Congresswoman Corrine Brown delivered the following speech at the Sun Rail Groundbreaking ceremony today in Orlando:
“Welcome! I am so, so glad to see this day has arrived – the kick off and formal beginning of Sun Rail here in Central Florida! I am Congresswoman Corrine Brown, the representative of Florida’s third congressional district and Ranking Member of the Transportation Committee’s Railroad Subcommittee. I am very happy to be here with all of you this afternoon. Certainly, this initiative has been the achieved through the tireless work of all of the partners involved: local, state and federal. And I would like to send a special thank you to a few of the key players in particular for all of your efforts to make Sun Rail a reality: Congressman John Mica, CSX, without them, Sun Rail would not have been a reality; Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno, and former Mayor Richard Crotty.
And it is just great to see that the Florida state government is also working in partnership with the local and federal government to improve our state’s transportation system! Beyond a doubt, the approval of Sun Rail will be crucial towards putting the hard working people of Florida back to work with well paying jobs, and will go a long way towards decreasing the terrible congestion that afflicts the entire Central Florida region.
Not since the construction of I-4 has there been a transportation project of this magnitude in Central Florida. And as more people and cars crowd our quickly growing region, commuter rail will provide area commuters with a cost-effective mass transit alternative to high gas prices and a congested and gridlocked I-4. In addition, economic development around the rail lines is poised to help many of the surrounding communities flourish, creating numerous ancillary jobs.
Indeed, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has already confirmed that the Sun Rail project will have a positive impact on improving Central Florida’s transportation, employment and future development. In fact, FTA analysis of the project identified 10,800 jobs that will be generated directly by its construction, and an estimated 150,000 future jobs resulting from transit-related corridor development.
Transportation and Infrastructure funding is absolutely critical to economic development, and will serve as a tremendous job creating boost, which the state of Florida desperately needs. Sun Rail will also assist people working in the state’s $60 billion a year tourist industry to travel to and from work.
We have worked with all of the stakeholders in Central Florida, as well as the state and federal government, for many years to provide financial and logistical support for commuter rail. Beyond a doubt, approving Sun Rail was a good decision that will allow Florida residents to enjoy the benefits of reduced highway congestion, improved air quality, an alternative way to travel, and a tremendous boost in job creation for the state of Florida!”