QuoteCentral Florida counties aboard for $615 mln rail project
Reuters
By Barbara Liston
July 31, 2007
ORLANDO, Florida, July 31 (Reuters) - Central Florida is all aboard for construction of a 61-mile, $615 million commuter rail system to unclog Interstate 4 from DeLand to Kissimmee.
Volusia County, the last local signatory needed, on Tuesday committed to helping pay the tab for the rail system, which will be financed through 30-year fixed guideway bonds issued through the state of Florida.
"The train is here. It's not coming. It's here," Volusia County Councilman Jack Hayman said after a unanimous vote in favor of the plan.
The state, which initially will own and operate the system, projects trains will be ready to roll by mid-2010, with 11 stops from DeBary in Volusia County to Orlando in Orange County.
Five stops will be added by 2013 in Phase 2, extending the line to the Amtrak station in DeLand in the north and to Kissimmee in the vicinity of the region's world famous theme parks in the south.
Four counties and the city of Orlando needed to agree to fund a total of 25 percent of the project costs, with some help from Winter Park and Maitland, two cities that will benefit from train stops.
The state of Florida will pay an additional 25 percent and the federal government will cover the remaining 50 percent.
The state expects to pay its share through the Florida growth management program funded by statewide taxes on real estate transactions. The municipalities are considering various combinations of taxes and bonded indebtedness, including gasoline, sales and property taxes.
Ideas for mass transit have been floated for two decades in fast-growing central Florida, home to sprawling housing developments and worsening automobile traffic.
The transport dreams became more concrete almost exactly a year ago, when then-Gov. Jeb Bush, a Republican, announced on Aug. 2, 2006, a $491 million deal with CSX Corp's CSX Transportation unit. The state purchased the CSX track through urban areas and paid to expand freight lines west of Orlando, thus clearing the way for commuter rail.
The new commuter line is expected to connect with expanded bus service and future light rail systems. Some critics complained that the system does not connect with the airport, theme parks or shopping malls.
In separate votes in July, commitments were made for Volusia County to pay $26.5 million; Seminole County $46.2 million; Orange County $40.35 million (including Winter Park and Maitland shares); the city of Orlando $13.7 million; and Osceola County $27.1 million.
61 miles for $615 million equals $10.1 million per mile. Orlando's rail system that will be operational within three years is $15 million per mile cheaper than our BRT plan and that cost is being split between four counties. It really appears that we (Duval County) are getting the shaft on this one.