Florida governor now targets SunRail

Not content with detaching Florida from any involvement in high speed rail, Gov. Rick Scott has put central Florida’s $1.2 billion Sunrail regional rail project on hold, at least until July. Scott says he wants to examine the project to see if it meets his criteria of providing taxpayers an adequate return on their investment.

The postponement means no action will occur until after the state legislative session ends, with the legislature pondering up to $2 billion in tax cuts requested by Scott. Tax cuts aside, critics of the governor speculate that the postponement allows the governor to kill SunRail after the legislature adjourns, minimizing any potential political backlash.

The governor in January froze four contracts for SunRail that were put out by the Florida Department of Transportation totaling $235 million, as part of his review of all agreements over $1 million. The move was only the latest obstacle for the SunRail project, and came after CSX Transportation, Amtrak, and Florida DOT had resolved liability issues for the 61-mile route.

“I think the governor’s decisions are politically motivated and not based on good, sound management decisions or good, sound economics,” State Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viero, said. “He doesn’t respect the legislative process, and the fact that we had a special session where this project was debated and vetted.”