(1) “Ancillary development” includes any lessee or licensee of the department, including other governmental entities, vendors, retailers, restaurateurs, or contract service providers, within a department-owned rail corridor, except for providers of commuter rail service, intercity rail passenger service, or freight rail service. The term includes air and subsurface rights, services that provide a local area network for devices for transmitting data over wireless networks, and advertising.

(2) “Branch line continuance project” means a project that involves branch line rehabilitation, new connecting track, rail banking, and other similar types of projects, including those specifically identified in the federal Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976, and subsequent amendments to that act.

(3) “Commuter rail passenger” or “passengers” means all persons, ticketed or unticketed, using the commuter rail service on a department-owned rail corridor:

(a) On board trains, locomotives, rail cars, or rail equipment employed in commuter rail service or entraining thereon and detraining therefrom;

(b) On or about the rail corridor for any purpose related to the commuter rail service, including parking, inquiring about commuter rail service, or purchasing tickets therefor, and coming to, waiting for, leaving from, or observing trains, locomotives, rail cars, or rail equipment; or

(c) Meeting, assisting, or in the company of any person described in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).

(4) “Commuter rail service” means the transportation of commuter rail passengers and other passengers by rail pursuant to a rail program provided by the department or any other governmental entity.

(5) “Governmental entity” or “entities” has the same meaning as provided in s. 11.45, including a “public agency” as defined in s. 163.01.

(6) “Intercity rail transportation system” means the network of railroad facilities used or available for interstate and intrastate passenger and freight operations by railroads, whether or not on a schedule or whether or not restricted.

(7) “Limited covered accident” means:

(a) A collision directly between the trains, locomotives, rail cars, or rail equipment of the department and the freight rail operator only, where the collision is caused by or arising from the willful misconduct of the freight rail operator or its subsidiaries, agents, licensees, employees, officers, or directors or where punitive damages or exemplary damages are awarded due to the conduct of the freight rail operator or its subsidiaries, agents, licensees, employees, officers, or directors; or

(b) A collision directly between the trains, locomotives, rail cars, or rail equipment of the department and National Railroad Passenger Corporation only, where the collision is caused by or arising from the willful misconduct of National Railroad Passenger Corporation or its subsidiaries, agents, licensees, employees, officers, or directors or where punitive damages or exemplary damages are awarded due to the conduct of National Railroad Passenger Corporation or its subsidiaries, agents, licensees, employees, officers, or directors.

(8) “Rail corridor” means a linear contiguous strip of real property that is used for rail service. The term includes the corridor and structures essential to railroad operations, including the land, structures, improvements, rights-of-way, easements, rail lines, rail beds, guideway structures, switches, yards, parking facilities, power relays, switching houses, rail stations, any ancillary development, and any other facilities or equipment used for the purposes of construction, operation, or maintenance of a railroad that provides rail service.

(9) “Rail corridor invitee” means all persons who are on or about a department-owned rail corridor:

(a) For any purpose related to any ancillary development thereon; or

(b) Meeting, assisting, or in the company of any person described in paragraph (a).

(10) “Rail programs” means those programs administered by the state or other governmental entities which involve projects affecting the movement of people or goods by rail lines that have been or will be constructed to serve freight or passenger markets within a city or between cities.

(11) “Rail service development project” means a project undertaken by a public agency to determine whether a new or innovative technique or measure can be utilized to improve or expand rail service. The duration of the project funding shall be limited according to the type of project and in no case shall exceed 3 years. Rail service development projects include those projects and other actions undertaken to enhance railroad operating efficiency or increased rail service, including measures that result in improved speed profiles, operations, or technological applications that lead to reductions in operating costs and increases in productivity or service.

(12) “Railroad” or “rail system” means any common carrier fixed-guideway transportation system such as the conventional steel rail-supported, steel-wheeled system as well as the high-speed rail system defined in s. 341.8203.

(13) “Railroad capital improvement project” means a project identified by the rail component of the Florida Transportation Plan, which project involves the leasing, acquisition, design, construction, reconstruction, or improvement to the existing intercity rail transportation system or future segments thereof, including such items as locomotives and other rolling stock, tracks, terminals, and rights-of-way for the continuance or expansion of rail service as necessary to ensure the continued effectiveness of the state’s rail facilities and systems in meeting mobility and industrial development needs.

(14) “Railroad operations” means the use of the rail corridor to conduct commuter rail service, intercity rail passenger service, or freight rail service.

(15) “Train” means any locomotive engine that is powered by diesel fuel, electricity, or other means, with or without cars coupled thereto, and operated upon a railroad track or any other form of fixed guideway, except that the term does not include a light rail vehicle such as a streetcar or people mover.

History.—s. 1, ch. 84-333; s. 38, ch. 86-243; s. 42, ch. 95-143; s. 32, ch. 2004-5; s. 5, ch. 2009-271; s. 1, ch. 2012-174.