Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersNovember 28, 2018

The Florida Department of Transportation decided Wednesday to move forward with negotiations to lease state-owned land in a corridor between Orlando and Tampa for a higher-speed passenger train rail to be developed and operated by Brightline. The private South Florida company that is becoming Virgin Trains USA had submitted the only proposal to the state […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 21, 2018

Commuter passes will be available for high-speed rail travel between Tampa and Orlando if the route comes to fruition. Brightline Vice President of Government Affairs Bob O’Malley said the private company would consider monthly packages similar to what it offers in South Florida, which cost $300 a month for unlimited rides. Such a transit amenity […]

Scott PowersAugust 2, 2018

Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto and Democratic former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, who wants to take his job back from Soto, may agree in principal on most Democratic positions but on Thursday that didn’t stop an almost unrelenting brawl with bruising attacks on each other ranging from how they treat women to multiple accusations of […]

Scott PowersMarch 15, 2017

Orlando’s three Democratic members of Congress, U.S. Reps. Val Demings, Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy, have sent the White House a wish list of transportation projects that include I-4, Sunrail and the Orlando International Airport. The trio sent the list Wednesday urging the administration of President Donald Trump to push the Central Florida package because […]

Scott PowersNovember 21, 2016

As they prepare for the 2017 Legislative Session, Central Florida lawmakers are looking out for help for the emerging Advanced Manufacturing Research Center in Osceola County, the demise of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in Lake Nona, and I-4 throughout the region. Those are things almost everyone in Central Florida’s delegation is examining. […]

Associated PressSeptember 22, 2016

Heriberto Ferrer doesn’t want to vote for Donald Trump – but he says he can’t rule it out, his open-mindedness forced by his low opinion of Hillary Clinton. “I don’t want Trump to win. Period,” he tells a Republican volunteer standing in his doorway on a recent Saturday morning. What about Clinton? “Hillary no sirve,” […]

Tom JacksonSeptember 7, 2016

As someone who lives near a thoroughfare in a constant state of construction, I sympathize with anyone who looks upon the approach of road expansion with dread. It’s noisy. It’s dirty. It’s inconvenient. It’s hard on tires and suspensions. It impedes traffic in ways that seem to outweigh any eventual benefit. And all but the […]

Associated PressDecember 8, 2015

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Florida’s amount of debt is rising after dropping four straight years. That’s according to an annual report presented Tuesday to Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Cabinet. The new report shows that Florida’s overall debt stood at $25.7 billion at the end of June. That’s an increase of $1.5 billion over the previous fiscal […]

Phil AmmannNovember 4, 2015

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott named Indian Shores attorney James “Jim” Holton to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. TBARTA was created in 2007 by the Florida Legislature to develop a transportation master plan for a seven-county region of west-central Florida. The agency covers Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. Holton, […]

Associated PressApril 28, 2015

U.S. Rep. John Mica and other elected officials want to speed up the Interstate 4 expansion in the Orlando area. The group on Monday set up a task force to explore how to speed up the interstate expansion plans. It will be led by Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. Expansion on Interstate 4 is beginning […]

Tag: I-4
Jai Alai match at Magic City Casino in 2022. Image via AP.

Florida opens lease negotiations with Brightline for Orlando-Tampa train corridor

On the right track? Brightline could create Tampa/Orlando super region

Darren Soto and Alan Grayson debate: brawling, bruising, ‘lies!’

Val Demings, Darren Soto, Stephanie Murphy submit transportation list

Advanced Manufacturing Research Center, I-4, Sanford Burnham, water quality, Pulse, on Central Florida lawmakers’ minds

Uncertainty on the I-4: Puerto Rican voters eye hard choice

Tom Jackson: TBX meets the Star Trek test

Florida debt rises slightly after 4 years of decline

Gov. Scott names Jim Holton, reappoints Cliff Manuel to TBARTA

John Mica wants to speed up Interstate 4 expansion