FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Thursday, June 1, 2000
Contact: Karen Clarke
Tel: (202) 366-4319
FTA 07-00
U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Announces Federal Funding for Tri-County Commuter Rail in South Florida
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced that the Clinton-Gore Administration and South Florida’s Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority (Tri-Rail) have entered into a full funding transit grant agreement to make improvements to the Tri-County Commuter Rail system.
“Investing in public transit projects like this one is key to creating more livable communities and is vital as we move our nation into the new century and the new millennium,” Secretary Slater said.“Safe, efficient, reliable transportation improves the quality of life for all people by encouraging opportunity, economic development and making community resources more accessible.”
“The Tri-County project will showcase how investing in transit helps to both maintain a good quality of life and produce a robust economy as the nation moves toward smart growth and sustainable development,” said Nuria I. Fernandez, acting administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
The project is expected to nearly double the number of current riders by 2015 and improve mobility for over 10,000 low income households located near system stations. FTA will provide $110.5 million for this $327 million project. Tri-Rail currently operates a 72-mile regional transportation system connecting the rapidly growing Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties in South Florida, home to nearly one-third of the state’s population. Tri-Rail will double track the system -- install two pairs of tracks so trains moving in opposite directions pass each other rather than wait their turns to use one set of tracks -- and make station and signal improvements to increase reliability, speed, and safety along the system’s corridor.
Secretary Slater added that President Clinton’s and Vice President Gore’s budget, which provides a record $6.1 billion for transit, will produce real results in addressing the national concern over suburban sprawl, congestion and livability issues faced by every city and town in America.
A full funding grant agreement is the federal government’s commitment to support a transit project over the course of several fiscal years, contingent upon annual transit appropriations by Congress.
Fernandez will hold a signing ceremony at Tri-Rail’s Miami Airport station on June 5.
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