The end of Tri-Rail?

By John Johnston
Managing Editor

Whether it’s imposition of a new $2 a day rental car fee, or use of an existing $2 per day rental car fee, without one of these proposals being approved by the legislature, Tri-Rail’s future is grim.

And if Tri-Rail becomes just a bit player in South Florida transportation, then that could in turn be the death knell for a much touted intermodal transportation system in Boca Raton – a transportation plan touted by county officials late last year as a “model” for the entire state.

What’s intermodal? The most widely used definition for intermodal is that it describes interconnectivity between various types (modes) of transportation.

And in this case, Tri-Rail is the lynch pin in Boca’s intermodal plan; indeed, the raison d'etre of a recently announced and ancillary one million square foot hotel and shopping district immediately adjacent to the Tri-Rail station, on Yamato Road in northwest Boca Raton.

Earlier this week, the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee agreed to let counties levy an additional $2 per-day surcharge on cars rented at airports – but only if voters approve.

Conversely, and in a measure more desired by Tri-Rail itself, the House has given approval to a bill that would direct the proceeds from an existing $2 rental car fee collected in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties to the rail line.  Additionally, Tri-Rail gets funding from all three counties – more than $6 million annually from Palm Beach County alone.

And if the legislature didn’t have enough angst, if it approves either of the $2 plans to give Tri-Rail a dedicated funding source, it will mean that State Route 7 in Southern Broward county will remain four lanes, and that the Dixie Flyover plan in Deerfield Beach – now approaching 40 years in the discussion and planning – would yet again be placed on a back burner.

Supporters of the either $2 plan point to the, albeit indirect benefit, to taxpayers.  That is, if either of the $2 plans is approved, it doesn’t mean additional money for Tri-Rail – only a shifting of the source. The amount of money that would be reallocated to Tri-Rail would be approximately $41 million annually Tri-Rail would then release the three counties from a currently taxpayer provided $21 million per year and FDOT from a similar taxpayer provided sum. However, there would be no net gain in funding for Tri-Rail.

Bottom line: while Tri-Rail could to nurse itself along, the current county and state funding woes will find it increasingly difficult to pay for the rail line.  Without a dedicated and non-ad valorem-funding source, Tri-Rail may have to reduce weekday trains from 50 to 20 and eliminate all service on weekends.

And if those service cuts come, then Tri-Rail would become a caricature of its heretofore heavily subsidized ($8 per rider, per day) mass-transit-system-self.