Tavares, Fla., picks up remaining tab for Dora Canal railroad bridge project

Tavares, Fla., City Council members decided to pick up the $84,000 tab remaining to begin work on the $1.3 million project Dora Canal railroad bridge project. The city had already received the majority of the necessary funds from a federal stimulus grant through the state Department of Transportation, which covered 75 percent of the project. But city officials had struggled to find help with matching the rest of money.

The city was required to come up with the remaining $325,000 in order
to keep the stimulus cash. Tavares risked losing all of the state’s
grant if they could not match the funds by June 30.

Central
Florida Railroad agreed to contribute $128,500. City Administrator John
Drury asked the Lake County Water Authority in April to provide
$225,000, but the board ultimately decided to give half that amount, or
$112,500.

City leaders decided to dig in to an account used for
contingency savings to help come up with the $84,000.

The bridge
replacement is part of the city’s plans for railroad initiatives to
promote economic development, which also includes seaplanes and boats.
An independent engineering firm confirmed that the bridge was in need of
replacement after it conducted an inspection. The bridge as it stands
now was constructed as early as the 1950s.