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March 12, 2008
Central Florida Leaders, Lawmakers Unite in Support of Commuter Rail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, FL: Members of the Central Florida Partnership for Commuter rail, Central Florida legislators, business and civic leaders and lawmakers from around the state rallied in Tallahassee on Wednesday in support of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Project.

Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission Chairman and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Senate Majority Leader Daniel Webster (R-Winter Garden), Senator Lee Constantine (R-Altamonte Springs) who chairs the Responsible Regulation Policy and Calendar Committee and Representative Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park), who chairs the House Council on Economic Expansion and Infrastructure, urged their colleagues to keep up the momentum surrounding commuter rail.

“The need for commuter rail is clear, as well as the desire to make it a reality,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We have unprecedented support and partnership behind this project from the City of Orlando and all four county governments in Central Florida.”

Dyer and other leaders emphasized that commuter rail is a critical step in reducing the congestion on our clogged roads as well as helping the environment and bolstering business. The group also stressed the importance of the project in terms of what it will mean to the rest of the state.

“Florida’s economic engine is based on moving people and freight. Thus, it is vital for our state’s infrastructure to keep up with our growth,” said Senate Majority Leader Daniel Webster. “The Central Florida commuter rail project is the result of years of planning, negotiations, and preparations. This project represents a creative alternative to solving our transportation needs. It will not only assist with relieving congestion, but will also ensure that Florida’s infrastructure is on-track to keep up with our growing economy.”

“The Central Florida rail will lay the foundation for a larger regional transit system,” remarked Mayor Dyer.

“Central Florida Commuter Rail is one of the most significant transportation projects in decades and countless folks along the I-4 corridor support the project getting done,” added Rep. Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park). “In a big picture sense, this is a pivotal step in changing the way we travel as a region and as a state. We all need to take this step together.”

Earlier in the week, Florida Governor Charlie Crist offered his support for the project calling it “forward thinking” and “a great idea.”