Florida TaxWatch Issues Report on SunRail and All Aboard Florida

Florida TaxWatch released a study on Friday focusing on commuter rail efforts in the Sunshine State, namely SunRail in Orlando and All Aboard Florida in the southern part of the state.

"Florida's population is growing and is expected to continue increasing comparative to other states around the nation; therefore it is critical that we invest in our state's transportation system to ensure Florida remains a desirable place to live, work and play," said Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch. "As the state decides how to update its infrastructure to meet growing demand, we must be sure to explore all options to implement the best solution for taxpayers."

The report gives the efforts mixed marks, noting the projects help create jobs -- SunRail is creating 17,000 jobs in Orlando -- and boosting economic development while leading to lower property values and, surprisingly, more traffic congestion.

"There are both substantial costs and substantial benefits to large infrastructure projects such as these," said Jerry Parrish, Florida TaxWatchs chief economist. "We must work diligently to make sure that all the costs and benefits are calculated correctly when making investments using public money."

The report can be read here.