A group of Central and South Florida business, political and civic leaders are banding together to lobby the federal government for $2.5 billion to build a high-speed train linking Orlando with Tampa.

The message of the organization, which conducted news conferences Tuesday in Orlando, Lakeland and Tampa, is that a fast train would create jobs, encourage quality development around the stations and help the environment by moving people out of cars and onto a train.

“This is the future, and this is what we need to fight for,” U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, said during the event at Orlando International Airport.

Grayson spoke before a gathering of high-speed supporters who’ve created a group called ConnectUs. It is run by Ed Turanchik, a developer and former Hillsborough County commissioner who led Central Florida’s unsuccessful attempt to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Turanchik said ConnectUs is a nonprofit formed about two months ago with $50,000 donated by a variety of businesses and individuals.

The group is seeking additional contributions of up to $5,000 apiece to launch an advertising campaign, according to Turanchik, who is working for free but could be compensated in the future.

The main form of communication the group has now is a Web site called FastRail ConnectUs.com. It asks people to sign up and pledge their support for a train that could go as fast as 150 mph on the 90-mile route largely along Interstate 4, starting at Orlando International Airport and ending in downtown Tampa.

Eventually, a Miami leg could be added as well.

“Trains are very cool things,” Turanchik said. “What’s cool about them is they connect us.”

Turanchik said businesses and government agencies in Miami, Orlando and Tampa all support the state’s bid for the train.

That cooperation is significant, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said.

“We have to get away from competing with ourselves. … We’re Florida against the world,” Dyer said.

The federal Department of Transportation is planning to announce its first round of high-speed rail winners by mid-October.

Ten corridors are being considered, including Orlando to Tampa; Boston to Washington; Portland to Seattle; and San Diego to San Francisco.

If Florida is picked, construction could begin almost immediately, with service starting in 2014, the state’s pre-application says. Supporters say the train could create 25,000 jobs.

Only three of the 27 largest metropolitan areas in the country are without a fixed rail system. Orlando and Tampa are two of those, and Cincinnati-Louisville is the third.

Dyer is hoping support for a high-speed train will help SunRail, a planned, slower-running commuter train that would connect DeLand in Volusia County with downtown Orlando and Poinciana in Osceola. It could link with the fast train at a stop near OIA.

SunRail would cost $1.2billion, with $500 million or more possibly coming from the federal government. The first 31 miles, from south Volusia County to Sand Lake Road in Orange, could be up and running in 2012, with the remainder in 2014.

TAMPA — With the deadline looming to apply for federal stimulus money to build a high speed rail line, lawmakers, business leaders and community organizers will launch a campaign Tuesday to win funding for the project.

The group ConnectUs, a nonprofit founded by longtime rail supporter and former Hillsborough County Commissioner Ed Turanchik, is spearheading the effort.

“This is a grass-roots campaign that’s going to be working on this and elevating this in the public eye,” said Robert Armstead, a spokesperson for ConnectUs.

Florida is seeking $2.53 billion in federal stimulus money to start building a high speed rail line connecting Tampa to Orlando. Plans call for the tracks to eventually extend to Miami.

Three events in support of the effort are scheduled for Tuesday.

At 9:30 a.m., the Central Florida Partnership will host a rally at Orlando International Airport, with U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson-D, Orlando and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer as the featured speakers.

At 11:45 a.m., Republican Florida Sen. Paula Dockery will host an event at Lakeland City Hall.

And at 2 p.m., Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and the Tampa Bay Partnership will host a rally at Stetson University College of Law.

The line is considered a top contender in the competition for $8 billion in stimulus money attached to President Barack Obama’s vision for “world-class passenger rail” in 10 major corridors, including Florida. Obama has pledged another $1 billion for high-speed rail for each of the next five years.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has singled out Florida and California — where the line would connect San Diego to San Francisco and Sacramento — as being “way ahead of the curve” with their high speed rail plans, meaning they could quickly meet Obama’s goal of creating jobs.

In Florida, environmental and ridership studies have been completed. The right-of-way for the tracks is largely in place, with plans to run trains in the median of Interstate 4.

Land for bullet train stations already has been committed in downtown Tampa on the site of the former Morgan Street jail and in Lakeland, Disney World and the Orlando International Airport.

“The only thing Florida has been lacking so far is a visible show of support from the citizens, the elected officials, communities, environmental groups and the business community,” Dockery said. “That’s really the purpose of ConnectUs, to gather all that support. Because it’s there. We just need to showcase it. If we can do that, Florida’s application is going to be heads above others.”

On July 31, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson sent a letter to state Senate President Jeff Atwater, House Speaker Larry Cretul and state Democratic leaders, saying they need to get behind the effort if Florida wants to win the stimulus money. He suggested they write a letter to LaHood expressing support.

Last week, Republican state Sen. Mike Fasano did just that, making more than a dozen points about why the state should get the award. Among the arguments Fasano made: Work on the Tampa-Orlando line could begin in less than two years; the train would provide a safe transportation alternative for seniors; and it would help with hurricane evacuation.

Ten members of Florida’s federal legislative delegation also sent a letter in June to LaHood showing support for the project.

Signers included Democrats Castor, Grayson, Corrine Brown, Kendrick Meek, Robert Wexler, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Alcee Hastings, and Republicans Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart and Adam Putnam.

LaHood will be in Florida around the first of September to meet with state and local officials about the project, said Brown, who chairs the U.S. House transportation committee’s subcommittee on railroads, pipelines and hazardous materials.

“He’s very interested in Florida,” said Corrine Brown, but noted that state lawmakers need to make financial commitments to the line. “I know the federal government wants to be partners. I know the locals want to be partners. But we’ve got to have the state at the table.”

To those of you who have been supportive of high speed rail for many years, we now have a great opportunity to show that support. In the recent stimulus package, President Obama included $8 billion for High Speed Rail projects nation-wide.

In view of this opportunity, the state of Florida has submitted several applications for these funds, one of which totaled $2.5 billion and would adequately fund Phase 1 of the HSR project, to run from Tampa to Orlando. Because this project has completed the NEPA process and is closest to being shovel-ready, this application is considered to be one of the strongest in the nation.

Ed Turanchik from Tampa is starting a grass roots organization known as “Connect Us” to help develop support for Florida’s High Speed Rail. On Tuesday, August 18, from 11:45 AM-12:45 PM at the Lakeland City Commission Chamber (228 Massachusetts Avenue), Ed and a group of supporters from Miami and Orlando will be coming to Lakeland to kick off this grassroots support with a media event. The group will then continue their support in Tampa.

Senator Paula Dockery will serve as emcee for the event. Appearances and comments will be provided by Lakeland Mayor Buddy Fletcher (confirmed), County Commissioner Bob English (confirmed), and City Commissioner Howard Wiggs (confirmed). Congressman Adam Putnam and City Commissioner Justin Troller are also invited to attend, but have not yet confirmed their attendance.
Attached for your information is an event flier highlighting the occasion. Please feel free to forward this email to other supporters. If anyone is interested in going on to the Tampa event afterwards, please let us know so that we have an idea of who is attending. Should you have any questions or need further information, please contact Yadira Holmes at 863.413.2900 or via email at yapulido@aol.com.

Thank you for your support of High Speed Rail. We encourage and look forward to showing your support on Tuesday, August 18.

See flyer

TAMPA – The prospect of billions of dollars in federal stimulus money is reviving the long-dormant high-speed rail project connecting Tampa, Orlando and Miami.

Florida is considered by some to be a leading candidate for some of the $8 billion that President Barack Obama wants to spend on 10 inter-city, high-speed corridors. The state has already reserved right of way for a rail corridor along Interstate 4 and spent $30 million on environmental studies connected with the project.

“We’re shovel-ready; we were ahead of everybody else,” said C.C. “Doc” Dockery, who initiated a successful state referendum in 2000 approving a high-speed rail system. Voters reversed that decision four years later at the urging of Gov. Jeb Bush, a rail opponent.

Dockery said support from Gov. Charlie Crist is crucial to Florida getting a share of the stimulus money. He said Crist has “not been out there cheerleading” for the project.

“It’s all in his hands,” Dockery said. “If he gets out in front with this application … it’s a slam dunk.” The governor’s office did not respond to Dockery’s comments.

Florida’s Department of Transportation has to notify the Federal Railroad Administration by Friday that the state is applying for the money, said Kevin Thibault, DOT assistant secretary for engineering and operations. Vice President Joe Biden’s office is overseeing stimulus money projects.

“What we have heard from the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) and Vice President Biden is that Florida, because of the groundwork that has been laid, is in a good position to apply,” Thibault said. “But it will still depend on the merits.”

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, supports the project, saying it will create thousands of construction jobs and develop a high-tech corridor connecting Florida’s major metro areas.

“I know people wonder about the cost, but look at the many millions it takes to add a lane onto an interstate,” Castor said. “Here’s something that would be sustainable over time and not reliant on the wild swings in the price of gas and oil.”

The proposed route would start at the Marion Street Transit Center in downtown Tampa, where the train could connect with 26 bus routes, the in-town trolley and a bus line to Pinellas County.

Possible train station sites being discussed in Orlando include the airport and Disney World, along with a stop in Lakeland.