FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kristen Pesicek
September 26, 2008 561-433-2627 or
877-435-7351

SENATORS TO FORCE DISCLOSURE OF ALLIGATOR ALLEY PRIVATIZATION PLANS

State Senators Dave Aronberg and Burt Saunders
File Public Records Request Seeking FDOT Records

Fort Myers, FL – Concerned the state is rushing to sell off critical infrastructure, Senators Dave Aronberg (D-Greenacres) and Burt Saunders (R-Naples) today demanded that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) turn over documents relating to its decision to move forward with the privatization of Alligator Alley.

Citing a lack of transparency surrounding the details of a proposition to sell Alligator Alley to foreign-owned companies, the Senators today filed a formal public records request under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Among other things, the public records request seeks information on projected toll hikes and changes in operating standards for the vital east-west thoroughfare.

According to Senator Saunders, “The public is rightfully concerned about turning over our critical transportation infrastructure to foreign controlled interests. It is imperative that the public have more information on this proposal before FDOT proceeds any further.”

The bipartisan action today follows two months of correspondence between Senator Aronberg and the FDOT, where Senator Aronberg requested that the FDOT seek an independent review of the privatization deal from Florida’s Council on Efficient Government. The Council was created by the Legislature to review and evaluate outsourcing plans that exceed $10 million, but the FDOT is exempt from the Council's review. FDOT has balked at releasing the information to the Senator.

“FDOT is moving fast and furiously with a proposal to turn over a vital piece of Florida’s infrastructure to foreign-owned companies for at least 50 years,” said Sen. Aronberg. Noting that the auditing firm of KPMG had failed to endorse the Alligator Alley deal in a preliminary analysis conducted by the FDOT, Senator Aronberg stated that "if FDOT has new information to justify pursuing this plan at breakneck speed, it must disclose it immediately."

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In addition to national security concerns and potential toll hikes, the Senators worry about the small print in the deal that puts taxpayers at risk. Earlier this month, the State of Indiana had to reimburse the private company running its toll roads after the State waived fees during an evacuation from floods.

Senator Saunders states, “I have publicly expressed my opposition to this project because I believe FDOT is fully capable of maintaining and collecting tolls on Alligator Alley, and can raise revenues through bonding those tolls without giving up public control of this important transportation facility.”

“As Floridians are painfully aware, our state has had a checkered history of privatizing other government services, at a significant cost to taxpayers. The stakes are simply too high in this project to risk a similar fate,” said Sen. Aronberg. “This project could be one expensive horse to chase once it’s out of the barn.”

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