QuoteHurdle cleared in SunRail negotiations
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
TALLAHASSEE (Bay News 9) -- The SunRail is one step closer to reality.
The 61-mile commuter rail line would run through the heart of central Florida.
If it's approved, even the Bay area could benefit with a rail line of its own.
Florida's transportation secretary says railroad company CSX has agreed to a major concession: a compromise on liability.
Now the next big hurdle is to get the feds to throw in $2.5 billion for the project.
"If we can show our commitment to rail here in Florida, then we have a much greater opportunity for the bullet train funds from the federal government," Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said.
There's now talk of a special legislative session as early as next month to tackle the issue. The governor says they'll decide by Thanksgiving if that's going to happen.
The other big issue leaders are debating is just how to pay for the SunRail. They're considering a $2 surcharge on rental cars. But if counties are given the right to opt out of it that could pose a problem.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2009/11/17/548236.html?title=Hurdle+cleared+in+SunRail+negotiations+
QuoteBullet train might get special session
By MARC CAPUTO
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
Gov. Charlie Crist and legislative leaders are discussing a new tax to pay for South and Central Florida rail service in the hopes that federal officials will send billions of dollars to the state for a new bullet train.
Crist said Tuesday that he's ``optimistic'' legislators can reach a tentative agreement by next week to hold a special lawmaking session on the issue as early as next month.
``If we can show our commitment to rail here in Florida,'' Crist said, ``then we have a much greater opportunity for the bullet-train funds from the federal government.''
Senate leaders are considering allowing local governments to impose a new $2 rental car surcharge. In South Florida, the charge would help pay for Tri-Rail, which officials say is underfunded. In Central Florida, the money could pay for the Orlando-area SunRail.
Crist said lawmakers are still hashing out whether the fee could be imposed by local referendum or county commission vote.
Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater and others say that such a tax could offer proof to the federal government that Florida is serious about transit, which might help the state qualify for up to $2.5 billion for a high-speed rail line. The line could ultimately connect SunRail, Tri-Rail and even a new transit line along the Florida East Coast rail corridor in the heart of South Florida's urban areas.
`RISK-FREE' SOURCE
Atwater said federal officials indicated to him that they want ``a sustainable and risk-free'' revenue source for any rail project.
That might rule out legislation for a referendum, because voters could simply reject the idea.
Atwater's chamber has repeatedly killed SunRail financing; the House has long had the votes to pass the project.
SunRail's main opponent, Republican Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland, said the project is too expensive and could unfairly burden taxpayers with liability lawsuits if the private company CSX was at fault in an accident on the tracks.
The state's transportation secretary, Stephanie Kopelousos, said Thursday that CSX was willing to strike a bargain over the liability issue. But the state has yet to have an agreement in writing.
A final complication to any rail deal: Election-year politics.
Legislators and Crist are already feeling heat for raising $2.2 billion in new fees and taxes this year. Crist, locked in a competitive Republican U.S. Senate primary, has signed a no-new-taxes pledge.
Asked if the $2 rental surcharge is a tax, Crist said ``I'll leave that to others to call it what they want.''
The Legislature approved a new surcharge in 2006, only to have Gov. Jeb Bush veto it because it was a new tax.
ALTERNATIVE
The head of the House's Finance and Tax Committee, Fort Lauderdale Republican Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, said she would prefer that state lawmakers initially redirect money from an existing $2 rental-car fee to fund the rail projects.
Then, in 2012, voters could decide whether to raise the new $2 rental-car tax.
State transportation officials object to the redirection of existing funds -- up to $100 million -- because they're tied to current projects.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1338633.html
Quote from: stephendare on November 18, 2009, 06:05:37 PM
huh. Didnt see that comin.
Its a recession and there is a lot of money on the line.
Yeah, these boys will do ANYTHING to get their toy railroad, Tampa - Disney - Orlando Airport, high speed, amusement ride built. They will go to any length, even if it means building something smart and useful like Sunrail.
Amazing that this state will even err to correctness if required so they can F*(#$*@#K up another rail project.
The only apprehension is what ever will they do if we get Sunrail, and NOT Stupidrail (HSR)? De-fund all rail? Ya never know.
OCKLAWAHA
The compromise is probably extremely similar to what was just agreed to in Massachusetts.
QuoteUnder the compromise announced today, CSX will pay the MBTA $500,000 a year toward the cost of its overall legal insurance and it agrees to pay the T's $7.5 million deductible if its employees are found "clearly at fault because of willful misconduct." State law caps train crash-related lawsuit payments against the T at $75 million.
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/wellesley/2009/09/csx_finalizes_agreement_to_exp.html
No doubt. Got to be monkey-see-monkey do, because we've all seen what Florida politicos are capable of if left to their own devices.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: stephendare on November 18, 2009, 06:22:00 PM
Gotta give the devil his due!
If we were south carolina or texas, 2012 would come and go, and we still wouldnt have a rail agreement for the mayan curse to utterly destroy.
Those damn indians are following me! OCKLAWAHA
$2 Dollar tax huh? I am sure the Rental Agency's are loving that one but I would have to ask........what happens if rentals continue to fall? They appear to be betting on one horse and I think that could be a problem! I have not heard anything about a Plan B..........anyone else?
This is good news. I wonder if it will appease Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland. I hope the concession by CSX is something that would carry over to all state projects.
This is also good news for the Jacksonville area and our hopes of Commuter Rail.
Quote from: CS Foltz on November 19, 2009, 05:27:23 AM
$2 Dollar tax huh? I am sure the Rental Agency's are loving that one but I would have to ask........what happens if rentals continue to fall? They appear to be betting on one horse and I think that could be a problem! I have not heard anything about a Plan B..........anyone else?
Most transit is supported at least in part by local option tax, gas tax etc. EVERY AGENCY all across the nation is suffering from shortfall in funding. Hardest hit seem to be the ones living on gas taxes.
While JTA is bruised from short funds, the long term looks better in Jacksonville then elsewhere. OCKLAWAHA
You said it Ock.............I just wish there was some viable Plan B or C! Locking into one set Plan kinda ties ones hands especially if your trying to think out side of the box! Something beats nothing at all....... I just wish there were more options for the funding end of things!
One more hurdle cleared?
QuoteSunRail almost has Senate vote
A special lawmaking session over high-speed and commuter rail inched closer Monday as legislative leaders and the governor said they were ready to tap surplus money discovered in the transportation budget rather than raise taxes on rental cars.
The surplus money -- about $76 million for the current and next budget years -- should be enough to help fill a hole in South Florida's Tri-Rail system.
Also Monday, opposition to Central Florida's SunRail project started to thaw in the Florida Senate, where the transit system could now be one vote shy of winning passage, according to a Herald/Times vote count.
Among the switched votes: Democratic leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee and Republican Steve Wise of Jacksonville. Newly elected Sen. John Thrasher, who was a chief lobbyist for SunRail last year, replaced SunRail opponent Jim King. And Tony Hill, D-Tallahassee, missed the vote last year but said he was "leaning toward'' voting in favor of the rail package.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2009/11/sunrail-nears-2020-vote-in-senate-gas-taxes-save-rental-surcharge-.html
btw....I highly doubt they just found $150 million in a trust fund that's been going down every year....better bet is they just re-prioritized some funds.