Tri-Rail went to yesterday's Miami City Commission meeting asking for $11 million from the city's coffers to help fund the commuter rail line's portion of All Aboard Florida's MiamiCentral station complex in Downtown Miami. Instead, they got at least $5.5 million in transportation taxes, as well as potentially another $5.5 million on top of the $8.3 million that the county has already pledged. Mayor Regalado, who had previously said he would veto any city funding, even went along with the deal, saying he was "ok" with it. In addition to contributions from other sources, that leaves about $29 million left to raise, and a deadline of late June in which to raise it, but the commission unanimously agreed to negotiate a $69 million multi-agency funding package to get the job done. "I'm thrilled. It's moving the ball forward," said Jack Stephens, Tri-Rail's executive director. "All of them, through the mayor and everybody else, agree to the vision of bringing Tri-Rail into downtown. Just how is always the issue."
· Miami Commission Keeps Tri-Rail's Downtown Dream Alive [Herald]
· Tri-Rail coverage [Curbed Miami]
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