Over the weekend, Florida Times-Union reporter, Brandon Larrabee brought transportation issues to the forefront of the race for Florida governor. His Oct. 9th article – “Florida’s next governor will face key transportation issues” - hit on many of the same points the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA) has been promoting since the proposed raids on the state transportation trust fund during the last legislative session.
Larrabee pointed to Florida’s growing transportation needs and the role the state’s next governor will play in making sure Florida citizens and businesses are able to traverse a safe and efficient transportation network. He goes on to write, “With Florida's population expected to grow over the next several years, either Alex Sink or Rick Scott will be faced with ensuring the state's transportation network keeps up with the growth when one of them becomes governor after the November elections.”
Read his complete article here.
As I’ve written before, Florida’s Transportation Trust Fund seems to have support of both the Republican and Democratic candidates in this contentious governor’s race. Unfortunately, Florida’s transportation funding issues are forcing FTBA members to make decisions which cannot rely on campaign promises.
In a statement I released to the media yesterday about President Obama’s recent announcement, asking lawmakers to support a $50 bill transportation infrastructure initiative, I pointed to this same issue: “Members of the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA) and other road builders nationwide are making critical decisions every day whether to hire or lay off workers and sell or buy equipment without knowing if long-term transportation funding is available. Our members have also reported cutting their workforce by 40 percent in response to a lack of transportation road projects over the last few years… Both Republicans and Democrats should be able to support a job-creating project such as this six-year transit investment plan…With such a high return on investment, high unemployment numbers and a very competitive road-building market place, it surely is time to take action. Florida’s transportation industry has always been a key element in the strength of our state’s economy and it’s no different on a national stage.”
It may seem for the time being that whoever comes out victorious on November 2nd, the State Transportation Trust Fund may be safe from a general revenue raid during the 2011 state legislative session. I expect we will still have a fight with the Legislature. But what happens in the interim? The road construction industry will continue to struggle until we get put back to work.
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