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发帖数: 6673 | 1 新州长说恐怕以后是个负担，要把联邦拨款退回。
Governor Rejects Federal High Speed Rail Money
Governor Rejects Federal High Speed Rail Money
Gov. Rick Scott has rejected federal money for high speed rail between Tampa
and Orlando. A stop was being considered in Lakeland.
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
LEDGER TALLAHASSEE BUREAU
Published: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 10:09 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 10:09 a.m.
( page of 5 )
TALLAHASSEE | In a decision that could have far-reaching political and
economic consequences, Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday abruptly terminated the
$2.4 billion high-speed train that would link Tampa with Orlando, vowing to
send the money back to the federal government.
"The truth is that this project would be far too costly to taxpayers and I
believe the risk far outweighs the benefits."
Florida Gov. rick scott
"I personally would have liked to have seen the bids come in to see where we
really were, but with that said, he's governor."
state Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales
Senate Budget Chairman
"… Floridians will lose the opportunity to have the first true high-speed
rail system in the nation and even more so in the loss of thousands of high-
wage jobs that it would bring."
state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland
Related Links:
* Gov. Scott's Statement on High-Speed Rail
* Gov. Scott's Statement on High-Speed Rail
* Traffic Experts Question Ending Project
* Local, Polk Officials Blast Scott's Rail Decision
* Videos: Gov. Scott's High-Speed Rail Announcement and Two Responses
* Obama: $53 Bil. for Nation's High-Speed Rail Projects
* More Stories
The decision, announced at a hastily called news conference, further
solidified Scott's image as an aggressive cost-cutter fulfilling a vow to
rein in government spending. It also reinforced his political alliance with
the anti-tax tea party movement, which has strongly opposed high-speed rail
projects pushed by President Barack Obama.
But critics, including both Republicans and Democrats, said the new governor
was prematurely turning his back on an innovative mass-transit project that
could produce an estimated 24,000 jobs and could help reshape the state's
economy.
Scott said he feared the 84-mile rail system, projected to cost about $2.7
billion, could prove a burden for Floridians, although the federal
government had agreed to pay for most of it and state officials had said
private companies were expected to cover the remainder.
He contended there could be cost overruns on the construction — perhaps
totaling as much as $3 billion — and that ridership projections showing
there would be enough passengers to support the train, were "historically
overly optimistic."
If the project were shut down, Scott added, the state would have to return
the $2.4 billion to the federal government.
"The truth is that this project would be far too costly to taxpayers and I
believe the risk far outweighs the benefits," Scott said. |
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