The Florida Senate

341.303  Funding authorization and appropriations; eligibility and participation.--

(1)  APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS.--

(a)  Rail funds shall be requested on the basis of the funding required for the implementation of the rail component of the work program.

(b)  No state funds shall be allocated or expended for operation deficits of any intercity or commuter rail projects except as specifically allowed for approved rail service development projects.

(2)  PROJECT ELIGIBILITY.--Any project that is necessary to carry out those duties and responsibilities enumerated in s. 341.302, that is consistent with the approved local government comprehensive plan of the unit of government of the areas served by the rail service, and that is contained in the adopted work program is eligible for the expenditure of state funds in accordance with the fund participation rates established in this section.

(3)  FUND PARTICIPATION; CAPITAL ASSISTANCE.--

(a)  The department may fund up to 50 percent of the nonfederal and nonprivate share of the costs of any eligible railroad capital improvement project that is local in scope.

(b)  The department is authorized to fund up to 100 percent of the cost of any eligible railroad capital improvement project that is statewide in scope or involves more than one county if no other governmental unit of appropriate jurisdiction exists.

(c)  The department is authorized to fund up to 100 percent of the costs of any railroad capital improvement project involving the acquisition of rights-of-way for future transportation purposes. Departmental fund participation in such project shall be credited as part of the appropriate share of the participation by the department in total project cost for any future project involving such rights-of-way.

(4)  FUND PARTICIPATION; SERVICE DEVELOPMENT.--

(a)  The department is authorized to fund up to 50 percent of the net operating costs of any eligible intercity or commuter rail service development project that is local in scope, not to exceed the local match.

(b)  The department is authorized to fund up to 100 percent of the net operating costs of any eligible intercity or commuter rail service development project that is statewide in scope or involves more than one county if no other governmental unit of appropriate jurisdiction exists. For commuter rail service, after the 5th year of operation, the department's participation is limited to a maximum of 50 percent of the net operating costs of the service.

(c)  Each such local or statewide service development project shall be identified in the appropriation request of the department in a manner that defines project objectives, the assigned operational and financial responsibilities, the timeframe required to develop the service, and the criteria by which the success of the project can be judged.

(d)  Any service development project funded under this section shall continue to be eligible for such funds only if the project reaches a systemwide operating ratio of 25 percent or more during the 5th year.

(e)  The term "net operating costs" means all operating costs of the project less any federal funds, fares, or other sources of income to the project.

History.--s. 3, ch. 84-333; s. 21, ch. 85-81; s. 23, ch. 88-168; s. 19, ch. 89-301; s. 2, ch. 89-351; s. 74, ch. 92-152; s. 37, ch. 93-164.