Mica: Money there to build high-speed rail system

Sufficient federal funding will be available to build the high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando, but local officials must ensure the Tampa Bay area provides connecting transit links, including light rail and modern bus service, U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, said Monday afternoon.

The ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee held what amounted to a clinic for two dozen Tampa Bay area transportation and elected officials. Mica asked questions, listened to local presentations and shared insights from his knowledge of projects nationwide during the nearly two hour session.

Mica said money from a U.S. high-speed rail funding proposal for $50 billion over six years that he proposed with U.S. Rep James Oberstar, D-Minn, plus the $1.25 billion the Obama administration awarded to the Tampa-Orlando route and other incremental funding, will be sufficient for the Florida project.

"You cannot spend it all at once," Mica said. "We have enough to get started, and there will be more. Send me any of the study dollars (for transit connections) you need over six years. It is important Tampa Bay succeed with positive transportation alternatives."

Mica said local transit advocates might require more than one try to persuade constituents to back local funding sources, given there is confusion among some officials - let alone the public - about differences between light rail, high-speed rail and commuter rail.

He said he would not suggest what local officials should do beyond learning the process to best compete for federal funding on Capitol Hill. Among insights Mica offered:

•Consider using joint corridors for different types of trains. It might be financially sensible in the distant future, he said, to use the same track for high-speed and light-rail trains to serve Tampa International Airport.

•Understand the need for commuter rail regional routes in addition to light-rail local service.