Had Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment to establish statewide high-speed rail?
Yes.
A majority of Florida voters had approved a constitutional amendment to establish the Florida High-Speed Corridor during the 2000 general election.
Nearly 53% of the state electorate voted supported the plan, including a majority of Manatee County voters. Most Sarasota County voters, by contrast, cast ballots against it.
The first phase of the project was supposed to create a route between Tampa and Orlando, with construction scheduled to begin in 2003, according to the original referendum. The rail system was billed as a way to ease traffic congestion. Additional routes would have connected cities like St. Petersburg, Jacksonville and Miami.
However, nearly 64% of Florida voters approved a repeal of the amendment in 2004, ending the constitutional mandate while not entirely killing the project.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 designated federal funds to revive the project. Florida Governor Rick Scott rejected the funds two years later.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Will Manatee County’s new trash plan cost some residents more money?
Yes.
Some services will cost residents more money once Manatee County changes its trash collection strategy on Oct. 6.
The monthly waste collection fee of $23.65 isn’t rising, and residents will receive a new larger bin for free, which is 4 inches taller and 1 inch wider than the current bin.
However, putting out excess trash in personal containers or placing items like mattresses and couches on the curb is no longer permitted unless a bulk pickup is scheduled. This will cost $59 per item and needs to be scheduled ahead of time. If you want an additional bin, it’ll cost $13.32 per month.
Pickups will occur once per week instead of twice, and garbage collectors hanging off the back of the trucks will be replaced with a new automated pickup system.
These changes are happening due to rising waste collection costs and the county’s struggle to maintain staff.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
This story was originally published by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom delivering investigative journalism to Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties. Learn more at suncoastsearchlight.org.
