By Jessica Solis
Staff Writer

With Florida lawmakers considering a special session to deal with the future of SunRail, local officials are preparing to become part of the commuter rail partnership once again.

Talks that a special session will happen by December to determine SunRail’s future became louder this week, when Central Florida leaders gathered in Orlando Wednesday for a meeting with U.S. Sen. George LeMieux to discuss the $1.2 billion project’s chances of gaining enough approval to become a reality.

State legislators pushing for SunRail are in the process of gathering support should a special session be called in the coming weeks.

“I think if we see a special session in December, it’s because the votes are there,” Osceola County Commissioner John Quiñones, who attended the meeting, said.

It would be SunRail’s third time in front of lawmakers. The project failed to secure enough Senate votes in favor of the project earlier this year.

The 61.5-mile commuter train system would run from DeLand in Volusia County, to Poinciana, using tracks purchased from freight company CSX Corp.

Critics have called the deal between the Florida Department of Transportation and CSX unfair to the state due to a no-fault provision that would relieve CSX of legal liability for accidents related to the commuter train.

The deal’s biggest critic, state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, has called the deal “overly generous to CSX.”

And unlike previous years, supporters are now hoping they can secure $2.5 billion in federal funding for SunRail and other rail projects for the state, such as South Florida’s Tri-Rail system and a proposed high-speed rail that initially would connect Orlando with Tampa.

LeMieux said for the state to receive federal funding, it had to show it was willing to pass SunRail in Tallahassee.

“If we want to be considered, we need to show commitment,” state Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, said.

County officials are set to approve on Monday a resolution extending the county’s role in the SunRail governing board until December 2010. The agreement states the county will be part of the partnership working to acquire the project for Central Florida.

If approved, Osceola County would agree to cover about $27 million of SunRail’s capital costs.

During a Nov. 9 meeting, some commissioners said they were waiting for more details on SunRail’s future and costs before fully supporting the project.
Commissioner Fred Hawkins Jr. said he wanted to find more funding sources that wouldn’t impose fees on taxpayers.

“The percentage Osceola County would pay makes it look like a great opportunity,” Hawkins said. “But the economics and times we’re in right now, I don’t know if we can afford it.”

The county would use collections from a gasoline tax to help fund its portion of SunRail’s cost. Earlier this year, officials shot down a proposed increase to the current gas tax to help pay for road projects.

County Manager Michael Freilinger said until regional leaders reached a consensus on a new source of funding, the gas tax would be the county’s main generator of SunRail funding.

Commissioner Brandon Arrington, who sits on the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission, said other funding mechanisms were being considered at the regional level, mainly a $2 rental car surcharge and a possible additional sales tax option to be decided by voters.

“We’re going to have figure out dedicated funding for transit,” he said.