrete and Rubber industry need you!

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

Wow, where did they get these numbers from?  If true, that's impressive.

Since 2007, in Charlotte, a short 9-mile light rail line has generated investments of over $1.8 billion.

This is pretty much what we've been saying on the site, the last few years.  Its time for Jax's leaders to take this serious.

"...And now a word from our Beloved Great Leader, Mayor Peyton."



ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

sorry Ock...didn't mean to rain on your highway party...if it makes you feel any better, your list of potential local road projects you listed in another thread will probably cost more than $2 to $3 billion...I'm guessing around $5B

[thelakelander]

^I was thinking the same thing.

[JeffreyS]

Honestly what kind of stimulus would we have saving $7 on highway maintenance for every $1 we spend on rail transit.

[tufsu1]

that isn't a fair comparison....O&M costs for transit are often higher than for roads....basically the capitalk costs for roads are matched in maintenance about every 12-15 years (not including inflation).