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.
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Sources
- Florida Department of State General Election Overall Results
- Florida Department of State General Election County Results
- Florida High Speed Rail Authority Project Overview
