The Florida Senate passed legislation Tuesday to create SunRail, a $1.2 billion commuter-rail system in Central Florida.
Ending a special session that began Thursday, the Senate passed the bill 27-10 less than 24 hours after the House voted 84-25 in support of the legislation. The project failed twice before.
The commuter rail will run from Deland through Orlando and south to Poinciana. However, there will be no SunRail stations at Orlando International Airport, Disney or Universal.
The legislation included additional funding for the struggling South Florida commuter rail, TriRail, and makes the state eligible for more than $2 billion in federal funding for a high-speed rail project to connect Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville.
Legislators representing Gainesville were split on the rail project. Speaker Larry Cretul, whose district includes UF, voted for the bill, and in a press release said, the project will benefit residents and visitors throughout Florida.
However, Gainesville’s other representatives, Rep. Charles “Chuck” Chestnut IV and Sen. Steve Oelrich, who represent all of Alachua County, voted against the legislation.
Oelrich said in a press release that he could not support the bill at a time when the legislature was forced to cut education and health care spending.
The SunRail project will become law with the signature of Gov. Charlie Crist, who has been a strong supporter of the legislation.
