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Stimulus Funding Sought For High-Speed Rail Plan

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By RICH SHOPES

rshopes@tampatrib.com

Published: February 20, 2009

TAMPA - High-speed rail looked dead four years ago, but backers of the proposal say it's being resuscitated now thanks to the recently approved federal stimulus package.

"This is unbelievable," said Lee Chira, chairman of the Florida High Speed Rail Authority.

The group hadn't met since voters in November 2004 opposed granting state taxes to the project, the first leg of which would have linked Orlando and Tampa for $2 billion.

Now the authority is hopeful it can get some of the $8 billion recently set aside for high-speed rail projects nationwide.

"We're 90 percent sure we'll get it because the president said he is looking for communities and authorities that have shovel-ready projects," Chira said. "We're farther along than anybody."

The authority sent a letter to the Federal Transit Administration Jan. 27 expressing interest in the funding and has set a meeting Feb. 26 in Orlando to discuss what to do next.

By mid-September, the authority must have its formal application submitted to the FTA.

The project's first leg from Orlando International Airport to Tampa was expected to cost $2 billion and include stops at downtown Orlando, Disney World and Lakeland.

The federal government issued environmental permits that would need to be updated, and several years ago granted permission to access the Interstate 4 median for the project, Chira said.

Orlando would become a hub for later extensions to Miami and Jacksonville.

"We could be under construction in 12 to 18 months," Chira said - if the project receives funding.

After that it could be four years before trains run. They would travel up to 120 mph.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633.

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