Florida Gov. Rick Scott to OK railway

The state of Florida is paying to buy tracks the SunRail trains would run from freight rail company CSX, but Scott has made clear the state will not pick up cost overruns.

The Orlando train has long been supported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.), whose district includes portions of the Orlando area.

Lawmakers in Florida approved the SunRail proposal in 2009 in part to convince federal transportation officials to award the high-speed rail money Scott later rejected.

Since Scott made the decision in the first month of his administration — as well proposed several other unpopular budget cuts — he has faded in public approval ratings. A Quinnipiac University poll in February had him at 35 percent, with 43 undecided. In May, the university found Scott had a 29 percent approval rating, with 57 percent disapproval and only 14 percent undecided.