The Florida Supreme Court on March 4 unanimously rejected a lawsuit by Florida senators aimed at forcing Gov. Rick Scott (R) to accept federal funding for a proposed $2.7-billion high-speed rail line between Orlando and Tampa, effectively ending a last-ditch effort to save the project. The lawsuit, filed by Sen. Thad Altman (R) of Melbourne and Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D) of Tampa, had asserted that Scott lacked the authority to override the actions of a previous legislature, which had approved the project. Related Links: Supreme Court High-Speed Rail Ruling Justices were not convinced of the senators’ argument. In a brief,
UPDATE: On March 2, Gov. Rick Scott filed a response to the senators’ lawsuit. Also, the Florida Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in the case for Thursday, March 3. Florida state legislators have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott over his rejection of more than $2 billion in federal funding for a high-speed rail line. Related Links: Blog: Making the Case Against Gov. Scott Blog: ...And Gov. Rick Scott Responds Sen. Thad Altman (R) of Melbourne and Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D) of Tampa petitioned the Florida Supreme Court on Feb. 28, seeking an injunction “requiring that (Gov. Rick
A new global engineering and design-build giant is set to emerge at month�s end as CDM, the Cambridge, Mass.-based design firm-constructor specializing in environmental infrastructure acquires Wilbur Smith Associates, the Columbia, S.C., transportation engineer. The transaction, under way since early 2010, will create a $1.2-billion company that meshes in culture, specialties, employee ownership and international presence, its executives say. The acquisition, which is set to wrap on Feb. 25, creates a company with about 5,700 employees, about 25% of whom are based abroad, says Richard D. Fox, CDM chairman and CEO. SMITH FOX M. Stevenson Smith, Wilbur Smith’s chairman and
UPDATE: On Feb. 28, Florida senators Thad Altman (R ) of Melbourne and Arthenia Joyner (D) of Tampa filed a lawsuit against Gov. Rick Scott that seeks an injunction halting his rejection of $2.4 billion of federal funding for the proposed Tampa-to-Orlando high-speed rail line. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has again rejected a proposal to build a $2.7-billion high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando. The governor rebuffed a last-ditch attempt by local, state and federal officials to address his previously stated concerns over financial risks, thus closing the latest chapter in the state's decades-long drive to build high-speed
UPDATE: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has given Florida officials until Feb. 25 to find a way to address Gov. Rick Scott’s stated concerns about financial risk and keep the project alive. Florida state lawmakers and members of its Congressional delegation are racing to find a way to save the state�s high-speed rail plans and the $2.4 billion in federal dollars committed to build it, after Gov. Rick Scott rejected the funds for building a Tampa-to-Orlando line. Related Links: Letter from Gov. Rick Scott to US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood “In order to complete it, it looks like we are
Federal agents found illegal workers hiding at a big federal construction project in Orlando. Related Links: Hiding Illegals? In a Confined Space? Say It Isn’t So! U.S. immigration agents, returning Feb. 9 to a site they had previously visited earlier the same day, discovered six illegal workers hiding in the ceiling of the Orlando Veterans Administration Medical Center, which is under construction. The agents, part of the Dept. of Homeland Security, and the Orlando Police Department received an anonymous tip that “illegal immigrants were stuck in a storage container somewhere on the construction site.� The caller indicated the hidden subjects
An arbitration panel overseeing a dispute between the general contractor and owner of a Jacksonville, Fla. garage that collapsed during construction has announced initial findings in favor of the contractor. Choate Construction Co. of Atlanta announced Feb. 7 that the panel ruled in its favor on all issues. Choate had faced claims related to the collapse and for breach of contract. The contractor also stated that it had received favorable rulings on its claims for breach of contract and wrongful termination. Berkman Plaza II LLC, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based developer Harbor Cos., was the owner of the 413-space parking garage
PENNELL Metromont Corp., a Greenville, S.C.-based provider of precast/prestressed concrete building systems, announced earlier this month that it has acquired a majority interest in Royal Concrete Concepts of West Palm Beach, Fla. RCC manufactures custom precast concrete modular building systems for residential, educational, commercial and military projects. The Florida firm’s product line includes unitized modules for residential construction that are shipped virtually complete with all components and finishes, including cabinetry, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, windows and doors. The company’s manufacturing facility has the capacity to build 25 three-bedroom houses per day. SANGER "The investment in RCC allows us to further diversify
MOSS Scott Moss has been named president of Moss & Associates, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which is in the initial phase of a multiyear transition. Moss began his career as a project engineer with Centex Rooney. He most recently served as vice president of Moss. Dan Kaufman has become president of R.J. Griffin & Co., headquartered in Atlanta. Kaufman most recently served as manager of the company’s South Division, also in Atlanta. Jack Nix Jr., formerly president and CEO, will continue as CEO only. Mike Bartlett will serve as executive vice president and COO after David Paris Jr.’s retirement. Melanie Parks
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