Working to get commuter rail on track in Central Florida- important KEY for High speed rail

[Adam Fritz]

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florida legislature
Alexander Pushes for Sunrail Amid Opposition

By KEITH LAING
& JOHN KENNEDY


Published: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 8:36 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 10:50 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE | Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander breathed life Wednesday into prospects of a December special session that could get commuter rail on track in Central Florida, but discussion in his committee showed opposition likely continues.



Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said commuter and high speed rail measures would put thousands of Floridians to work in a lousy economy.

Federal transportation officials have $8 billion available for high-speed rail initiatives nationwide, and a Tampa-to-Orlando train could be eligible for a portion of that cash if lawmakers act swiftly, Senate leaders have said.

Alexander reminded his Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday that federal officials have made it clear that before Washington will approve the state's $2.5 billion application for the first leg of the proposed Tampa-Orlando-Miami bullet train, they're looking for action on commuter trains languishing in Florida.

"I think there's a very good likelihood of qualifying and being granted high-speed rail dollars," Alexander said, following the hearing. "So the package would create several thousand jobs ... and spark the process that would change the way we commute."

Alexander said the rail initiatives would help Florida move away from the nation's dependence on foreign oil by reducing the volume of vehicles coursing through the Interstate 4 corridor and beyond.

Alexander was among a handful of Senate leaders who went to Washington, D.C. last month to huddle with federal officials about the rail projects, culminating in Senate President Jeff Atwater declaring that a special session should be considered in December to approve the effort.

But Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, raised the issue largely believed to have derailed SunRail the past two years, a liability agreement with CSX Corp. that the freight rail company had tied to the sale of the 61 miles of track that would be used to run SunRail trains.

"That sounds all good and fancy but is the federal government willing to indemnify CSX if there's an accident as opposed the state of Florida having to indemnify if there's an accident?" he asked Alexander.

After last session's defeat, SunRail was thought to be dead. But CSX extended the period to negotiate the plan's liability agreement in June. The current agreement - a "no fault" indemnification agreement that would have the state and CSX each responsible for its own equipment, workers and passengers no matter who causes an accident and third party damage being split - was voted down by the Senate this spring despite being changed from a broader immunity plan the chamber balked at in 2008.

Siplin, who heads the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators, resurrected concerns about trains affecting traffic. Opponents like Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, complained that freight trains re-routed from the tracks that SunRail would use would tie up downtown Lakeland, and Siplin said Wednesday that the commuter trains could be a problem too.

RELATED LINKS
Related Links:
Governor Seeks Special Session
Disney Supports High-Speed Train
Groups Argue for Location of Rail Stop in Polk
Meeting on High-Speed Rail Today
High-Speed Rail Meetings Set
'Rail Renaissance' to Be Slow Process
Legislators Seek Federal Approval for Rail Plan
Bullet Train Backers Rally in Lakeland
High-Speed Rail Talk on Fast Track
High-Speed Rail Wants County's Backing
Florida Makes Pitch for High-Speed Rail
Agency Plans Funds for SunRail
SunRail Talks Extension Draws Mixed Reactions
Biden: Florida in Good Shape for Rail Money


This story appeared in print on page B1

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