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Rail News: High-Speed Rail
2/28/2011
Rail News: High-Speed Rail
Gov. Scott: 'My position on high-speed rail remains unchanged'
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On Friday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced he had met with Florida Gov. Rick Scott to discuss the Tampa-Orlando high-speed rail project — and that he was giving the governor another week to review a proposal crafted by local elected officials that would help protect the state from project liabilities.
But at this point, it doesn’t look like Scott will change his mind. In a statement issued Friday evening, Scott said his position on high-speed rail hasn’t changed.
“I believe high-speed rail is a federal boondoggle, as I said more than a week ago. This morning, I communicated to Secretary LaHood that as long as Florida remains on the hook for cost overruns, operating costs and paybacks in the case of default, I will vigorously oppose this project,” he said. “Since that time, Secretary LaHood has extended his own deadline for coming up with a way to alleviate Florida’s risk on high-speed rail. While I appreciate his continued efforts to keep the project alive in Florida, it is important to note that I have yet to see any proposal that accomplishes my goal of eliminating risk to Florida’s taxpayers.”
But at this point, it doesn’t look like Scott will change his mind. In a statement issued Friday evening, Scott said his position on high-speed rail hasn’t changed.
“I believe high-speed rail is a federal boondoggle, as I said more than a week ago. This morning, I communicated to Secretary LaHood that as long as Florida remains on the hook for cost overruns, operating costs and paybacks in the case of default, I will vigorously oppose this project,” he said. “Since that time, Secretary LaHood has extended his own deadline for coming up with a way to alleviate Florida’s risk on high-speed rail. While I appreciate his continued efforts to keep the project alive in Florida, it is important to note that I have yet to see any proposal that accomplishes my goal of eliminating risk to Florida’s taxpayers.”