The status of a proposed high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando, FL, remains in flux. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that he had met with Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who requested additional information about the project.

“I have decided to give Gov. Scott additional time to review the agreement crafted by local officials from Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland and Miami, and to consult with his staff at the state Department of Transportation,” LaHood said. “He has committed to making a final decision by the end of next week. I feel we owe it to the people of Florida, who have been working to bring high speed rail to their state for the last 20 years, to go the extra mile.”

On Feb. 24, Scott rejected an alternative plan proposed by Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, that would have continued the state's high-speed rail project connecting Orlando and Tampa and transferred the project to local government grantees.

In a statement, Mica said he understands the governor's "concerns with the overall project, which would incur certain risks," but added: "I have done all that I can to salvage the project to this point and present what I consider to be a viable alternative plan that places the risk with the private sector and protects the taxpayers."

When he announced his proposal, which he called a "partial project rescue plan," Mica said: "The first 21-mile section of the proposed corridor, from the Orlando Airport to the Convention Center and Disney World, holds the potential for not only being a viable project, but one that could turn a profit with a qualified private operator."

According to the proposal, the project would include a 21-mile initial operating segment; an inter-local agreement crafted with Orange and Osceola counties and the city of Orlando as initial participants, with the potential for additional future partners; federal financial support for construction of the first segment, up to an agreed-upon funding amount; a solicitation of private-sector proposals by the inter-local parties to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the project; and an agreement that all parties will proceed only if the project is financially viable and they have unanimous consent regarding the terms of ownership, development, and operation of the project.

This proposed phased development has the potential to address the governor's concerns by transferring the project from the state to another entity and limiting its scope to the financially viable route to ensure maximum ridership and to provide for future expansion.

"The ridership numbers for this corridor would be some of the best in the United States and the world," said Mica, "and I believe could also return revenue to each of the participating partners."