Quentin
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
QUOTE: Originally posted by jeaton Ah, Florida. If sunshine was a government program paid by Florida taxpayers, they would probably amend their constitution to abolish it. It may not be such a bad move to stop the high speed rail program. With global warming and the rise of sea levels the southern most Florida coast is going to be about 10 miles south of the Georgia state line. High speed ocean liners might be a better investment.
QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy It's their decision, they are the ones living there, and it's their tax money that will be paying for it. They like sitting in traffic, let them sit.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Old Timer Guys - I live in Florida and voted against the HST in 2002 and again Nov. 2. The reason I did so was because its backers did not level with the citizens about the cost of the HST; indeed, it was more than implied a couple of times that the HST might even become profitable. Now, I love passenger trains. I've ridden a couple. And Florida's traffic is bad and getting worse (I live with it every day.) But if HST is going to be the answer, let some reputable promoter (not some fast-talking millionaire trying to get me and a few million other taxpayers to pay for his dream) come in and give us an honest appraisal of the problem and let us know, honestly, what it's going to cost. And don't let him try to bamboozle me by telling me that it'll someday pay for itself. It won't. Nobody in the world makes money hauling people without one or both of two factors being present: he provides a premium service for which he can extract the last nickle from the rider that he'll pay (a taxicab company is a good example - he picks you up at your door and takes you to your destination door); or the government entities pay for his losses and provides him with a reasonable profit. I worked for a commuter agency in a large city about 25 years ago, and our riders didn't want to know that the price of their ticket paid for about 45% of the cost of their ride. But we had a local agency that paid the other 55% and provided capital money for maintenance and improvements. Taxpayer money, that is. I don't know what Florida's answer is, but I agree that something drastic must be done. But tell me honestly how it'll work and I'll be a lot more agreeable to it. Old Timer
Have fun with your trains
QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper Isn't the real answer the sort of partnership that Virginia is doing with CSX on the old RF&P line between Richmond and the Potomic bridge south of Washington? To improve what already exists and make it more useful? This was also sold as a highway congestion relief program, involving more trucks and fewer private autos, but it would seem the right model and the way to go. If I am not mistaken, Illinois is doing something similar with the UP Chicago - St. Louis. The track from Miami to Orland and then to Jacksonville exists, and from Aurbendale (south of Orlando) south to Tampa. These existing lines can be upgraded, then the line from Orlando to Jacksonville, and then the direct FEC Miami - Jackonville line. This would provide improved freight service and well and competitive passenger service. Initially, taking 20% of the traffic off the roads should be the goal, and speeds comparable to the Northeast Corridor would be sufficient to do that. Not very fast by European standards, but enough to do the job.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar ....Pretty good, regarding high water inundating Florida up to 10 miles just south of the Georgia border, but isn't the highest elevation down in central Florida near Clermont....So maybe we'd have an island down in that area.
QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Hey Dan How much you wanna bet Kalifoonia will get a HSR long before Florida even reconsiders thiers.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper Incremental improvements need not stop at the level of the Virginia partnership. They can continue to the level of the NE Corridor and even further, building ridership as the work progresses. The Downeaster Portland Boston service seems to be doing all right despite an inconvenient connection with the rest of the Amtrak system and a 70mph top speed. If 10% of the highway traffic can be put on the rails, the remaining drivers will consider the reduction in congestion worthwhiile and support further expenditures, I would hope.
QUOTE: n_stephenson Posted: Today, 08:39:05 Unfortunately high speed rail probably won't become popular until Americans start paying the same gas prices as the rest of the world. I don't know about you, but if I had to pay $5 a gallon for gas, I'd be asking lots of questions about how to get an interurban started up again. People need to start thinking about the future, I mean there's only so much oil left. Even if we start drilling the oil out of the shale in the Green River valley and sucking up every last drop it's still going to run out eventually. As a nation we need to put more of our money towards technological innovations instead of policing the world.
QUOTE: Original Trains News Wire Voters kick high-speed train off state's agenda ORLANDO, Fla. – The high-speed bullet-train network approved by Florida residents in 2000 was killed Tuesday. Opponents convinced voters that the project was an expensive boondoggle, according to a story on Canada’s Globe and Mail website and an Associated Press story in the Bradenton (Fla.) Herald. The amendment to repeal the bullet train passed by 63 percent. Although no construction had started, the first leg connecting Orlando and Tampa had been laid out and Montreal-based builder Bombardier had been selected to run the project. The cost of that first leg was estimated at more than $2.3 billion. The high-speed network was to eventually connect both cities with Miami. Leading the charge against the project was Florida Republican Gov. Jeb Bush and the state's chief financial officer, Tom Gallagher. An anti-train political action committee spent an estimated $3.5 million on a high-profile campaign that included television and radio ads in the major markets. Financial backers included the state's road builders and two theme parks that were upset that the first leg of the rail network would stop at Walt Disney World but not theirs. The pro-rail side raised less than $1 million and conducted a basic grassroots campaign.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
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