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Lakeland Ledger Editorial
This is National Transportation Week in America. But there is little reason to celebrate in Florida.
Not since Gov. Rick Scott rejected $2.39 billion in federal high-speed-rail funds. That money has now being reallocated to other states.
"These projects will put thousands of Americans to work, save hundreds of thousands of hours for American travelers every year and boost U.S. manufacturing by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in next-generation, American-made locomotives and rail cars," Vice President Joe Biden said last week.
Just not in Florida.
And particularly not on a route from Tampa to Orlando that would have passed through Polk County, and would have benefitted the county and its people.
Of course, Scott's decision to pass on the rail funding may only mean that Florida has decided to invest instead in highway improvements as a way to grow jobs and remain economically competitive.
TRUST FUND RAID
Or maybe not. In the recently ended annual Florida legislative session in Tallahassee, lawmakers raided the state's transportation trust fund to the tune of $150 million to help fund general government. Figuring in the loss of matching federal dollars (which will now go to other states as well), that adds up to about $250 million that won't be spent improving Florida's highway grid.
"The long-term impacts of the transportation trust fund sweeps approved by the Florida House and Senate this year will be felt with statewide job losses and increased congestion on our roadways," said Bob Burleson, president of the state's Transportation Builders' Association, who estimates that the raid will cost Florida about 7,000 jobs.
So much for investing in infrastructure to create jobs. Happy National Transportation Week, America, from the shortsighted Sunshine State.
Original Post from the Lakeland Ledger
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