Taylor County, in north central Florida, is applying for the TIGER Discretionary Grants program in an endeavor to contribute to expanding transportation infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits to the region specifically and to the Nation overall, preserving and creating jobs and promoting economic recovery.
The PERRY RAIL EXTENSION PROJECT is a freight rail transportation project consistent with the following criteria:
Long-Term Outcomes: The project will have a significant impact on desirable long-term outcomes for the Nation, the metropolitan area, and the region. The rail extension will provide Taylor County, a state designated Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern, with an opportunity to attract industry, encourage local investment, produce jobs, and generate regional economic development.
Livability: Currently, the per capita income is approximately 60% that of the United States average. The rail extension would improve the livability of Taylor County residents by creating local economic development and a significant amount of jobs. Taylor County is currently isolated from the rest of Florida in terms of industry. Because of the isolation, it is difficult to attract industry and, therefore, jobs. Upon construction of the rail extension, Taylor County would immediately have economically feasible access to many of the region’s large markets including Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Panama City, Pensacola, Daytona Beach, as well as southern Georgia and Alabama. In order to not disturb the quality of life for local citizens, the rail extension follows along an existing haul road for timber, avoids environmental impacts, and by-passes the residential and commercially developed portion of the county.
State of Good Repair: The project will promote a state of good repair by improving the condition of existing transportation facilities and provide rail access to industry to promote job and wealth creation. The Georgia Florida Railroad’s track will be upgraded and be able to transport heavier tonnages more effectively and safely. Additionally, the rail upgrade will make it economically feasible for much needed high quality aggregate reserves to supply North and Central Florida, as well as potentially other southeast states. Given Florida’s reliance on one source of aggregate, the state government’s sanctioned
Strategic Aggregates Report and Strategic Aggregate Review Task Force identified a rail extension into Taylor County as critical to ensure Florida does not experience an aggregate shortage crisis.
Economic Competitiveness: The rail extension project will contribute to the economic competitiveness of the United States over the medium to long term. Currently, millions of tons of aggregate are barged into Florida from international sources because ample local sources are not available. Rail in Taylor County would enable Florida based companies to replace much of the aggregate imported from out of the country. Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s recent designation of Taylor County as one of Florida’s Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern frames the challenges facing Taylor County as it competes in today’s ever changing economic landscape. According to the Governor’s Executive Order, Taylor County is one of only a handful of Florida counties “struggling to maintain, support or enhance job creating activity or to generate revenues for education and other critical government services such as infrastructure, transportation and safety.” As the Executive Order further notes, these challenges threaten both the “well being and viability” of Taylor County. This industry expansion associated with the rail extension will create significant job creation and regional wealth.
Sustainability: Today the mine and silviculture industries in Taylor County is supported entirely by truck traffic. Providing rail would off-set the truck traffic in the state. Rail uses 25% to 30% less fuel than trucks, generating less pollution per ton of material transported. Furthermore, rail transportation means less road congestion for the region. For example, one unit train removes the equivalent of about 400 over-the-road trucks from the road. Additionally, rail in Taylor County will be utilized to attract industry and assist with biomass transportation to support the commercialization of an ethanol production facility that has recently been funded. The ethanol facility will further enhance the competitiveness of the United States by reducing reliance on foreign oil.
Safety: The Taylor County Rail Extension would promote safety by rehabilitating an existing short line and reducing truck traffic within the County.
Job Creation and Economic Stimulus: Consistent with the purposes of the Recovery Act, the project is expected to quickly create and preserve jobs and stimulate rapid increases in economic activity, particularly jobs that benefit our economically distressed area. Florida Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) guidelines specifically mention that rail projects in Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC) communities should be sought out to encourage job growth and public private partnership. Taylor County has fought for years to attract industry into the county to provide jobs. Unfortunately, like the recent bid to locate a coal fired electricity facility in the County, most of these efforts have ultimately failed. The rail extension will provide the much needed opportunity to produce jobs and generate economic development. The rail extension is projected to produce and maintain 722 direct and indirect jobs and generate $3.1 billion in the surrounding region over a 10 year period.
Innovation: Strategic collaborations have been forged with both public and private entities to ensure that the most environmentally and economically sound route is implemented.
Partnership: The Perry rail extension is supported by the Taylor County Board of County Commissioners, Taylor County Development Authority, the Governor’s Energy Office, the Governor’s Office of Tourism Trade and Economic Development, United States Senator Bill Nelson, District 2 U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd, key state legislative representatives, Buckeye Technologies Inc, Georgia Florida Railroad (owned by OmniTrax), Foley Timber and Land (owner of the right of way), and local mining interests.