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Minutes ago, at 9:28 p.m., President Barack Obama, in his first State of the Union, announced that High Speed Rail is coming to Florida.  The President said, "Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will break ground on a new High Speed Rail, funded by the Recovery Act." In anticipation of this announcement, at today’s meeting of the Board of Directors of the Central Florida Partnership, Alex Martins, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of the Orlando Magic said, "It’s going to be a real game changer for our community and it means jobs, jobs and more jobs for hard working families all across Florida."  This is an incredibly historic moment for the entire State of Florida, since Central Florida and Tampa Bay have been selected to help lead the way when it comes to this important new direction for America.

Above: Thanks to Craig L. Swygert, President and General Manager at Clear Channel Outdoor, around Central Florida and Tampa Bay, there are a series of Electronic Billboards welcoming the President of the United States to Florida.  Be on the lookout for special words of welcome from Clear Channel Outdoor, adding a "special touch" to the President’s visit planned for tomorrow, Thursday, January 28, 2010.
Above: Working together, the Central Florida Partnership and the Tampa Bay Partnership are advancing Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay-Central Florida Super Region.  This initiative is designed to demonstrate the potential advantages of coast-to-coast connectivity, and if the President gives us the "green light," when it comes to High Speed Rail for Florida; Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay-Central Florida Super Region is perfectly positioned to respond to this "game changing" opportunity.
Above Left: President Barack Obama will travel to Tampa tomorrow morning after delivering his first State of the Union.  Along with Vice President Joe Biden, President Obama will be holding a Town Hall Meeting at the Bob Martinez Sports Center, located at the University of Tampa. Above Right: During the State of the Union, President Obama acknowledged America’s "special spirit."  He said, "It is because of this spirit – this great decency and great strength - that I have never been more hopeful about America’s future than I am tonight." It’s this same spirit that will help showcase America’s ingenuity by advancing High Speed Rail for Florida, so we are most hopeful about the President’s visit tomorrow to Tampa.

Connecting for Global Competitiveness is Perfectly Positioned to Respond

Just "launched" last week, Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay-Central Florida Super Region is perfectly positioned to respond to this incredible opportunity.  So you will know, the Central Florida Partnership and the Tampa Bay Partnership are advancing this effort over the next several months; and this "first-of-its-kind" initiative is designed to demonstrate the potential advantages of coast-to-coast connectivity in order to develop a "Super Regional Strategy" for transportation and land use, economic and workforce development, environmental sustainability and quality of life issues.  This project will be completed in time for presentation at the Super Regional Leadership Conference, scheduled for May 26 – 27, 2010.  Needless to say, we’re all very excited about Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay-Central Florida Super Region, because this project is indelibly linked to High Speed Rail for Florida.

Tampa Bay and Central Florida Become a Super Region and Super Economy

High Speed Rail can make the difference when it comes to our ability to compete on the "global stage." Tampa Bay has a population of 3.75 million and Central Florida has a population of 3.46 million.  When combined, Tampa Bay and Central Florida become a Super Region; together they are the seventh most populated region in the United States.  Just as importantly, when combined, Tampa Bay and Central Florida become a Super Economy; with a GNP of $284,404 billion, the twelfth largest economy in America. Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay-Central Florida Super Region will help Tampa Bay and Central Florida determine the "value" of operating as a Super Region; and High Speed Rail will help accelerate the connectivity between our communities in a way that will strengthen our economies and improve our quality of life.

"Ready, Willing and Able" to Help Advance High Speed Rail

Working with others, the Central Florida Partnership and Tampa Bay Partnership are excited by the opportunities presented by High Speed Rail and are both "ready, willing, and able" to help advance this effort for Florida; similar to what we have done for SunRail (Central Florida Commuter Rail); as we continue in our important work turning "Ideas to Results."  Along these lines, what is promised, will change our communities forever. Minutes ago, too, Stuart Rogel, President of the Tampa Bay Partnership said, "With this announcement, it becomes our responsibility as good stewards to make the most of this investment in our economy.  The business community has been a driving force behind securing major advances in our efforts for transportation solutions for our region.  A strong coalition of local, regional, super regional, and statewide leaders are engaged in building a Model for Prosperity that is productive, inclusive and sustainable."

High Speed Rail Is Part of a "Regional Transportation Vision"

Thanks to the leadership of METROPLAN ORLANDO, High Speed Rail is part of a Regional Transportation Vision.  With an emphasis on transit, "The 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan includes significant future transit projects, including an expanded bus system, bus rapid transit, and passenger rail.  Each technology serves a different purpose and enhances a comprehensive transit system."  Now, on the verge of High Speed Rail for Florida becoming a reality, supporting a new "Vision for America," Central Florida will help lead the way in fulfilling a new way to grow our "family of communities," offering more choices and greater personal freedom, a positive return on public investment, greater employment opportunities for hard working families, while protecting a thriving natural environment and honoring a legacy of leadership we can be proud to leave our children.