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The state of Florida did not include additional funding in its FY2010 budget for the South Florida Regional Transit Authority (SFRTA) to maintain commuter-rail service at current levels, the agency announced earlier this week.

The agency had been lobbying for additional operating funds to maintain Tri-Rail’s 50-trains-per-day schedule. The three counties that help fund the service are cutting subsidies in the coming fiscal year due to their own budget issues.

Provided the counties fund Tri-Rail service at the minimum level as mandated by state legislation — $1.56 million — in FY2010, SFRTA would have to cut service to 30 trains each weekday, and eliminate weekend and holiday service. The authority could maintain that level for nine months beginning Oct. 5, according to SFRTA. However, if any of the three counties opt to eliminate transit funding — “a very real possibility, according to SFRTA — the authority could only operate on the reduced schedule for nine to 12 months.