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The Florida Senate

2009 Florida Statutes

SECTION 303
Funding authorization and appropriations; eligibility and participation.
Section 341.303, Florida Statutes 2009

1341.303  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.

1(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; s. 8, ch. 2009-271.

1Note.--

A.  Section 8, ch. 2009-271, amended subsection (4) and added subsections (5) and (6), effective July 1, 2010, to read:

(4)  FUND PARTICIPATION; OPERATING COSTS.--

(a)  The department is authorized to fund up to 100 percent of the net operating costs of any eligible intercity or commuter rail system for up to 7 years, beginning from the open-to-service date.

(b)  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.

(5)  FUND PARTICIPATION; FLORIDA RAIL ENTERPRISE.--

(a)  The department, through the Florida Rail Enterprise, is authorized to use funds provided under s. 201.15(1)(c)1.d. to fund up to 50 percent of the nonfederal share of the costs of any eligible passenger rail capital improvement project.

(b)  The department, through the Florida Rail Enterprise, is authorized to use funds provided under s. 201.15(1)(c)1.d. to fund up to 100 percent of planning and development costs related to the provision of a passenger rail system, including, but not limited to, preliminary engineering, revenue studies, environmental impact studies, financial advisory services, engineering design, and other appropriate professional services.

(c)  The department, through the Florida Rail Enterprise, is authorized to use funds provided under s. 201.15(1)(c)1.d. to fund the high-speed rail system.

(d)  The department, through the Florida Rail Enterprise, is authorized to use funds provided under s. 201.15(1)(c)1.d. to fund projects necessary to identify or address anticipated impacts of increased freight rail traffic resulting from the implementation of passenger rail systems as provided in s. 341.302(3)(b).

(6)  FLORIDA RAIL ENTERPRISE; BUDGET.--

(a)  The Florida Rail Enterprise shall be a single budget entity and shall develop a budget pursuant to chapter 216. The enterprise's budget shall be submitted to the Legislature along with the department's budget. All passenger rail funding by the department shall be included in this budget entity.

(b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 to the contrary and in accordance with s. 216.351, the Executive Office of the Governor shall, on July 1 of each year, certify forward all unexpended funds appropriated or provided pursuant to this section for the enterprise. Of the unexpended funds certified forward, any unencumbered amounts shall be carried forward. Such funds carried forward shall not exceed 5 percent of the original approved operating budget of the enterprise pursuant to s. 216.181(1). Funds carried forward pursuant to this section may be used for any lawful purpose, including, but not limited to, promotional and market activities, technology, and training. Any certified-forward funds remaining undisbursed on September 30 of each year shall be carried forward.

B.  Section 7, ch. 2009-271, provides that "[t]he Department of Transportation may complete an escrowed closing on the pending Central Florida Rail Corridor acquisition; however, the drawdown of such escrowed closing shall not occur unless and until final Federal Transit Administration full-funding grant agreement approval is obtained for the proposed Central Florida Commuter Rail Transit Project Initial Operating Segment."