Financial Train Wreck?
For years, Tri-Rail has struggled operationally. However, many of its problems have now been solved with improved maintenance, better security, the purchase of new cars, more east/west connectivity, and especially double-tracking that enabled service to be more reliable with reduced head ways during the morning and afternoon commuter rush hours. Did you know that Tri-Rail runs every 20 - 30 minutes for three hours during the morning and afternoon rush hour?
SAFE is not saying Tri-Rail is perfect. Those in charge of Tri-Rail - the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) readily acknowledge that. But, the point is that Tri-Rail has reached its tipping point. Increases in ridership attest to its success. When people ride Tri-Rail for the first time, they realize that there really is an alternative to driving. Further progress surely will come as Tri-Rail becomes a more seamless, integrated public transportation system. It'll take some time, effort, and funding, but the future direction is clear. The shuttle systems that have been added and the new intermodal transportation hubs at the Miami Airport,and West Palm Beach are another step in achieving that goal.
Sure, there are some who will never take Tri-Rail to work. But, that's OK, because those who do, take many cars off the road that otherwise would be adding to congestion, pollution, and foreign oil dependency.
Some are opposed to subsidizing Tri-Rail, but at the same time forget that all our sidewalks and streets are subsidized. In fact, there are no public transportation systems anywhere in the world that are not subsidized. All great cities in the world have comprehensive public transportation systems - e.g. New York, Boston, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Rome, etc.
In the past, South Florida solved its transportation problems by laying more asphalt. Now we are at the point where we are running out of land to expand existing roads or build new roads. South Florida transportation experts - Jim Wolfe, Secretary FDOT District 4 and Palm Beach County Commissioner Chair Jeff Koons - have warned that I-95 cannot be widened anymore, and that the future solution to road congestion is public transportation. Of course, building a complete public transportation system requires additional public investments.
But, now as Tri-Rail continues to improve service, it's faced with an imminent catastrophe. It lacks sufficient operational funding.
For five or six years, the SFRTA has been requesting a dedicated funding source from our state legislators. For several of those years, our legislators struggled to even identify a source, and after finally identifying a source they have failed at implementation. A $2/day tax on rental cars in the Tri-County seems to be the accepted revenue source, but the legislators can't get together and approve it. Part of the problem during the last Session was that legislators from the middle of the state wanted to build their own Tri-Rail, called SunRail and a partisan battle ensued, and once again Tri-Rail funding failed.
Without a new funding source, the SFRTA has concluded that the only way for Tri-Rail to survive is by implementing a 25% system wide fare increase, and by reducing service frequency from 50 to 30 trains on weekdays, and eliminating all weekend service. The fare increase went into effect June 1st, and the service reduction has been scheduled for October 5th.
SAFE does not believe that Tri-Rail should cut its service. That's like cutting off an arm and a leg. People will stop taking Tri-Rail, jobs will be lost, and the very future of Tri-Rail will be in jeopardy. At a minimum, Tri-Rail will be set back for years and years.
How can Tri-Rail, avoid a financial train wreck?
There are several possible solutions.
The Tri-Counties might continue funding $4.3 million /ea (roughly $ 3 million more than state mandated funding), and the FDOT might continue matching the counties funding, or about $13 million. However, as a result of dwindling revenues from declining property valuations, the three counties have given the SFRTA an early warning not to expect the same level of funding this year. In other words, if the three counties revert to the state funding mandate and the FDOT matches it, Tri-Rail funding will decrease by $ 18 million/yr. What's the likelihood of the counties continuing to contribute the extra $3 million/ea? Not good.
Could the MPOs come to the rescue? Doubt it. Palm Beach MPO's, Jeff Koons recently said that the MPO doesn't have any available operating funds for Tri-Rail.
Another possible solution could come from Gov. Crist. Eight Florida Senators have asked the governor to use part of the previously approved SunRail funding to keep Tri-Rail operating at current capacity for the coming year. However, according to Rep. Paula Dockery's Office, the letter that was sent to Gov. Crist on May 2nd, remains unanswered as of June 7th. So, doesn't seem like you need to rush to the mailbox expecting a reply from Gov. Crist.
What's the likelihood of Gov. Crist riding to the rescue and saving Tri-Rail? SAFE believes the odds are better than you might think. Governor Crist will be opposed by Marco Rubio in what could be a hotly contested Republican primary election for the US Senate and a broken down Tri-Rail, in the most populous section of the state, is not what you'd want to happen on your watch.
Another solution is for the SFRTA to re-examine its operating expenses and make drastic cuts in all expense items that do not affect service frequency. SAFE believes that if operating expense cuts are not sufficient, then the SFTRA should consider shifting a portion of its capital budget to its operating budget to make up the remaining deficit. One SFRTA Board Member emailed SAFE that " you are not supposed to transfer funds intended for capital equipment or preventive maintenance to your operating account. In most instances, those funds are restricted. SFRTA and the Board can be held liable for diverting such funds to operational expenses." SAFE believes that a thorough review may uncover some capital funds that may be transferred without affecting train maintenance or Board liability.
In the final analysis, SAFE knows that the SFRTA Board will do everything it can to maintain the existing 50 train system until a long term solution can be found
However, if weekday service is cut, as preliminarily agreed to at the last SFRTA meeting, the Federal Transit Administration warned that Tri-Rail will default on a $ 256 million federal grant.
Not a pretty ending for a Tri-Rail system that is moving closer to becoming the vital link in an integrated, seamless public transportation system.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO SAVE TRI-RAIL?
There are two steps we can take now:
1. Email Gov. Crist asking him to provide bridge financing to Tri-Rail until the state legislators are able to come up with a solution. You might want to copy the eight Florida Senators who asked him for his support.
dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov
2. Attend next week's SFRTA Board Meeting and show your support for keeping the trains running. The meeting begins at 9:30 AM on Friday, June 26th. The meeting will take place in the Board Room of the SFRTA Admin Bldg., 800 NW 33rd St. Pompano Beach. The building is located about a half a block from the Pompano Tri-Rail Station - just to the southeast of the station. If you are unable to attend - most of us work - then send your email to the Board Members asking them to do everything possible to avoid service reductions.
jeggelletion@broward.org,bruno
Please take a minute to do your part to save Tri-Rail.
Thank you,
SAFE Chairman
1225 S. Ocean Blvd, # 202
Delray Beach, FL 33483
(561) 330-6798 Phone & Fax
jamesejimchar@aol.com
"Make Florida become the most motorist, pedestrian, and bicyclist friendly state in the USA"
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