News

Dean Cannon is Sworn In as House Speaker-Designate

Central Florida’s Legislative Delegation is ably represented by twelve (12) Senators and twenty six (26) Representatives; serving the eighty six (86) cities and seven (7) counties that make up the Central Florida Region.

In an historic moment, it was my distinct honor to be in The Capitol yesterday, Monday, March 2, 2009, to witness “my very own” State Representative, Dean Cannon, being formally sworn in as House Speaker-Designate for the 2009 and 2010 Legislative Sessions.

In his eloquent acceptance speech, Representative Cannon stated, “Florida has always been a place where people come to find opportunity, and achievement, and hope.”

Today begins the 60-day Legislative Session, and we wish all of our elected officials perseverance and steadfastness in addressing our state’s needs and challenges. The Central Florida Partnership stands ready to provide the support needed to move Florida’s issues forward – including SunRail (Central Florida Commuter Rail).

For a complete listing of the 2009 Central Florida Legislative Delegation, please click here.

SunRail’s First Senate Committee Hearing Tomorrow

Day two of the Legislative Session, Wednesday, March 4, 2009, will find SunRail legislation up for a vote before the Florida Senate Committee on Transportation. Thank you to those who will be here in Tallahassee to show your support.

The Florida Senate Committee on Transportation is chaired by Senator Andy Gardiner. Its meeting will be held Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., at the Senate Office Building, Room 37.

If you are unable to “Travel to Tallahassee” this week, may I suggest arranging your schedule to attend the Florida Senate Committee on Judiciary, chaired by Senator Lee Constantine. Its meeting will be held Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Senate Office Building, Room 110.

If you are unable to attend either of these meetings, it is critically important to reach out to all Florida Legislators and let them know we need SunRail passed for the future of our great state.

Please click here to write your personal email to the Governor of Florida, members of the Florida Senator, or members of the Florida House of Representatives. We need your help now!

LYNX Supports SunRail

In anticipation of the March 4, 2009, and March 11, 2009, Senate Committee Hearings on Transportation and Judiciary respectively, local leaders are reaching out to each chair and voicing their strong support of SunRail. Along these lines, we owe a special thanks to Linda Watson, Chief Executive Officer of LYNX.

In her letters to both Senators Andy Gardiner and Lee Constantine, she writes “As LYNX’s Chief Executive Officer, I am responsible for providing transit in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, but as our region has grown, LYNX has been asked by Polk, Lake and Volusia Counties to provide them with transit links. Commuter rail characterizes the true meaning of partnerships. The federal government, state and several local governments are working in cooperation. LYNX has been proactive working to provide bus service specifically for providing feeder service for commuter rail passengers.”

For the complete letter to Senator Constantine, click here.

Congressman Mica Urges Cities to “Get Moving”

In a recent interview with the Jacksonville Times Union, Congressman John Mica talked about the Federal Stimulus Bill and funding related to transportation.

Mica is the ranking Minority Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has long been a supporter of transportation projects involving commuter rail and Amtrak. When asked if he had any advice for local governments, like Jacksonville, he replied, “Get on the stick, and move forward with your fixed transportation plans. There’s still [stimulus] money for commuter rail and other projects. Try to go get some of that money.”

For the complete article dated March 2, 2009, click here.

FDOT Awards Contract for SunRail Design and Construction

The Florida Department of Transportation awarded a professional services contract in February 2009 to a joint venture led by Atlanta-based Archer Western Contractors Ltd., and RailWorks Track Systems, Inc., of New York City, for partial design and construction associated with SunRail.

Information about job opportunities associated with the contract will be posted when available. Construction on the project is expected to begin in the fall of 2009.

Archer Western was selected from a highly competitive final group of three contract consortiums to perform construction work within the CSX Transportation right-of-way, including track and signal work and platform construction. Founded in 1983, the company is an established general contracting, construction management and design-build firm with extensive experience in civil and transportation projects, including rapid transit, highway and bridgework. Archer Western is a subsidiary of The Walsh Group, a firm currently ranked among the nation's 20 top contractors. For more information about the company, please visit www.walshgroup.com.

RailWorks Track Systems, Inc., is a leading provider of track and transit systems construction and maintenance services throughout North America. RailWorks serves a range of customers – from private industries, to public transit authorities, to railroads of all sizes. RailWorks Track Systems, Inc., is a full-service railroad, light rail and transit track contractor with more than 20 field offices in the United States and Canada that provides “turn key” service for large and small railroad construction, maintenance and rehabilitation projects. For more information about the company, please visit www.railworks.com.

Traveling to Tallahassee?

Please let us know if you or your colleagues will be in Tallahassee during the Legislative Session (Tuesday, March 3 - Friday, May 1, 2009).  Here's why - we may need your attendance at a Committee Hearing or a Press Conference at a "moments notice."  So, please let us know if you are "Traveling to Tallahassee" so that we can "link" you to activities and events that will be important to the success of SunRail (Central Florida Commuter Rail).

Not sure when you'll be going to the Capitol? Then plan your trip around our "SunRail Rally," planned for Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at the Capitol Rotunda (Senate Side).  The "SunRail Rally" is part of "Capitol Connection," a joint effort hosted by several local Chambers of Commerce (Apopka Area, East Orlando, Hispanic, Orlando Regional, Oviedo-Winter Springs, Seminole County Regional, West Orange and Winter Park).

Please send us your availability by contacting Pam Clancy at 407.835.2486, or via email at pam.clancy@centralfloridapartnership.org so we may maximize your “Time in Tallahassee.”