Crist On Board For Orlando Commuter Rail

CRIST ALL BOARD FOR ORLANDO COMMUTER RAILBy KEITH LAINGTHE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDAEnhanced resources for this story:are available at www.newsserviceflorida.comTHE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Feb. 4, 2009.............Gov. Charlie Crist lent his support Wednesday to commuter rail in the Orlando area, something that was missing from the failed effort to get the project on track last year. Crist mostly stayed above the fray during what was one of the Legislature's most high profile fights last year, as opponents of re-routing freight trains and trial lawyers opposed to lawsuit protections for CSX Corp. killed the plan. But Crist said this year, he'll help make the $1.2 billion project go, supporting legislation (SB 1212) filed Tuesday that would build the train and resolve the liability issue. Last year, the plan would have freed CSX from liability for problems on the rails in some cases in exchange for use of the company's existing tracks. The new plan now backed by Crist addresses the liability issue by splitting responsibility for accidents between the state and CSX instead of completely absolving the company in the event of a mishap. The bill is sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, and Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and will be carried in the House by Reps. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, and Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando. Advocates said the proposed commuter train, now known as SunRail after an online poll of Orlando residents, would create 13,000 jobs and generate $4.6 billion for the construction sector over 20 years. Supporters also said the train would spur 113,000 construction projects within a half-mile range of 17 stations that will be built between DeLand and Poinciana and would remove the number of cars that fill one lane of Interstate 4 during weekday rush hours.Joined by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer at a Capitol news conference, Crist asked who could be against that kind of project. “It's a wonderful thing to do,” the governor said. "It helps the economy, it helps transportation, it helps people have the opportunity to move around in a way that is more clean..... And that's awfully important, especially in a state like ours that is so beautiful and continues to get cleaner every single day, so the important engine of tourism continues to have opportunity to flourish."Crist added that he was particularly impressed with the cooperation between the local governments involved in the project - the city of Orlando and Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties."This is an incredibly cooperative effort to do what's right, not only for central Florida, but really for all of Florida," Crist said during the news conference. "Having the opportunity to have more rail...to uncongest our interstates and our roadways is one of the most important things that we can do."Crist flashed his trademark optimism over the train's prospects in the Legislature this year, even while acknowledging last year's defeat. Several Orlando area interest groups pushed hard for the train in 2008, as they are again this year, but it was derailed by the CSX liability indemnity provisions as well a plan to reroute freight trains through a Lakeland Senate district represented by a staunch opponent in Republican Sen. Paula Dockery. The senator and the trial bar fought hard against the proposal, ultimately dooming the legislation. Advocates said last fall that it would take support from Crist to overcome the opposition and in giving it to them Wednesday, Crist said that this year will be different. "(We) tried to do it last year and this time we're going to make it go," he told supporters who filled the Cabinet room with handmade signs in favor of the train. Crist added that one reason he is optimistic is because of the new administration in Washington, D.C., which is eager to fund projects like rail. "It's about turning dirt," Crist said. "As I understand it, there are funds there to do it now. By going ahead and getting the bill approved as early as possible, we get matching...federal funds to put more coal in the engine as relates to this project." Dyer, who also chairs the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission Governing Board, also said the SunRail project is a perfect example of the kind of initiative that President Barack Obama has said will be necessary to stimulate the nation's economy. "Central Florida and the entire state are feeling the effects of the nationwide recession," Dyer said, "Everyday we hear more and more about communities that are in desperate need of projects that create jobs and jump start spending. We hear about needing shovel-ready projects. Today, we unite to tell the residents of Florida and our state legislators, who have a very important vote coming up on this in a few weeks, that SunRail is an economic stimulus and we are ready to roll." Like Crist, Sen. Constantine said the legislative fight over the train would be different than it was in 2008. "Last year there was a great deal of confusion about this issue," Constantine said. "The local folks back home and the DOT have worked tirelessly to work with all of the various local areas, whether it be Tampa Bay or Polk County, to make them understand the importance of this issue. We in the Legislature...are trying to do everything we can to alleviate the concerns of our fellow members."Specifically, Constantine said the new bill would tackle the concerns of lawyers and residents of Lakeland and Polk County. "We have worked very hard with the trial lawyers to eliminate the sovereign immunity issue and get them to feel comfortable with this issue," he said. "We have been working very closely with the city of Lakeland to let them understand that we're there to help them. In the bill filed yesterday, we actually have put language in bill to alleviate a lot of the concerns of Lakeland and we pledge to continue to work with them on the concerns they, and any other area of this state, have." That's why Constantine said he shared Crist's optimism that lawmakers would be ready to get on board with the train proposal this year. "We're going to continue, we're going to work through this and we're going to make it happen in Senate," Constantine said.However, in a letter to Crist after it became known that he would endorse the train proposal - and in an interview with the News Service after Crist's announcement - Dockery again girded for a fight over the train in the upper chamber. "It's not that I'm not in favor of the commuter rail," Dockery told the News Service. "I am not in favor of the deal as negotiated. What I was asking in my letter is 'let's sit down and open up this agreement.'" In particular, Dockery said, she is not in favor of the amount of money the state will end up paying CSX for the use of its 61 miles of track in addition to the $615 million it will cost to build stations, purchase train cars and acquire land for parking lots. The plan currently calls for another $432 million for expenses related to freight track, which Dockery said should be dealt with separately. "I don't think the governor understands the entire project," Dockery said. "I think he is only focusing on the commuter rail aspect of it. But as we all know, when it comes to things like this, the devil is in the details." The details, Dockery said, are what bother her the most about the bill championed by Crist and several lawmakers Wednesday. "This is one of the poorest negotiated deals I have ever seen," she said. "I can't imagine why the Florida DOT would behave so poorly on behalf of taxpayers." Dockery said Massachusetts was negotiating a similar deal with CSX for roughly the same length of track, but that state is paying much less. "We are talking about spending $641 million to buy 61 miles," Dockery said. "That's $10 million per mile. This is the most costly rail sale in the United States. The state of Massachusetts....has the same hang ups with liability as Florida, but they are paying $1.5 million per mile." As she said in her letter to Crist, Dockery said she hopes to be able to talk with the governor soon about her problems with the bill. "If we were to open up that agreement, we could have commuter rail go forward and we could have a win-win-win for everybody, including the communities negatively affected by the freight rail. I haven't heard back from the governor, but I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to sit down and explain to him how commuter rail can be a win-win for everybody."Whether or not that conversation happens remains to be seen, but Dockery said Crist's support of the rail plan would likely not change its legislative outcome. Dockery said she is already meeting with fellow senators to rally opposition to the plan. "I think the battle will again be in the Senate," Dockery said. "I really don't anticipate there will be enough votes. I don't think senators want to go home to explain transferring liability from a private company to the taxpayers. The governor is a likable guy, and he's very charismatic, so his support will be important, but I think the outcome is going to be the same as last year." --END--2/4/2009Illuminating the Sunshine Statehttp://www.newsserviceflorida.com