(The following editorial appeared on the Orlando Sentinel website on April 24.)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Commuter rail took an unexpected turn in Tallahassee Tuesday, when Senate Majority Leader Dan Webster restructured the deal that by 2013 should move riders between DeLand and Poinciana.
The suddenness of his move, engineered to win enough support to power it through a transportation committee, jarred supporters of passenger rail nervous about its prospects in the Capitol. And it left some of its die-hard opponents steamed.
But neither reaction seems justified. Mr. Webster’s retooling of the deal actually should enhance its chances of passing a Legislature that’s been slow to understand the project’s importance to the entire state. And it removes, without altering the benefits it holds for Central Florida, much of what made some from Lakeland to Miami want to block it.
The rest of the Senate and the House now ought to get behind the meat of Mr. Webster’s plan, while working to trim a bit of the fat attached to it that might benefit few other than some trial lawyers.
Gone is the provision agreed to by the state and CSX Corp. that didn’t just feature the state purchasing 61 miles of track from the rail giant but that also called for part of the money to pay for improvements to CSX’s tracks running through Lakeland in Polk County. That’s where four of the freight trains now passing through the Orlando metro area would be rerouted to make room for the commuter-rail cars.
In its place the state would pay CSX for the 61 miles of track running from Volusia County to Osceola County in a straight real-estate transaction resembling the one that brought Tri Rail to South Florida 20 years ago. And at a price that’s just $1 more per square foot than the one that purchased Tri Rail’s right of way.
No handouts going to a private company — CSX — to help improve its property — its track in Polk County. That should calm a few of the original deal’s adversaries, who’d said they didn’t oppose purchasing track for commuter rail, just the part of the deal that had some of the money going to help privately owned CSX improve other track it owns. Right, Sen. Paula Dockery?
Mr. Webster’s plan also increases the liability insurance the state needs to take on for potential accidents. That could cost local governments more once they assume responsibility operating the system in 2017. But a $2 rental-car surcharge, which Mr. Webster would have voters here and in South Florida approve, could defray it. Its revenues also could support operating not just the commuter rail line but Tri Rail. But why double allowable fees for attorneys litigating rail accidents? Lawmakers should give that provision the boot.
There’s enough in Mr. Webster’s bill to key the commuter rail deal. For CSX, for legislators, and for Gov. Charlie Crist, an avowed supporter of commuter rail, who ultimately will need to approve it.