Senate hammers spike through SunRail's heart

The Florida Senate voted Friday for the second time against the SunRail project, a 23-16 vote that appears to spell its demise.

The vote killed an amendment by SunRail advocates led by Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, that would have allowed the state to purchase rail lines from CSX for the Central Florida commuter rail project despite what some see as its controversial ramifications.

Friday was designated the last day of the legislative session on which non-budget issues would be heard, so SunRail appears unlikely to come back up. Proponents say the agreements with CSX expire in June, which means the contracts would have to be renegotiated if advocates seek to pursue it further.

Constantine said renegotiation is highly unlikely and he sees no future for the project. Asked about possible alternatives for a Central Florida light rail system, he said he doesn't see any.

He said the decision will cost the state federal money for mass transit.

The outcome is a defeat for Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Charlie Crist, who all favored the proposal. Then-Gov. Jeb Bush's administration negotiated the deal before he left office.

There were proponents and opponents on both sides of the aisle. In the final vote, 13 Republican joined 10 Democrats voting no, and three South Florida Democrats voted yes.

The SunRail amendment included authorization for a rental car surcharge in South Florida to provide a funding source for South Florida's TriRail, a measure intended to persuade reluctant South Florida legislators to support it.

As in Thursday's vote, Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, was the only yes vote from the Tampa Bay area; Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg and Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, all voted no.

Opponents said the state would have paid too much to buy the rail lines under the proposal, and that arrangements for legal liability were too unfavorable to the state and the taxpayers.