Winter Garden anti-rail measure fails

Sandra Mathers
Sentinel Staff Writer

February 24, 2006

WINTER GARDEN -- After a commuter-rail pitch by Orange County growth and transportation officials, city commissioners voted 3-2 Thursday not to approve a resolution opposing it.

Voting against the resolution were Mayor Jack Quesinberry and Commissioners Mildred Dixon and Theo Graham. Commissioners Carol Nichols and Rod Reynolds voted for the resolution.

The resolution, introduced by Reynolds, was designed to tell the county that the city did not favor a proposed commuter-rail project through Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties.

The rail plan is being supported by the county and Orlando. Only one city, Edgewood, has formally opposed it.

Citing figures released Thursday showing the project would cost each Winter Garden resident more than $15,000, Reynolds called the sum "quite a price tag" for a system he said would not benefit city residents.

The figures came from Florida State University professor Dr. Randal Holcombe, chairman of Gov. Jeb Bush's Council of Economic Advisors.

The county and its cities would help pay for the project, the cost of which has not yet been determined. Estimates range from $474 million to more than $600 million.

"I personally am not going to ride commuter rail," said Reynolds, who argued city residents would pay for a rail system they couldn't access.

"I don't know too many people in this room who will."

The line would run from Volusia to Osceola counties.

Bob O'Malley, an official with Metroplan Orlando, a transportation-planning organization, said city residents would indirectly benefit from a rail system.

"You can't consider one project on its own," he said. "It's how it connects with other systems."

Sandra Mathers can be reached at smathers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5507.