(The following editorial appeared on the Orlando Sentinel website on August 7.)
ORLANDO, Fla. — In a stultifying act of shortsightedness, Orange County commissioners six years ago nixed an opportunity to give frustrated motorists a rapid-transit option to jampacked roads. Had the outcome been different, the region would have a rail system up and running today.
Here’s hoping that commissioners learned from that debacle — and will prove as much on Tuesday.
That’s when they will be asked to approve a resolution in support of a $473.5 million commuter rail project that would link Volusia to Osceola County, running along existing CSX freight tracks. The project would be such a transportation boon for the region — at such nominal cost to local taxpayers — that it’s inconceivable any elected official would thumb his or her nose at the opportunity.
Already, Osceola, Volusia and Seminole counties, as well as the city of Orlando, have approved similar resolutions. But those community leaders remain understandably wary of Orange County. Indeed, three Orange County commissioners already have capitulated to naysayers, who demanded added public input before Tuesday.
Naturally, it’s the same small but vocal group who opposed the rail project six years ago. Too bad that Commissioners Bob Sindler, Homer Hartage and Bill Segal foolishly fell for their publicity ploy. In the past three years, 35 public forums have been held on the project — nearly half of them in Orange County alone.
The naysayers seem to forget that roads cost money, too. Improving the Interstate 4 interchange with the East-West Expressway, alone, is expected to cost as much as $600 million. And what about the exorbitant expense of owning and operating a car — especially for Central Florida’s low-wage service workers?
Local residents and visitors deserve a cost-effective transportation alternative to costly, gridlocked roads. And with unprecedented state and federal financial support of the project, this deal is way too good to pass up.
Even Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, who initially expressed skepticism, has come full circle after a series of public briefings on the project. He’s now an enthusiastic supporter. Other commissioners should be, too.
Here’s why:
# The commuter-rail project is contingent on relocating the bulk of freight-train traffic that now lumbers through the urban heart of the region. And the state would bear that cost.
# The state also has offered communities low-interest loans to finance the $118 million local share of project costs. Orange County’s contribution ultimately could be a few million dollars a year — a rounding error in the county’s $2.4 billion budget.
# The state and federal governments will pick up 75 percent of construction costs and some operating costs, too. And most of that money can’t be spent on roads. If Central Florida passes, the cash will go to transit projects elsewhere, further diminishing the region’s economic competitiveness.
At long last, Orange County commissioners have a rare chance Tuesday to demonstrate some real leadership, provide hope for beleaguered motorists, and work regionally with other leaders for a better future. That opportunity should not be lost again.