Virgin Trains USA wants to stretch its higher-speed rail line from Miami to Orlando to Tampa, but it remains to be seen whether Florida's new governor will let the private project breeze through or put up roadblocks, such as state regulatory authority.

Gov. Ron DeSantis didn't talk much about transportation on the campaign trial or in his first month in office — and then, only vaguely — though his new transportation secretary said DeSantis "has a clear, bold vision and strong commitment to transportation."

DeSantis' staff did not respond to questions from the USA Today Network-Florida about his stance on Virgin Trains.

Historical stance

DeSantis, a congressman from 2013 to 2018, has been skeptical of higher-speed rail, opposing state and federal funding for it. He has political allies who have criticized Virgin Trains, including a state senator who's seeking state regulatory authority.

DeSantis was among the congressional Republicans who in May asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to reject $1.15 billion in federally authorized tax-exempt bonds that All Aboard Florida — the predecessor of Brightline, whose name was changed to Virgin — planned to use to expand from West Palm Beach to Orlando.

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"I have concerns about some of the safety issues that happened in southern Florida, and I have concerns about how it could impact communities on the Treasure Coast," DeSantis told the Tampa Bay Times on the campaign trail in June. "So we'll just have to see how that works out. But I'm definitely not supporting any state funding for it."

Roads over rails?

Florida was "built on automobiles," DeSantis said on the campaign trail in July.

"I don't think doing, like, a train is going to be the answer to it," he said about Florida's traffic congestion. "I think we're basically an automobile-centered society. Until that behavior changes, I do think we need to work on building and expanding our roads."

In January, the new governor said “one of the most pressing issues facing our state is the need to relieve congestion and continue modernizing our transportation system.”

Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault, a former FDOT administrator who oversaw the Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise from 2010-11, added the agency he now heads "is prepared to embrace a new age in transportation where technology will enhance our system and address the needs of all our citizens.”

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Again, it's unclear whether DeSantis and Thibault are talking about higher-speed rail in general, much less Virgin Trains in particular.

DeSantis did not mention Virgin Trains on an infrastructure tour of the state last month, focusing instead on pushing for more federal funding for transportation needs. He said he was working on that with Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.

“I think it’s high time Florida benefits, and we’re positioned well to maximize some leverage," he told The (Lakeland) Ledger. "I really want to focus on reducing congestion, especially in Central Florida. It’s not good for our economy.”

Will Thibault influence him?

Thibault has experience with passenger-rail projects, too.

When he was FDOT assistant secretary, from 2004-10, he oversaw a now-scuttled high-speed rail project between Orlando and Tampa under former Govs. Charlie Crist and Scott.

He'd been promoted to interim executive director when he was one of two senior FDOT officials who resigned in 2011, weeks after Scott declined $2.4 billion in federal funding for the project.

Thibault never publicly said whether Scott's rejection was the reason, but if his resignation did signal his support of higher-speed rail, it remains to be seen whether he and DeSantis are on the same page and whether he'll influence DeSantis' opinion.

Will allies influence him?

State Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne, among the first state legislators to endorse DeSantis for governor, said she'll file a 2019 bill giving FDOT regulatory control over any higher-speed rail projects. It's her latest attempt to add greater state oversight over the company, which she's struggled to do for more than two years.

Treasure Coast lawmakers, including Mayfield and state Reps. Erin Grall and Mary Lynn Magar, filed unsuccessful bills in 2017 and 2018 that would have increased regulations on any higher-speed rail line, including Brightline trains.

Mayfield said the state shouldn't rush to approve Virgin's Orlando-to-Tampa expansion. Virgin still needs approval from FDOT and the Central Florida Expressway Authority to lease right-of-way along four Central Florida highways, including Interstate 4.

“First, I think we need to ensure the proper improvements are made to protect all of the communities along their route, (and) the costs to upgrade and maintain the crossings for a higher-speed rail will not fall on those communities." she said, "Local governments should not have to absorb the costs of protecting their citizens from a private project.”

Her bill comes after the Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability sided with Treasure Coast lawmakers who were concerned FDOT wasn't using its regulatory authority to oversee higher-speed rail projects.

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U.S. Rep Brian Mast, R-Palm City, also among the first politicians to endorse DeSantis and an ally in his gubernatorial transition, has criticized All Aboard Florida for seeking public financing for the private project — and for safety concerns.

Treasure Coast opposition

At least a dozen people have died after being hit by Brightline trains since July 2017, with half of those deaths ruled suicide.

Some critics on the Treasure and Space coasts worry about the project's ill effects on the environment, while others complain about having no local stop.

Martin and Indian River counties twice sued Brightline. Martin spent more than $4 million and three years on the lawsuits, and settled out of court in November. Indian River moved forward with the lawsuits, and both were dismissed. The Indian River County Commission last week voted to appeal the most recent decision.

Indian River last month filed another suit, this over the cost of upgrading and maintaining rail crossings.

DeSantis alluded to safety concerns in announcing his Jan. 15 appointment of Thibault. But again, it's unclear whether he was talking about higher-speed rail.

"He will work hard to achieve the mission of providing a safe transportation system that ensures the mobility of people and goods, enhances economic prosperity and preserves the quality of Florida’s beautiful environment,” DeSantis said of Thibault.

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