(The following story by Dan Tracy appeared on the Orlando Sentinel website on April 11, 2009.)
ORLANDO, Fla. — A key state senator said Friday he is willing to vote for Central Florida’s planned commuter train, conceivably pushing the $1.2 billion SunRail project closer to reality.
But there is a catch.
In return for his support, Sen. Chris Smith, D-West Palm Beach, wants SunRail proponents to allow a local-option $2-a-day rental-car surcharge. Smith, who wants the money to help pay for the Tri-Rail commuter train in South Florida, would allow the tax to be imposed by a “super-majority” vote of a county commission.
But Gov. Charlie Crist, a SunRail enthusiast, has promised to veto any local-option tax bills that don’t require referendum approval by all the voters in a county.
“He [Crist] believes that any time there is a decision about increased charges, it should be before the people,” said spokesman Sterling Ivey.
Smith is crucial to SunRail’s future because he’s the likely swing vote on the seven-member Transportation and Economic Development committee, which hears the train project Wednesday. With only three weeks left in the legislative session, time is running out on SunRail, which needs lawmakers to approve a state-backed $200 million no-fault insurance policy for the train. The House is poised to pass the measure, but sponsors aren’t sure they have the 21 votes they need in the Senate.
SunRail, which would run along 61.5 miles of tracks from Volusia County through downtown Orlando to Osceola County, failed to make it out of last year’s Legislature. Another setback could kill the venture because a series of agreements with local governments and the CSX railroad company, which owns the tracks, is set to expire in June. So could a promise of $300 million in federal funds.
Smith said he is unmoved.
“I can’t vote for another commuter-rail train when my commuter-rail train is in trouble,” he said.
As for the governor’s veto pledge, Smith said, “I guess Crist doesn’t want SunRail, then. It’s not rocket science.”
Tri-Rail, despite record ridership, is facing a budget shortfall and possible service cutbacks. The surcharge could help maintain service.
Sen. Lee Constantine, R- Altamonte Springs, a sponsor of the SunRail bill (SB 1212), said he and Smith are “still talking.”
Constantine worries that giving in on any kind of surcharge, even one with a voter referendum attached, might cost him more votes with anti-tax Republicans than he would pick up from South Florida Democrats.
Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, also a SunRail backer, said he’ll meet with Smith next week before the hearing to try to bring him around.
Smith is likely to hear another pro-SunRail pitch at the Senate Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday. U.S. Reps. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, and Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, as well as Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, will talk to the caucus about their concerns that the project would divert money from their hometown projects.