Florida High Speed Rail Not Dead Yet!

DetroitDad · February-28-11, 01:23 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/25/flo...tml?iref=hpbua

A proposed high-speed rail line in Florida may not be dead after all.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott rejected $2.4 billion in federal funding last week for a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando, but the project has not run off the tracks yet. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood met with Scott Friday morning to discuss the plan in an attempt to keep it alive......

**Papasito** · February-28-11, 04:40 PM

$2.4 billion to run tracks from Tampa to Orlando...
The drive from Tampa to Orlando is 1.5 hours.
I-4 has been updated and the road is 8 lanes wide for much of the drive.

If someone wants to blow 2.4B on Florida's transportation system, it would be better spent on updating old roads and bridges. Or better yet, beach restoration. Better beaches means more tourism. More tourism means more taxes collected and a better economy.

**douglasm** · February-28-11, 06:24 PM

We're very happy out here that states like Wisconsin, Ohio, and potentially Florida are rejecting high speed rail money. Washington's Governor has already placed a request for those funds to improve the very sucuessful Eugene/Portland/Tacoma/Seattle/Vancouver B.C. passenger rail service.

**ghettopalmetto** · February-28-11, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Papasito

$2.4 billion to run tracks from Tampa to Orlando...
The drive from Tampa to Orlando is 1.5 hours.
I-4 has been updated and the road is 8 lanes wide for much of the drive.

If someone wants to blow 2.4B on Florida's transportation system, it would be better spent on updating old roads and bridges. Or better yet, beach restoration. Better beaches means more tourism. More tourism means more taxes collected and a better economy.

Yup, and that widening was done for the bargain-basement price of $2.9 billion [[2000 dollars)! What a steal!

Think of all the new Waffle Houses that have opened as a result!

http://mica.house.gov/OrangeCountyPr...I4Widening.htm

**Papasito** · March-02-11, 08:14 AM

The Government on local, state and federal levels are by no means great negotiators on price for projects that are paid for by the citizens they represent.