Play On!

Louis Roney: Does the public want commuter rail — or are the prime movers individuals who have their own reasons?

Beth Dillaha: A segment of the public supports commuter rail, having been told in 2007 it would alleviate Interstate 4 traffic, reduce pollution, utilize environmentally superior rail cars, eliminate sprawl and that federal money was in the bank. None of these was true. Central Floridians were also promised a reduction in freight trains. In reality, CSX will be permitted to run unlimited freight all night long after 56 commuter trains run during daytime. And the increased noise pollution will be noticed by all on Day 1 of operation.

The State Constitution requires voters to approve funding for long-term, ongoing financial obligations. Central Floridians and Winter Park residents were denied that right, and the cost and details of this particular project and agreement were never put on the ballot. There is currently a lawsuit challenging this gross oversight.

With a paltry projected daily ridership of 3,500 (compared to 84,000 Lynx riders), this is not mass transit. It is a taxpayer subsidy benefiting CSX, Orlando, large corporations including Florida Hospital — Adventist Health Care (for which commuter rail is a prerequisite for their massive main campus expansion), developers, consultants and landowners along the rail corridor. There are several losers in this project. Central Florida communities outside the corridor will pay for the project but will not be able to use it. Winter Park and Maitland taxpayers will pay more than any other city in the state. The motivation for this project is money and the beneficiaries profit at the expense of taxpayers.

LR: Is the commuter rail idea a losing proposition, and if so, what is the projected yearly loss Winter Park will be asked to pay?

BD: This has been a losing proposition since its inception. This project was never about moving people, but about moving freight and sticking the taxpayer with the tab. First-year start-up costs are $1.2 billion. There is no source of funding for the multi-millions of dollars in annual operations and maintenance costs and deficit coverage. Local government has solved this problem by diverting money from city and county services and local road projects.

Annually, Winter Park will pay $350,000 to $500,000 to Orange County for deficits, $200,000 or more for station maintenance and security, and liability for accidents up to $300,000 per occurrence.

The City Commission was working to cap the open-ended costs and unanimously agreed to $350,000. However, last month our mayor and Winter Park Hospital CEO Ken Bradley and two commissioners acquiesced to Orange County’s $500,000 cap demand.

LR: Explain Winter Park’s accident liability. How does Winter Park’s proportion compare?

BD: The biggest unknown and unquantifiable risk to Winter Park taxpayers is the cost of liability for commuter rail accidents, injuries and claims. Orange County wants Winter Park to assume a portion of their obligation for such costs, even though this was never part of the initial 2007 agreement, and even though Winter Park residents already pay taxes to Orange County.

LR’s question for Winter Park: Is this railroad worth risking the financial stability and future of our city?