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Lawmakers try to save Florida high speed rail project
Rendering of possible Tampa high speed rail station.
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JEREMY HOBSON: In Florida the battle doesn't have to do with unions. It has to do with high speed rail. The state's Republican Governor Rick Scott announced this week he was sending $2.4 billion in high speed rail money back to the federal government. But now, an influential group of lawmakers is trying to salvage the Tampa to Orlando rail line.
From the transportation nation public radio project at WNYC, Andrea Bernstein reports.
ANDREA BERNSTEIN: One of the people caught off guard was John Mica, the Republican chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee.
JOHN MICA: I was taken aback. I had about 15 or 20 minutes to argue my points.
He wants to give the private sector a chance to complete the rail line.
MICA: No risk to the taxpayers. No additional cost to the state of Florida.
At least eight groups have expressed interest in paying the $300 million needed to complete the line, plus any cost overruns. Democratic Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson says responsibility for the project would be transferred from the state of Florida to another public agency.
BILL NELSON: We are looking at several. Amtrak is one.
But the money would come from international construction firm. They want to get in on the beginning of what may be a much longer rail line that extends to Miami. The U.S. Department of Transportation says the Congress members have a week to put together a deal, or the $2.4 billion goes elsewhere. New York and California are clamoring for the money.
I'm Andrea Bernstein for Marketplace.
its important all floridians realize the positive impact this new industry may play in florida now and in the future.Otherwise we may be stuck in the dark ages for another four years at least.This high speed rail and tourism would without a doubt go hand in hand.This system could and more than likely would serve as a great evacuation tool with new corridors considered.Even so, the employment,not possible employment that will come out of this is enormous.from technology of innovative rail signal industies and workplants to manufacturing of the railcars.diesel-electric innovation at its finest all while supplying several jobs and carreers to come to the sunshine state.If the ridership is the only excuse to scrap this project then this is a dark time in in this states history.gov.SCOTT HAS BEEN GIVEN THE KEYS TO THE FUTURE THIS IS ALL HIM NOW.I thought I once heard him say''anything they can do in Texas we can do better here''I guess that meant Florida I am unsure anymore or maybe he was talking about capitol punishment.I would not like to think so and will give him the benefit of the doubt after all this is his first rodeo so to speak as a GOVERNOR.As a Floridian we should welcome him and try to show him our best as ciitizens of all our communities throughout this great state hopefully he will see for himself one day LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW OF A HIGH SPEED RAIL CAR.I had to throw that in there.However this rail bill kill just flushed several what hundred? thousand?none?who knows into the septic tank and that is the last thing Florida needed.hopefully all is not lost yet.As this railway can be so much more than ridership.
