VETO SunRail Urges Rick Scott to Kill Central Florida Commuter Train Project

Former Winter Park City Commissioner Beth Dillaha has formed a coalition to press Gov. Rick Scott to veto the SunRail commuter train project.

VETO SunRail, whose members include former Osceola County Commission Chairman Fred Hawkins Jr., contends that the planned 61-mile Central Florida train project will be a terminal drain on taxpayers.

Projected to serve only 3,700 commuters -- roughly half the number carried by South Florida's money-losing Tri-Rail system -- SunRail was deemed "not cost-effective" by the Federal Transit Authority.

With $1.2 billion in start-up costs and about $600 million going to CSX for the tracks, Central Florida lawmakers push the project at their peril, says VETO SunRail, whose allied organizations include Ax the Tax, the Florida Taxpayers Union, the Campaign for Liberty, and several tea parties and 9/12 groups.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, chairman of the region's Commuter Rail Commission, has stated repeatedly that an increase in taxes will be required to fund SunRail operations.

Scott, who rejected $2.4 billion in federal stimulus funds for a high-speed rail project, has said he will make a decision on SunRail after the Legislature adjourns.