Scott Rejects High Speed Rail Funds
The New York Times reports:
Gov. Rick Scott of Florida on Wednesday rejected plans for a high speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando, in the process turning down $2 billion in federal funds and a key piece of President Obama’s goal of building a national high-speed rail network.
Florida is the third state with a newly elected Republican governor to turn down a portion of the administration’s high-speed rail project, joining John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin. The Republican majority in the House of Representatives has also questioned the White House’s rail strategy.
The Obama administration has called for spending $53 billion on passenger trains and high-speed rail projects over the next six years as part of the president’s goal of making high-speed rail accessible to 80 percent of Americans within 25 years.
But critics said the need to link Tampa and Orlando — separated by 84 miles — paled in comparison with the necessity of high-speed rail along the busy Northeast corridor between Washington and Boston.
In a statement Wednesday, Mr. Scott said cost overruns related to the project could leave Florida taxpayers with an additional $3 billion tab.
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