OrlandoSentinel.com
Mica: Florida among 4 high-speed-rail finalists
By Dan Tracy
Orlando Sentinel
11:21 PM EST, December 18, 2009
Florida is one of four finalists in the running for billions of federal stimulus dollars to build high-speed rail, U.S. Rep. John Mica said Friday.
California, Texas and the Chicago area also remain in the competition, said Mica, a Winter Park Republican. He would not reveal the source of his information.
"This is especially good. We have a little Christmas present for Florida just before the holidays," said Mica, a 17-year member of Congress and the ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee.
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation, Rob Kulat, disputed Mica's announcement, saying: "We are still evaluating applications. I haven't seen a list because I'm told it doesn't exist."
Mica, speaking at the end of a meeting where Central Florida's planned SunRail commuter train was discussed, said he anticipates an official statement from the Obama administration in late January or early February. Kulat said no date has been set.
The Federal Railroad Administration, an arm of the Department of Transportation, has been sifting through 45 high-speed-rail requests from 24 states seeking a combined $50 billion. An additional 214 applications from 34 states are asking for a combined $7 billion for planning stages or smaller projects.
Federal officials have been secretive about the selection process, though U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood two months ago told Florida leaders that they needed to support commuter-rail projects in the state if they wanted to be considered for high-speed-rail money.
Last week, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that cleared the way for creation of SunRail, which could start running through much of Central Florida in 2012. The same bill will help underwrite operations of Tri-Rail, an existing commuter train operating in South Florida.
State and local politicians said that bill, which also created an authority to oversee a possible high-speed-train network, was warmly received in Washington, though no public statements were issued by the White House or any federal transit agency.
"This bears out what we have been saying," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a staunch SunRail supporter, said of Mica's news of four finalists.
Florida is seeking $2.6 billion for a train that would go faster than 110 mph and link Orlando with Lakeland and Tampa. The state has been pursuing such a high-speed train for nearly two decades.
There has been speculation that only three finalists would receive any federal money. Mica said the four were culled from a list of eight that he did not identify.
If Florida is among the finalists, Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty said, the state is well-positioned to receive some funds because it is a political swing state — though federal officials have said the awards will be based solely on transportation considerations.
"The I-4 corridor is famous in political elections," Crotty said. "It's a very attractive place to garner votes."
Ed Turanchik, a former Hillsborough County commissioner and a leading proponent of high-speed rail, said he is not surprised that Florida may still be in the running.
"I think the governor and the Legislature put Florida in the red zone. Now we need to get over the goal line," said Turanchik, who runs ConnectUs, a nonprofit group formed by a variety of businesses and individuals to promote Florida's high-speed-rail bid.
California has long been considered a front runner for high-speed money. Voters there recently decided to borrow $9 billion for a train that would not only link Los Angeles and San Francisco but could eventually go east to Las Vegas. It is asking for $4.5 billion in federal stimulus funds.
LaHood once told The Wall Street Journal that he thought California and Florida were in the lead for money, though he would not repeat that sentiment during an October visit to Orlando.
Chicago, where President Barack Obama and his family maintain a home, wants $11.5 billion for a train that would link it with St. Louis. Texas has asked for $1.8 billion for a variety of projects.
Dan Tracy can be reached at dtracy@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5444.
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