Blogs

Contributed by Bill Rufty
September 15, 2009
The Lakeland Ledger

State Sen. Paula Dockery mailed a report to fellow senators recently saying basically that the supporters of an Orlando commuter rail, which she helped defeat because of the liability clause, and the Florida Department of Transportation, which participated in secret negotiations with CSX Transportation haven't changed their ways.

Examiner.com

President Obama unveiled his administration's blueprint for a new national network of high-speed passenger rail lines today, saying such an investment is necessary to reduce traffic congestion, cut dependence on foreign oil and improve the environment.

Florida will be among the recipients, according to CNN.

Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden, called for clean efficient travel.

By Joe Follick
Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The chief opponent of the controversial SunRail commuter line in greater Orlando met today with the leading supporter, but left the meeting with little change of heart.

Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, has organized a coalition of senators to thwart the demand from CSX Transportation and the Florida Department of Transportation to hold the company harmless from legal damages, beyond their own employees and equipment, due to accidents on the line that would be shared by SunRail and CSX.

By Dan Tracy
Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and a handful of civic leaders squired SunRail opponent Paula Dockery of Lakeland along the proposed path of the would-be commuter train Tuesday.

They called the two-hour-plus session "positive," but conceded there were no breakthroughs with Dockery, a Republican state senator who has helped scuttle SunRail twice during the past two legislative sessions.

"Today wasn't about pressing the deal," Dyer said. "It was about, ‘Look at what this means to people here.'"

By MICHAEL W. FREEMAN
THE REPORTER EDITOR

ORLANDO – After twice watching the Florida Legislature reject funding for a local commuter rail system, supporters of the project are turning to the federal stimulus package in the hopes of reviving the SunRail line, only this time they’re taking a different approach.

“We’re trying a new model,” said U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando. Since the state’s agreement with CSX to purchase the tracks died in June, Grayson said Central Florida’s congressional delegation has been pursuing a new idea.

Published: Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 12:22 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 12:22 a.m.

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Ed Turanchik came to Lakeland on Tuesday as part of a "Connect Us" contingency supporting high-speed rail for Central Florida. "This is all about showing the president of the United States that this is important to Florida when he begins to make his decision on who gets the high-speed-rail stimulus money," he said.

As the old saying goes: "It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it."

Courtney Cunningham
My View

For the first time in many years, the federal government is taking a real interest in high-speed rail.

OUR OPINION: Legislators should sign pledge for Tri-Rail funding source

Tri-Rail's governing board coped with less money this spring by tapping into its reserve of gas tax money normally used to buy new equipment and improve its stations. Then, fortunately, along came millions of dollars in federal stimulus money to pay for capital improvements. This juggling act allows Tri-Rail to keep 50 trains running daily while simultaneously expanding parking at its facilities and purchasing two new locomotives.

The Ft. Meade Leader

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 6:06 AM EDT
WALTER O’ROURKE

BARTOW — I spoke with one of the CSX people at a meeting here in Bartow a few weeks ago and he stated that most of the jobs in the proposed new container yards in Winter Haven would be transfer jobs from existing CSX employees now working in the Tampa and Orlando yards.

The new jobs with CSX might include a few new train crew movements from Tampa to Winter Haven, but would most likely just be transfer of crews from existing service to the new service or “extra board” crews called to work.

Miami News Today

By Risa Polansky
Miami-Dade leaders are kicking a push for local high-speed rail into overdrive, plotting to ask for more federal funding and to rally support from other localities and the state.

High-speed rail has become a focal point in the Obama administration's national transportation vision.

States across the US, including Florida, are vying to jump aboard and secure some of the $8 billion federal stimulus up for grabs.

Plans for a Tampa-Orlando line are moving full-speed ahead, with some study done and right-of-way lined up.