Sunrail Showdown: Opponents and Supporters Prepare for Public Hearings
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
By: Mark Simpson

June 23, 2011 | WMFE -Supporters and opponents of Central Florida's proposed Sunrail commuter train are ramping up for what could be a boisterous set of public hearings next week.

Florida’s Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad is scheduled to appear in Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties, as well as a separate meeting with Orlando officials.

Prasad is slated to explain to local communities that taxpayers will have to come through with payments for the $1.2 billion   project.  He’ll also explain there is no planned bailout if the commuter line fails to make money.

Already the West Orlando Tea Party is planning to rally on the steps of Orlando’s City Hall to protest the project on Tuesday afternoon.  Spokesman Clyde Fabretti says the  Sunrail project  “exposes the taxpayers to unnecessary risk.”  He also says members of  the Tampa branch of the Tea Party are expected to attend the rally.

Meanwhile commuter rail advocates in Seminole County are urging supporters to show up at the public forum between Commissioners and the Florida DOT Secretary from 8:30am-9:30am.

An email circulating around the  planning community says “it is anticipated that the opposition will be out in force”.

The meetings are set for only a few days before Governor Rick Scott’s self imposed July 1^st deadline to decide whether to approve Sunrail.