Florida Chamber Urges Senate Transportation Committee to Oppose SB 572: High-Speed Passenger Rail

Download Letter   Transportation Investments

To: Senate Transportation Committee

The Florida Chamber of Commerce urges you to oppose SB 572, related to High-speed Passenger Rail. This bill, sponsored by Senator Debbie Mayfield will be heard on Tuesday, November 14th, in the Senate Transportation Committee.

The Florida Chamber recognizes that Florida will be home to 5.5 million more residents by 2030. Each of those new residents, as well as over a hundred million annual visitors, will need a safe, reliable, and efficient transportation system. The private investments being made in our rail system have the ability to move goods and individuals faster and safer than on the road. Now is not the time to add unneeded regulations on these already heavily regulated private companies. This legislation is opposed by Florida’s business community because this bill:

– Creates an unnecessary set of state and local regulations in a system that is adequately regulated and preempted by federal law;

– Frustrates existing agreements between local governments and private companies; and

– Discourages private investment that seeks to solve a public transportation issue.

The Florida Chamber urges you to oppose SB 572, and will consider votes on this legislation, and any substantive amendments to it in committee or on the floor, in our annual How They Voted report card. The grade that you earn will be based on your voting record on the issues. We will make every effort to notify you prior to a vote that may be included in our annual legislative report card. If you have any questions about this or other, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Frank C. Walker, III
Vice President of Government Affairs