Scott not interested in any rail work-around

From Aaron DeSlatte of the Orlando Sentinel on Feb. 17:

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott expressed skepticism Thursday at idea hatched by the state’s congressional delegation to allow local governments or another public entity to take over responsibility for Florida’s $2.7 billion high-speed rail project.

In a brief media availability Thursday, Scott repeated concerns he expressed a day earlier in announcing he was scrapping the deal –- that the project would create undue risk for state taxpayers, a claim refuted by other federal and state officials.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is giving Florida one week to come up with a way to salvage the high-speed train that would link Orlando with Tampa or he will send $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money to another state that wants the money.

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