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Through Recent Vote, City Commissioners Renew Support For Amtrak's Return

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Tallahassee City Commissioners say they support an ongoing effort to return Amtrak to the area. They recently unanimously voted yes on a resolution to restore the passenger rail service. The route would be between New Orleans and Orlando.

Former City Mayor John Marks is a member of the Gulf Coast Rail Working Group, which has been working to get Amtrak reestablished along the Gulf Coast. But, he told the commissioners that despite their backing, Congress has still not budgeted any funds.

“So, we’re in the process of determining what that appropriation should be, how much it should be,” said Marks, at the time. “We can’t go back to Congress until we do the studies. We do the studies on the railroads, the tracks, the station, and all of those things. And, that’s what we’re in the process of doing at this point in time, the Gulf Coast Working Group.”

Tallahassee’s rail station completed an inspection in late April. Marks says while there’s still some things that need to be done, it’s in really good shape. And, he adds it helps that the station is located in an ideal spot, near college campuses, the Civic Center, and Gaines Street.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.