South Florida losing out on federal transit money

Without an improved regional transportation system, South Florida is fast headed toward becoming one big parking lot. Even as gridlock approaches, some Republicans in the Legislature are throwing up roadblocks that would keep Florida from getting its share of federal money for mass transit.

Their claim to be saving Floridians from taxes doesn't make sense. Florida is a net donor of state gas taxes to the feds. And Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade are donor counties. Yet "anti-tax" Republicans in the Legislature still oppose the license tag fee that would provide the dedicated source of matching money that would allow the tri-county area to get back some of those federal dollars. Unless the legislators budge, the region's taxpayers will lose millions they sent to Washington for lack of that match.

The tri-county business alliance and the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which runs Tri-Rail and was formed to avert regional gridlock, pushed for the fee last year. In Palm Beach County, the fee would provide money for expanded rail and bus service, including east-west connections, the $160 million, 16-mile Jupiter extension, future passenger service along the Florida East Coast line and other needed projects. A $2 fee would translate into $8 million that the RTA could use to win $56 million a year in federal matching money. A $5 fee would raise about $22 million and cover the $4.2 million each county contributes annually to the RTA's operating costs.

In last year's compromise concerning the operating budget, the Legislature again picked the counties' pockets. Fare boxes contribute 25 percent of operating costs, and the three counties split the rest with the state. But the counties' costs will only grow with the increased frequency of trains and the need for more connectors as a result of Tri-Rail's double-tracking. The Legislature also allowed the three counties to go to their voters for the money, which may be what it takes.

The whole idea of the RTA was for South Florida to be designated a region in order to compete with others nationwide for federal matching money. On Monday in Tallahassee, the tri-county legislative delegation and RTA staff will discuss how to meet the area's capital needs. If the tag fee isn't the answer, together with the business alliance they must endorse a local vote or some other plan as an alternative to choked traffic and the spread of choking auto fumes in the subtropical heat.