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Scott rejects high speed rail for FL
Rick Scott rejects high-speed rail in Florida
Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday morning that he is rejecting $2.3 billion in federal money to build a high speed rail line between Orlando and Tampa.
In his announcement, Scott criticized federal spending, and worried that Florida would be responsible for cost overruns. He also expressed doubt that governments estimates of three million paying customers a year was accurate.
The decision is a major setback for advocates of high speed rail in Florida. The project was expected to cost $2.6 billion, with a private contractor kicking in the rest of the money.
The federal funds will now go to another state that wants to build high speed rail. Illinois, New York and California are among the states that have indicated they want the money if Florida rejects it.
Ohio and Wisconsin have previously rejected the money. Florida ended up getting some of the funding that was originally going to go to those two states.
Florida officials had planned to build the Orlando to Tampa line, and then extend high speed rail from Orlando Miami.
Jacksonville was seen as a likely candidate to get high speed rail in a third phase. Vice-President Biden told the Miami Herald in 2009 that he thought Jacksonville was a logical location.
Jacksonville could still end up being linked to the Southeast corridor. The U.S. Department of Transportation now has a long-term map that has high speed rail coming to Jacksonville via Savannah and Atlanta. But that route ends in Jacksonville, and doesn't go through the rest of the state.
U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., who is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told the Miami Herald Wednesday morning that Scott is making a mistake.
"I have urged the Governor to reconsider going forward and allow the private sector to assume the risk and any future costs for the project," Mica said. "I made this appeal to the Governor this morning. With the federal government assuming 90% of the cost of the project, I am disappointed the private sector will not have an opportunity to even offer innovative proposals to help finance the balance of the costs and to construct and operate this system."
The decision also drew scorn from State Rep. Hazelle Rogers, D-Lauderdale Lakes, the Democratic ranking member on the House Transportation Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee.
"One year after Florida lawmakers took historic, bipartisian action to spur the state's economy with a job-creating high-speed rail proposal," Rogers said. "Governor Rick Scott is making a misguided unilateral decision to overturn the will of the Republican led Florida legislature.
High speed rail would create thousands of jobs, and Scott is taking those jobs away from the state, Rogers said.
This is the second time high speed rail has been rejected in Florida. Voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2000 that mandated high speed rail be constructed, but that amendment was repealed in 2004.
Re: Scott rejects high speed rail for FL
I am personally a huge fan of the idea of high speed rail. Plus the funds are coming from national funds and private sector funds, not state. Last I looked FL needs JOBS!
Plus with airfare getting more expensive, I see high speed rail as an alternative mode of transportation. I thought competition was good too...
Flying within the state is ridiculous. I'm all for the high-speed rail.
My Ovulation Chart
Rick Scott is so full of failure these days. Proposing crazy things to the legislature and calling them "Bills", to trying to move judicial branches of government underneath the executive branches (violates the constitution). Making health benefits for state employees 800$ a month. The dude doesn't know what he is doing.
He makes me regret being a republican that voted for him.