South Florida launches outreach effort

Pompano Beach, Fla.-based South Florida Regional Transit Authority
(SFRTA) is launching a campaign to educate the public about the need for dedicated funding to preserve Tri-Rail service.

Dubbed “Save My Train,” the campaign is being conducted during the last five weeks of the Florida legislative session. The campaign encourages the public to contact their elected representatives in the House and Senate with the message that Tri-Rail is a key component to the vitality and quality of life within South Florida.  

There are two bills currently in the House and Senate that would legislate the reprogramming of an existing $2 a day rental car surcharge from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to the SFRTA. This would generate approximately $41 million annually, which would allow the counties to be relieved of their responsibility to fund Tri-Rail operations and would return approximately $20 million to FDOT. This comes at a time when Tri-Rail ridership is the highest it has ever been in its history, with the trains regularly carrying more than 15,000 passengers per day.