Florida Senate - 2017 SB 1720 By Senator Rouson 19-00564A-17 20171720__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the Tampa Bay Area Regional 3 Transportation Authority; repealing part V of ch. 343, 4 F.S., relating to the Tampa Bay Area Regional 5 Transportation Authority; terminating the Tampa Bay 6 Area Regional Transportation Authority; amending ss. 7 339.175 and 341.302, F.S.; conforming provisions to 8 changes made by the act; providing an effective date. 9 10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11 12 Section 1. Part V of chapter 343, Florida Statutes, 13 consisting of sections 343.90, 343.91, 343.92, 343.922, 343.94, 14 343.941, 343.943, 343.944, 343.947, 343.95, 343.96, 343.962, 15 343.97, 343.973, 343.975, and 343.976, is repealed. 16 Section 2. Paragraph (i) of subsection (6) of section 17 339.175, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 18 339.175 Metropolitan planning organization.— 19 (6) POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The powers, 20 privileges, and authority of an M.P.O. are those specified in 21 this section or incorporated in an interlocal agreement 22 authorized under s. 163.01. Each M.P.O. shall perform all acts 23 required by federal or state laws or rules, now and subsequently 24 applicable, which are necessary to qualify for federal aid. It 25 is the intent of this section that each M.P.O. shall be involved 26 in the planning and programming of transportation facilities, 27 including, but not limited to, airports, intercity and high 28 speed rail lines, seaports, and intermodal facilities, to the 29 extent permitted by state or federal law. 30(i) The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority31Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating Committee32is created within the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation33Authority, composed of the M.P.O.’s serving Citrus, Hernando,34Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota35Counties. The authority shall provide administrative support and36direction to the committee. The committee must, at a minimum:371. Coordinate transportation projects deemed to be38regionally significant by the committee.392. Review the impact of regionally significant land use40decisions on the region.413. Review all proposed regionally significant42transportation projects in the respective transportation43improvement programs which affect more than one of the M.P.O.’s44represented on the committee.454. Institute a conflict resolution process to address any46conflict that may arise in the planning and programming of such47regionally significant projects.48 Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 49 341.302, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 50 341.302 Rail program; duties and responsibilities of the 51 department.—The department, in conjunction with other 52 governmental entities, including the rail enterprise and the 53 private sector, shall develop and implement a rail program of 54 statewide application designed to ensure the proper maintenance, 55 safety, revitalization, and expansion of the rail system to 56 assure its continued and increased availability to respond to 57 statewide mobility needs. Within the resources provided pursuant 58 to chapter 216, and as authorized under federal law, the 59 department shall: 60 (3) Develop and periodically update the rail system plan, 61 on the basis of an analysis of statewide transportation needs. 62 (b) In recognition of the department’s role in the 63 enhancement of the state’s rail system to improve freight and 64 passenger mobility, the department shall: 65 1. Work closely with all affected communities along an 66 impacted freight rail corridor to identify and address 67 anticipated impacts associated with an increase in freight rail 68 traffic due to implementation of passenger rail. 69 2. In coordination with the affected local governments and 70 CSX Transportation, Inc., finalize all viable alternatives from 71 the department’s Rail Traffic Evaluation Study to identify and 72 develop an alternative route for through freight rail traffic 73 moving through Central Florida, including the counties of Polk 74 and Hillsborough, which would address, to the extent 75 practicable, the effects of commuter rail. 76 3. Provide technical assistance to a coalition of local 77 governments in Central Florida, including the counties of 78 Brevard, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Marion, Orange, 79 Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Seminole, 80 Sumter, and Volusia, and the municipalities within those 81 counties, to develop a regional rail system plan that addresses 82 passenger and freight opportunities in the region, is consistent 83 with the Florida Rail System Plan, and incorporates appropriate 84 elements ofthe Tampa Bay Area Regional Authority Master Plan,85 the Metroplan Orlando Regional Transit System Concept Plan, 86 including the SunRail project, and the Florida Department of 87 Transportation Alternate Rail Traffic Evaluation. 88 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.