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RAIL EMPLOYMENT & NOTICES



Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation

5/4/2011



Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation

USDOT sends SunRail grant agreement to Congress for review


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The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has completed its review of the SunRail commuter-rail project in central Florida and sent a full funding grant agreement (FFGA) to Congress for review, according to U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.).

Congress has 60 days to review the FFGA. The action signifies that the USDOT is prepared to back multi-year federal funding to construct SunRail along a 61-mile stretch of existing freight-rail track in four central Florida counties. The FFGA is the final step in securing federal dollars for the project, Mica said in a prepared statement.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) estimates the project would generate 10,800 construction jobs, and another 150,000 future jobs would result from transit-related corridor development.

After the 60-day congressional review period, Florida state and FTA officials will need to sign the agreement, which will assure the state “predictable federal financial support” for the project, according to Mica.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who recently turned down $2.4 billion in federal stimulus funds to build a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando, will make the final decision to move forward with SunRail. If he approves it, SunRail could be completed by 2014.