Scott scraps Orlando to Tampa rail project

[30ashopper]

The last time gas prices were this high we had a surge in public transportation ridership.

$3.50 - 4 gas is the point at which many see the light.

I can see that where rail is convenient. I used to ride Bart to and from work in San Francisco, and I suppose if I ever live in NY I'd ride the subway.


But we're not talking about densely populated urban centers here, we're talking about a multi-billion dollar high speed train between a casino and Disney World, in between which you have little more than orange groves and horse stables.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Not to mention a huge chunk of riders are between the airport and Disney. How many peeps are going to fly to see the Small World After All when they are struggling at home to keep their autos full to go to work. The more I learn abouth this particular project the more it looks like a win for Disney but not so much for the commuter. More than half of the anticipated trips serve Orlando, not Orlando to Tampa.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Sorry can't edit on bberry, not more than half but almost half are limited to Orlando..

 

[30ashopper]

I'm curious if Scott will allow the other part of SunRail go through which he current has on hold. This is the commuter train section that runs north to south through Orlando. That sounds like it might be a worth while project. Unfortunately the funding agreements are skewed so that the operating costs and any cost over runs or losses are picked up by state taxpayers. If they can rework those so that people like Bob get the bill if it fails, that might end up being a useful commuter system. (I haven't seen any ridership studies though, so who knows.)

 

[scooterbug44]

Rail is not the only form of public transportation - buses, shuttles, rideshare programs, you name it will have ridership increase.

I agree that rail makes sense for passengers in limited areas - but for freight in many more places.

It cracks me up when so many scoff at trains as a "European" thing when so many American cities have and do use trains.

 

[GoodWitch58]

McClatchy blog: Planet Washington

Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who late last year rejected federal funding for high speed rail projects, is now one of several governors requesting a portion of the $2.4 billion in rail money Florida turned down in February ? some of which came from Wisconsin.

Before Walker became nationally known for his effort to strip state public employees of collective bargaining rights, he campaigned against an $810 million high speed rail project between Milwaukee and Madison in last year's election.

Now he wants $150 million to improve service and add trains on Amtrak's Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha line.

Read more: http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/washin...-rail-funds-he-turned-down.html#ixzz1IkKPNKEi

Amazing...