Transportation Committee
Learn more about how this committee is working for better ideas in our
community…
CONTACT:
Lynn Eberly
407-420-4256
leberly@hdrinc.com
Read More about Florida Transportation
Issues
Letter to Governor Scott on SunRail
March 28, 2011
Office of Florida Governor Rick Scott
400 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
March 28, 2011
Dear Governor Scott,
Sometime when you are traveling around my native state, please fly over Interstate 4 (I-4) in Central Florida during morning or evening rush hour. As you know well, I-4 goes right through Orange County where I live. The most recent Census tells us that the heart of Central Florida - Orange County - grew 28% in the past ten years. I-4 has congestive heart failure.
Think about what the future holds for our economy and everyday life if we don’t build an alternative way to get around in Central Florida. Think about the fact that I-4 doesn’t just carry Central Floridians. This highway carries goods and services and visitors who need to get to where they are going in a timely and safe manner. Florida’s reputation is at stake. Even if we find the 3 billion dollars needed to widen I-4 (and we have no idea now when and how that will happen), we won’t be able to meet the needs of future generations to get around the area just by widening this highway and all the feeder roads to I-4. How will we get to work?
For decades, many good people have planned a passenger rail network to get citizens to work (including workers who serve tourists who still play a big part of what Florida is all about). Planners and local governments have gone through all the Federal and State processes that have been asked of them and now we are ready to start. The first commuter line is just the beginning of what we hope will be a transportation system which integrates throughout our region with the other ways to get around – cars, airplanes, buses. We are not abandoning roads; we need it all for a healthy future.
You now know the spine of the planned system as SunRail and I know you want to ensure you understand the facts surrounding the project. I ask that you consider the generations ahead when you make your final choice on whether to let us continue as we build a way to get to work. The community needs your help to keep moving. Please don’t let us down. Let’s get to work together to build a better future.
Sincerely,
Joanie Schirm
CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA TALK PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN HSR
This week's broadcast of the High Speed Rail News Channel features news about California and Florida's direction toward private investment for their High Speed Rail Systems. Full Story...
Projected
Economic Impact
Fed
transit chief to
FL Senate: 'Get act together' on SunRail
2009
Pocket Guide to Florida Transportation Trends/Conditions
edited version
Central
Florida With/Without Toll Roads
Hillsborough
Transit Tax gets Closer to Ballot
TampaTrib.com
Florida
Transportation Funding Alternatives
Florida Engineering Society (FES) Journal, October 2009
Q&A
with Expressway Authority's Mike Snyder
Shame
On Us? Florida League President
Salutes Senator LeMieux's Comments
Resolution 09-13
Reaffirmation
of Support for SunRail
adopted by Metroplan Board
June 10, 2009
 3
ways logic lost out in SunRail fiasco
Jane Healy | Feet to the Fire
Orlando Sentinel, May 10, 2009
What
we think: A last chance for rail
Orlando Sentinel editorial, May 10, 2009
How
SunRail failed: Gripes, grudges and Paula Dockery's gift to senators
Dan Tracy
Orlando Sentinel, May 3, 2009
SunRail's
Uncertain Future
Metroplan, April 30, 2009
SunRail news and coverage:
When the Train Leaves The Station - Will We
Be On Board?
By State Representative Dean Cannon
 We
have the opportunity right now to transform the way we travel as a state
and region for years to come. Great opportunities like the one presented
by Central Florida's Commuter Rail project are rare. The only question
now is whether our state leaders will seize upon this golden opportunity
or let it pass by? Our rapidly growing region has suffered for years with
congested roads, particularly I-4. For too long the solution to our transportation
needs has been to only add more lanes. This way of thinking, though, is
not a complete answer to the 21st century transportation challenges we
face.
Central Florida Commuter Rail will create a 61-mile commuter link between
DeLand and Poinciana. It will bring numerous benefits to the residents
of Central Florida. Locally, it will help relieve congestion on I-4 and
surrounding area roads in our community. But, investing in this mass transit
system will not just benefit Central Florida. Commuter Rail will act as
the mass transit spine to which future connections can be added to benefit
all Floridians. With a smaller state budget, this solution is smarter
and more cost effective than only adding lanes to I-4 and building more
highways. Commuter Rail is the forward-thinking solution we need to meet
the transportation challenges that will be created by a population that
is projected to double in the next 50 years.
Commuter Rail will also give us the transportation system we need to
support continued economic growth in Florida. Florida's economy cannot
prosper if we are unable to move both people and freight. Commuter Rail
will create jobs and help stimulate economic development and growth to
surrounding areas. This means that even those Floridians who never step
foot on a rail car will still greatly benefit from it. With Florida's
economy hurting, your elected leaders should take advantage of every opportunity
to ease the economic pain and stimulate growth.
Lastly, Commuter Rail will help address Florida's environmental and energy
needs. By removing thousands of vehicles from our roads every day, this
transportation system will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and our demand
on foreign oil. Both are important for the future sustainability of our
state.
Thanks to our congressional leaders Rep. Corrine Brown and Rep. John
Mica we have the opportunity to secure more than $300 million in federal
funds to help pay for the $615 million price tag on Commuter Rail. These
federal dollars come from gas taxes that you and I have paid for years
to the federal government. If we do not use these dollars now, they will
be used to build mass transit systems in other states. It could be decades
before Florida is able to bring in federal dollars again for a mass transit
project.
Central Florida has seen great bipartisan leadership on this issue from
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, to local
governments and business partners, to Governor Crist and Florida Department
of Transportation Secretary Kopelousos. Floridians overwhelmingly are
in support of this measure as well. I am excited that the Florida Legislature
this year has the ability to take the final step to make this project
a reality. In order to purchase the 61.5 miles of track the Legislature
must approve the purchase of liability insurance, like those already in
place for Tri-Rail in South Florida, to protect rail passengers and the
state's investment in the project. I am proud to say the Florida House
passed these measures last year, and this year I am optimistic the Senate
will join us in bringing a cost effective, energy efficient, environmentally
friendly mass transit system to our region.
With our state facing numerous challenges, Floridians want leaders who
can get things done. They want leaders who can come together and find
common sense solutions to address the issues we face. Commuter Rail is
an example of a common sense solution to address Florida's transportation
needs for this generation and generations to come. Your voice matters,
and your elected leaders need to hear from you on Commuter Rail. We need
your involvement to make sure that this great opportunity does not pass
us by. I want to hear from you if you have any ideas on this or any other
topic.
Feel free to visit my website at www.deancannon.com
or contact me at 407-623-5740.
Have a wonderful Holiday,
Dean
State Representative Dean Cannon represents House District 35, which
encompasses part of Orange County including both Baldwin Park and Winter
Park.
from The Park Press, December 2008
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