Budget woes could put Tri-Rail out of business by end of 2026, official warns
Tri-Rail is facing a financial emergency that could put it out of business by the end of next year, and officials are scrambling to convince the state to restore funding before it’s too late. In the budget passed last month by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state’s share of funding for Tri-Rail plummeted from $42 million a year to $15 million.
Earlier this year, David Dech, the executive director for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, warned the three county governments that they will need to contribute $10 million a year each to offset a looming budget shortfall caused by the expiration of federal stimulus payments that have helped keep Tri-Rail afloat.
The regional transportation authority meets on Friday to begin tackling the issue. Dech told officials this week that Tri-Rail is likely to run out of money by the end of 2026 unless a solution presents itself or the state decides to restore the funding.