In December 2009, the Florida Legislature went into a special session to approve a deal to pay CSX Corporation more than $400 million to acquire the tracks needed for Central Florida's planned SunRail commuter-rail project.
The deal was extremely controversial, and locals' anger regarding the project grew exponentially when Gov. Rick Scott rejected more than $2 billion in federal funds for a high-speed rail line running from Tampa to Orlando. At the time, state taxpayer funds weren't required for the project to move forward.
Construction for the 61-mile project in Central Florida has begun, and Monday at the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's (PSTA) Advisory Committee meeting, board members heard from Harry Barley — MetroPlan Orlando Executive Director — about the project's development.
The PSTA is moving toward forming a ballot measure for the creation of a light-rail system in Pinellas County, and Barley's presentation was considered another step in educating them about the process.
This article appears in Sep 6-12, 2012.