Quote$45-million expansion project will modernize Florida’s infrastructure and help meet region’s energy needs
2/9/2012 Tampa, Fla. â€" While speaking at the Governor’s Luncheon at the Florida State Fair today, Governor Rick Scott announced a bold new initiative aimed at upgrading and modernizing Tampa’s port system. The 50-50 partnership between the State of Florida and the Port of Tampa will enable the port to handle up to five million more tons of petroleum products a year after its completion in 2014. The port estimates the project will create over 641 construction jobs, as well as more than 8,200 direct and indirect jobs over the next 30 years.
The Port of Tampa is an energy gateway for West and Central Florida and currently handles over seven million tons of petroleum products a year. With 45-year-old petroleum unloading facilities in need of updating, the project will ensure the port will continue to meet the region’s need for gasoline, diesel and jet fuels.
Governor Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation to invest $22.5 million in the new facility. The $45-million expansion project will provide two new petroleum berths and rehabilitate the petroleum terminal infrastructure.
“By prioritizing vital transportation projects, we can make Florida a better place for businesses to grow and expand and help get Floridians back to work,†Governor Scott said. “This project will enhance Florida’s infrastructure and get our state ready for a new generation of international trade with the Caribbean, South America and beyond.â€
Question, I thought Jax and Tampa handle the fuel for the state, so is our port already prepared to handle a volume such as this, or is North Florida getting screwed as usual by the South Florida siblings?
More than likely were getting screwed as usual. North Florida is ignored 95% of the time. I used to it by now. If you are not Miami, Tampa or Orlando, you get no help. Period.
I think it was part of the same article quoted above, but the state (through the DOT) is giving JaxPort $20 million over the next two years for a rail transfer facility near the TraPac port.
correct Charles...the reaility is there are 4 large ports in Florida and they're all going to get money at some point.
here's the deal folks....South Florida has 7 million people, Tampa Bay has 3.5 million people, Orlando has 2.2 million people, and we have 1.4 million people....so yes, we often will take a back seat to those other metro areas when it comes to securing state and federal tax dollars
^Regardless of how you parse it, it's unreasonable that an area as large and significant as we are gets left out of state funding disproportionately. State funding is totally schizophrenic. It's more about lobbying power and the power of personality of individual state legislators than it is about what's best for the most amount of people, or for the state as a whole.
we don't....we get our fair share...note the TIGER grant that JaxPort was recently awarded...it comes with a state match