The Governing Board of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) adopted an amended budget for fiscal year 2009/2010, which will enable it to maintain Tri-Rail's current level of service. The budget goes into effect July 1, the beginning of the SFRTA's new fiscal year.
The budget that was passed uses the total county contributions to maintain service. The mandated amounts include $1.567 million for operations and $2.6 million in tax contributions. These amounts reflect a $3 million per county reduction over fiscal year 2008/2009 funding levels. The reduction was necessary due to reduced revenues, primarily property taxes, at the county levels. The Florida Department of Transportation has committed to match the counties' contributions.
Tri-Rail will continue to run the full schedule of 50 weekday trains and 16 trains on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. If the amended budget had not been passed, Tri-Rail service would have been reduced to approximately 30 weekday trains and service on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays would have been eliminated.