Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersAugust 30, 2017

When the public agency that runs the Tri-Rail commuter trains in South Florida dumped five less-expensive proposals and awarded a ten-year, $511 million, operations and maintenance contract last winter, the agency followed rules spelled out in that particular proposal but they conflicted with the agency’s standing internal procurement rules, a draft state investigation report concludes. […]

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2017

The operators of South Florida’s Tri-Rail commuter train are sticking to their guns, defending their process that disqualified five of six bidders for a half-billion dollar contract, and hoping to win back angry state leaders who want to cut their state funding over the matter. “Right now, we’re moving forward. We followed a process, and we […]

Scott PowersJanuary 27, 2017

Blowback erupted from another direction for the South Florida Regional Transit Authority late Friday over its big and controversial Tri-Rail operations contract when Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold questioned the agency’s accountability and threatened to cut off its state money. Boxold sent the transit authority’s Executive Director Jack Stephens a letter late Friday questioning the SFRTA’s […]

Scott PowersJanuary 27, 2017

The South Florida Regional Transit Authority voted Friday afternoon to award a long-term management contract worth up to a half-billion dollars amidst concerns that it did so after tossing five of six bids, and powerful state Sen. Jeff Brandes reacted with “deep concern.” The SFRTA Board of Directors voted 6-2 Friday to award an operations […]

Tag: operations and maintenance contract
The Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse is located at 801 North Florida Ave., in Tampa, Fla. (Brooke Johnson/Fresh Take Florida)

Draft investigation report: Tri-Rail did not follow rules in $511 million, one-bid deal

Tri-Rail sticking with, defending, controversial $500M, one-bid contract

Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold threatens to pull Tri-Rail’s state money

Tri-Rail awards controversial contract, Brandes lashes out