The latest move from the Florida Government in its feud with The Walt Disney Company could see state inspections temporarily stop the Walt Disney World monorail system from operating. A new amendment to SB1250 sponsored by Republican Senator Nick DiCeglie would empower the state to set standards for “fixed-guideway transportation systems” operating in special districts.

(1)(a) The department shall adopt by rule minimum safety
  377  standards for governmentally owned fixed-guideway transportation
  378  systems, and privately owned or operated fixed-guideway
  379  transportation systems operating in this state which are
  380  financed wholly or partly by state funds, and any governmentally
  381  or privately owned fixed-guideway transportation systems
  382  operating in this state which are located within an independent
  383  special district created by local act which have boundaries
  384  within two contiguous counties. Standards must be site-specific
  385  for fixed-guideway transportation systems and shall be developed
  386  jointly by the department and representatives of the affected
  387  systems, giving full consideration to nationwide industry safety
  388  norms relating to the development and operation of fixed
  389  guideway transportation systems. The department shall conduct
  390  structural safety inspections in adherence with s. 335.074 for
  391  any fixed-guideway transportation systems that are raised or
  392  have bridges, as appropriate. Inspectors must follow
  393  departmental safety protocols during safety inspections,
  394  including requiring the suspension of system service to ensure
  395  safety and welfare of inspectors and the traveling public during
  396  such inspections.

S 1250 c2 Amendment

The stipulation of a “special district created by local act which have boundaries within two contiguous counties” will directly affect Walt Disney World, which occupies part of both Orange and Osceola counties. The language in the amendment clearly targets The Walt Disney Company in a move that would allow the government the power to set safety standards of their choosing and allow periodical inspections that could temporarily halt the operation of the Monorail. “Inspectors must follow departmental safety protocols during safety inspections, including requiring the suspension of system service to ensure safety and welfare of inspectors and the traveling public during such inspections.”

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