SunRail Double-Cross: House Pulls Money From 'New Starts' Fund

SunRail financing is already going off the tracks.

Bloomberg News reports that the House of Representatives has adopted a budget blueprint to eliminate New Starts, the federal transit program providing funds to the SunRail project.

"The Federal Transit Administration said [last] week that it would provide $40 million to the project in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2011. It had previously allocated $66.6 million. That leaves $72 million of FTA funding in future fiscal years that could be at risk if the program is cut," Bloomberg said.

House Transportation John Mica, R-Orlando, where are you?

Previously, Sunshine State News reported that Florida Department of Transportation estimates put SunRail's actual cost at $2.6 billion -- double the advertised figure of $1.3 billion.