Crist backing new central Fla. commuter rail bill
Published: February 4, 2009
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Charlie Crist is backing an effort to revive a proposed commuter rail line for central Florida.
Crist held a news conference Wednesday with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and area lawmakers to tout the $1.1 billion SunRail project.
The price includes $491 million in state money to buy tracks from CSX, improve the rail company’s facilities and relocate a freight yard. The rest of the local, state and federal money would be spent building the system.
Crist and others said new legislation resolves liability issues that caused the Senate to reject a House-passed measure last year.
Critics, though, still stay it’ll be a costly handout to CSX. Sen. Paula Dockery, a Lakeland Republican, also remains opposed, saying it’ll mean more long, loud freight trains running through her hometown.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
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