HSR Coming to FLA, AKA "See I told you so"

[fillerup]

I know that I much prefer to go from Northern NJ to the Washington DC area via the Metroliner than by air.

There are many more available Metroliner times than flights.

There is no TSA on trains. If it leaves at 2:30, I can show up at the train station at 2:10

The Metroliner has power recepticles at the seat. That coupled with an air card in my laptop means that I am on-line and working while traveling.

There is more room on the Metroliner.

It is easier to get to the train stations than to the airport.

I am sure I could think of some other reasons as well.

-dave

If I lived where you lived, I would probably make the same transportation choice you make - and for many of the same reasons.

That said, to travel to Tampa from Orlando, the chances are miniscule that I'll choose to travel by rail at roughly $.50 per mile. The chances are also miniscule that I'll travel by plane.

I'll drive my own car, as I suspect will the vast majority of other Central Floridians.

 

[uklad79]

Welcome to the 20th century USA!



The rest of us are in the 21st century and started using HSR in the 20th Century.


When this is built hopefully it will spurt a growth of HSR all across the states. It will make me take more holidays in the USA and extend my 2 weeks (and the large amount of money I spend in your country) to more 3 week holidays (and therefore more cash spent). In fact I have just booked a 3 week holiday traveling by train from Chicago to NYC if I hadn't have booked the train part it would have just been a 5 day NYC break. Train coverage in the States is a sorry shadow of it's former self and people can't seem to understand the future of train travel most countries are already enjoying.

 

[wm49rs]

"Putting more Americans to work with green jobs that can't be outsourced" has been an Obama standby since the Democratic primaries in 2008. I don't think you can separate the environmental impact from the jobs component here. The president certainly hasn't. As it stands now, this sounds like exactly the type of project he campaigned on.

Sorry, double post.

 

[ddrongowski]

Well I am glad FL is getting a train. But I will still get my rental car and not ride the train. After all part of the fun of vacationing in FL is a convertible.

 

[Giraffe Lounge]

On a much more important note, I think both the California and Florida projects will be great investments, beyond the initial jobs stimulus.

Let's hope they, and the rest of the projects, get off the ground successfully.

 

[DVCOwner]

Several people have said that so what rail we cost billions and will not pay for itself, interstate highways do not. This is not a fact. Every time you drive up to a gas pump in the US you are playing the cost running the interstate highway system. This money used be used to pay for only roads, but now it goes to bus systems, train systems, subway, etc. Interstate highways pay for themselves and many programs that do not. All transportation programs in the US should have to be able to pay for themselves. Bring back the Highway Trust Fund and we would have more roads being repaired and constructed every year.

 

[wm49rs]

Several people have said that so what rail we cost billions and will not pay for itself, interstate highways do not. This is not a fact. Every time you drive up to a gas pump in the US you are playing the cost running the interstate highway system. This money used be used to pay for only roads, but now it goes to bus systems, train systems, subway, etc. Interstate highways pay for themselves and many programs that do not. All transportation programs in the US should have to be able to pay for themselves. Bring back the Highway Trust Fund and we would have more roads being repaired and constructed every year.

Well, I like the idea of highways and roads paying for themselves, but the only way to do that would basically establish toll booths on every highway in the US. And since many of those would be interstates, the only body that could Constitutionally implement that would be the US Government, and I'm not sure that's what we want to see from them right now. Then again, if these HSR routes do take off and ridership increases, then perhaps the wear and tear on the interstates could be reduced, and the costs to repair them as well....

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Also, who's to say the gas tax couldn't be applied to rail maintenance as well as highways? It's a matter of how well these rail projects take off. If enough people decide they are an integral part of their everyday routine (like the interstates are now), then we'll find a way to pay for them. Politicians don't let projects rot that their constituents have come to depend on. The most important aspect is how successful the trains are at attracting riders. That's how I see it anyway.

 

[DVCOwner]

You do not understand how it works, you do pay a "toll" in Federal Taxes everytime you buy fuel, tires, etc. The more people drive the more the government has to spend on roads. The problem is that much of this money is how used for buses, trains, and subways. So if what you say is right and with these high speed trains using additional tax money and people driving less and paying less tax, than overall the amount for both will go down. The fact is that roads pay thier way in tax money and mass transit does not. The last time I looked total highway spending was well below the taxes collected from drivers but only about 90 cents on the dollor was collected in fares and taxes on mass transit. I am not saying that we do not need mass transit, but it is costly.

 

[dreamscometrue]

This project sounds great in terms of job creation and travel convenience. It will be even cooler if it's stocked with those awesome Canadian Bombardier high speed trains.

They've been interested in Florida for a long time and are a world leader in high speed trains.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...e-in-us-high-speed-rail-plans/article1445722/

http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation

 

[Wilt Dasney]

You do not understand how it works, you do pay a "toll" in Federal Taxes everytime you buy fuel, tires, etc. The more people drive the more the government has to spend on roads. The problem is that much of this money is how used for buses, trains, and subways. So if what you say is right and with these high speed trains using additional tax money and people driving less and paying less tax, than overall the amount for both will go down. The fact is that roads pay thier way in tax money and mass transit does not. The last time I looked total highway spending was well below the taxes collected from drivers but only about 90 cents on the dollor was collected in fares and taxes on mass transit. I am not saying that we do not need mass transit, but it is costly.

This all makes sense, but I'm of the school of thought that if you're not recouping your expenses on something, you raise the user fee (or even....*dramatic organ music* raise taxes) to pay for it.

I recognize that it's a lot easier to say that from in front of my TV than to get it done in the halls of power of our esteemed federal and state capitals, though.

(Marcia, just let me know when I go too far on the "P" word. I'm trying to toe the line here.) :lookaroun

 

[Gatorboy]

This project sounds great in terms of job creation and travel convenience. It will be even cooler if it's stocked with those awesome Canadian Bombardier high speed trains.

They've been interested in Florida for a long time and are a world leader in high speed trains.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...e-in-us-high-speed-rail-plans/article1445722/

Should have Meglev technology instead of a railroad. this is the 21st century. China has a great system. More money upfront, but more economical over the long hall

 

[hrcollectibles]

I'm just geting started. :lol:

There are several items I got flamed over by the usual suspects. And when I turn out to be right, rest assured they will be reminded.

Of course I will be my usual humble self.

So why not just send them a private message instead of a whole new post saying I told you so...

And I do not think this will put an end to Disney's Magical Express... Besides when is this High Speed Rail system supposed to be completed?

 

[lazyboy97o]

So why not just send them a private message instead of a whole new post saying I told you so...

A premature victory claim is a lot funnier. Getting 46% of requested funds is nothing like the elevation of Florida that was predicted and the impetus of this victory claim.

 

[DVCOwner]

Besides when is this High Speed Rail system supposed to be completed?

Maybe never, now that FL taxpayers will have to pay half the up front cost.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Maybe never, now that FL taxpayers will have to pay half the up front cost.

You might be right, unfortunately.

Does anyone know whether the state has set aside any money for this? Very hard for me to imagine Florida will be willing to invest more than a billion dollars of state money in this project right now. Was asking for stimulus money an all-or-nothing gambit in terms of whether or not the project gets funded?

 

[jt04]

Cali asked for $4.6B and got $2.25B (you at one point predicted $0)
Florida asked for $2.5B and got $1.25B


So they both got about half.


PS> Why'd you start a new thread? Is it because most of your predictions were wrong and you wanted to reframe this as some kind of "victory" for yourself?

I sincerely thought political expediency would trump cronyism. I was wrong. :shrug:

I stand humbled by my own naivety.

 

[SeaCastle]

Where will the new station be at WDW?

 

[jt04]

So why not just send them a private message instead of a whole new post saying I told you so...

And I do not think this will put an end to Disney's Magical Express... Besides when is this High Speed Rail system supposed to be completed?

2014. But the MCO to WDW link could be finished much sooner. It's under 20 miles and will easily be the heaviest traveled segment and potentially the most profitable. I can even see where they could use the federal money to pay for it and then allow the revenue to pay the rest of the WDW to Tampa segment. If done right it might not cost the State of Florida another dime.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Where will the new station be at WDW?

Underneath the castle using the now defunct missile preperation areas