News & Events

Recent News

October 5, 2009
Fed transit chief tells Florida Senate to get on board with commuter rail

By Dan Tracy
Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood had a simple message today for the Florida Senate: Get behind the planned SunRail commuter train in Central Florida, or forget about the state winning $2.5 billion in federal money for a proposed high speed train linking Orlando with Tampa.

"You've got to get your act together," LaHood told the Orlando Sentinel about the Senate, which twice has failed to approve SunRail.

"If they don't," he said moments later to a Florida official, "there's going to be a lot of disappointed people."

LaHood gave two speeches – plus a short interview – during a visit to Central Florida, one to a transportation convention at the J.W. Marriott hotel, the second to more than 100 elected officials and areas leaders in downtown Orlando.

He left little doubt that the $8 billion set aside by the Obama Administration and the Congress for high speed rail would go to the communities that support all forms of transit, from buses to commuter trains to bicycle paths. And he wants them to connect, allowing people to get out of their cars, reducing congestion and pollution.

"It (high speed rail) is the next step," LaHood said, "the next level of transportation … It means you are forward thinking."

Miss out on trains capable of going at least 110 mph, he said, "you are going to be stuck on the highway."

The winners won't be announced until the end of the year, LaHood said.

Until then, LaHood said his department is looking commitments from the 40 states that have filed 287 preliminary applications seeking $103 billion for high speed rail projects.

"Everybody is not going to get their own stop, in simple terms," he said.