Bonnifield Law, PA

TALLAHASSEE - The state Senate just passed the rail bill 27-10. It now heads to Gov. Charlie Crist for his signature.

Crist just issued this statement: "I am grateful today that 111 members of the Florida Legislature have taken a brave and historic step to transform Florida's future – not only as it relates to transportation in our state, but also for the employment and economic opportunity of our people. Providing jobs for Floridians continues to be to the most important reason to pass this legislation.

The bill clears away obstacles for construction of SunRail, a $1.2 billion commuter rail project in central Florida, and shores up South Florida's Tri-Rail with an extra $15 million in annual funding. The bill could also help the state win a $2.5 billion federal grant to link Tampa and Orlando with a high-speed rail line.

Four Tampa Bay area senators voted for the bill, while three voted against it. Sen. Charlie Justice did not vote.

The vote came after unionized labor leaders this afternoon reported they had reached a compromise on the special-session bill on commuter rail.

Opposition from labor had threatened Democratic support in the Senate for the bill since the special legislative session began last week. The House has already passed the bill and has handed it off to the Senate, where vote has been in doubt until today.

Mike Williams, president of the state AFL-CIO, announced in an email message that a deal had been struck. Though he included no details, Williams said:

"The Florida AFL-CIO has achieved compromise with the Florida Department of Transportation and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority regarding HB 1B that addresses our serious objections and concerns voiced at the start of special session concerning job preservation and passenger safety on Florida's railways. After long negotiations and discussions with Senate leadership and Senate Democrats, the primary concern of the Florida AFL-CIO, the preservation of the existing high quality rail jobs. Our goal of stopping the displacement of federally-qualified railroad workers from Florida's passenger and freight railroads will not be compromised as experienced rail workers will continue to maintain Florida's railways."

Earlier this afternoon, Storms, one of the most ardent opponents of the bill, conceded on the floor that "the winds are not with me."