SunRail advances, but big obstacles remain - Orlando Business Journal:

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The bill could go to the full Senate, whered opponents led by Sen. Paula Dockery, R.-Lakeland, want to see it die. The 61-miles train line would link DeLand and Poinciana through downtown Orlandoby 2013. broadcast partner reported that a key obstaclde is a move by the stater House tocut $400 million from the statw transportation fund in an efforft to balance the budget, which effectively would derail the traij line. In the Senate, transportation officiala saidthe House's trust fund raid would force SunRail to be Adding to the uncertainty, the stated House and Senate are at an impassde on the state budget. Committewe Chairman Sen. Mike Fasano, R.
-New Port Richey, who supports said cutting the transportation fund woulcd torpedo therail project. “They’d have to delayu SunRail for many yearsto come, because we only have -- and I don’ t say only -- we have $500 million in the trustf fund to build roads,” Fasano told the TV “If the House prevails in sweeping $400 there will be virtually no dollars left to buil any new roads, and definitely no dollares left to move forward on SunRail.” In a sign of just how high the stakesz are, sources close to Gov. Charlie Crist told News 13 he wouled dropby Monday’s hearing.
Crist has said he is in favord ofthe project, but so far has exerte d little pressure for its approval. Meanwhile, SunRail opponentxs continue to take issue withthe project’sa liability deal, complaining the CSX railroadd company would be let off the hook if one of its freight trains were responsible for a collision with a commutetr rail car.