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News & Events |
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Recent News May 1, 2008
For Immediate Release Contact: Justin Harclerode May 1, 2008 (202) 226-8767 Final Federal Hurdle Cleared for Commuter Rail Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), the Republican Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced today that the last federal hurdles to approval of the Central Florida Commuter Rail project have been cleared. Yesterday, the House passed H.R. 1195, making technical corrections to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the 2005 federal highway, transit and highway safety authorization and funding act. The technical corrections bill is now on its way to the President for signature. A provision in the bill waives a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) administrative policy that could have subjected the Central Florida Commuter Rail project to regulatory evaluations designed for traditional light and heavy rail cost effectiveness standards. The proposed Central Florida Commuter Rail Project would use a highly efficient low emissions Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) technology rather than the traditional heavy Diesel Locomotive Engines pulling commuter rail trainsets. This waiver will allow FTA to enter into a full funding grant agreement providing federal funds for the commuter rail project. In addition, FTA has received and is finalizing agency approval of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) project impact report. This report was recently required by FTA to examine noise, vibration, and rail crossing safety impacts along CSX Railroad’s S-Line that runs through the center of the state. Several residents along this alignment had expressed concerns about the impacts of additional freight traffic through the corridor, which CSX estimates will be an additional four trains per day. FDOT’s report found the impacts of the additional freight traffic will be negligible, which are the most highly favorable results the report could offer. It is expected that the Central Florida Commuter Rail project will be approved into Final Design by FTA this summer, and negotiations will immediately begin on a full funding grant agreement for federal transit funding. The Florida Legislature is currently debating a transportation bill which will give final approval for the project. The federal government is committed to paying for 50% of the cost while the remaining half will be split between the State and local governments. # # # |
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