Lawson SunRail deal will bring new jobs and recovery money

Newspapers across the Sunshine State are crediting Florida Senate Minority Leader Alfred "Al" Lawson with brokering a monumental legislative compromise that will create thousands of new jobs and net billions more in federal economic recovery dollars.

Lawson crafted a deal that secured passage of a historic transportation bill that will pump more money into Tri-Rail, Florida’s lone commuter rail line, and permit the state to purchase 61 miles of railroad tracks from CSX to launch a new “SunRail” commuter line from DeLand to Poinciana.

The bill, which passed the House by an 85-25 vote on Monday, came close to death in the Senate. Democrats objected to language they feared would cost many union railroad workers their jobs and benefits.

As reported by the Palm Beach Post, “Lawson's deal – a private agreement between DOT, Tri-Rail and the union that preserved 184 jobs for CSX workers at Tri-Rail and SunRail – took care of the union and Democrats' concerns without changing any language in the bill. That meant it didn't have to go back to the House, where Republicans were opposed to appeasing the unions.”

Now, the bill heads to Gov. Charlie Crist, who is expected to sign it into law.

The new legislation will help Florida qualify for $2.6B in federal dollars to build a new high-speed railway that will link Orlando, Tampa and Miami. The bill is also expected to create thousands of jobs.

While the new commuter lines will not reach the Panhandle Lawson said the local legislative delegation’s support of the bill will benefit this region because “it offers us the opportunity to go back to our peers and get support for projects we want in the coming session.”