US Senator Bill Nelson Spearheads the Push to Save Florida HSR

[mtraininjax]

without the first leg, there will never be a connection to Jax.

Well, we are still waiting on the Skyway to go somewhere, maybe the sports complex, but I bet we see the Skyway go somewhere before we see HSR come to Jax. HSR will go to Miami before it comes to Jax. We'll never see it in our lifetimes in Jax.

[dougskiles]

^Considering that we could extend the Skyway into San Marco for less than 0.1% of the cost of HSR between Tampa & Orlando, I would hope that would happen first.

[thelakelander]

without the first leg, there will never be a connection to Jax.

Well, we are still waiting on the Skyway to go somewhere, maybe the sports complex, but I bet we see the Skyway go somewhere before we see HSR come to Jax. HSR will go to Miami before it comes to Jax. We'll never see it in our lifetimes in Jax.

Probably so.

[FayeforCure]

Glad to see everyone is so concerned about Orlando, Kissimmee, Deland and Tampa. I am sure they return the favor to those of us in Jacksonville.

without the first leg, there will never be a connection to Jax.

It needs to start somewhere and it sure as heck won't start in Jax!! Yet Jax will be a natural once Miami is hooked in.

Nelson said he was undisturbed by Scott's continued objections to the train. He said he has arranged for attorneys from the U.S. Department of Transportation to meet with the governor to draw up an agreement that would hold the state harmless from any cost overruns. It also would protect the state if a private company â€" chosen to build and operate the train â€" should walk away from the project, he said.

That gathering could occur as early as this morning in Tallahassee, as train supporters battle a Friday deadline set by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for the state to either accept the federal money or see it go to another state.

Backers of the train had expected to issue bid proposals in March to the eight consortia of international companies that have expressed interest in building and operating the train, making clear that the winner would have to pay the state's $280 million share of the project, absorb any construction cost overruns; and operate the rail line for 20 years with no state subsidy.

But Scott last week pre-empted that process, relying on a study by a libertarian think tank that concluded â€" using a California high-speed proposal â€" that Florida's costs were as much as $3 billion too low. He also said ridership projections of 3 million a year were too optimistic, though the study showing that has not been released.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/os-high-speed-rail-talks-20110221,0,7053799.story

[Ocklawaha]

It needs to start somewhere and it sure as heck won't start in Jax!! Yet Jax will be a natural once Miami is hooked in.

Apparently the HSR folks have a VERY LOOSE definition of "a natural."  My guess is that it would have to be on the map, somewhere, maybe, and we could build a station there... no other considerations are needed...

YEP JACKSONVILLE IS A NATURAL!

(Psst. don't hold your breath anyone because this is the most UNNATURAL project ever conceived in Florida.)

PS: 0h did y'all see that Orlando Airport drawing?
LIGHT RAIL
HEAVY RAIL
HIGH SPEED RAIL
AMTRAK RAIL
MOTHER-IN-LAW-RAIL
hell they even have a MONORAIL and the creme de la creme
an "INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM" drawn on there...
ITS? - Think Skyway with your own personal monorail pod.

"Some where over the rainbow, blue birds fly..."

OCKLAWAHA

[FayeforCure]

Nelson has asked the federal government for another extension before the $2.4 billion for Florida High Speed Rail is sent to California!!

Supporters also produced a letter from the Orlando-based Gray/Robinson law firm saying a proposal put together by Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Lakeland would have held the state harmless and placed all the risk on the private company that would build and operate the train.

“Florida shall have no financial responsibility for the cost overruns, the operating shortfalls or the refund payments,” the six-page opinion letter concluded.

And the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a statement saying the agency “has addressed every legitimate concern Governor Scott has raised with respect to plans to connect Florida through high-speed rail. We have repeatedly and clearly told Governor Scott and his staff that Florida would not bear financial or legal liabilities for the project, and that there is strong private sector interest in taking on the risk associated with building and operating high-speed rail in the state.”

Florida’s money undoubtedly will be sent to other states, such as California, that are pursuing fast trains. One economic study of the proposal indicated it would create 24,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs in Florida.

“I am devastated that Florida will lose thousands and thousands of new jobs to other states,’’ said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa. “We need those jobs and economic opportunities here. The governor's decision sends a terrible message to businesses that are looking at Florida for investment and hiring opportunities.”

Scott had been given until Friday to reconsider by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who is overseeing the high-speed initiative nationwide.

Nelson said he has asked LaHood for a time extension. LaHood, Nelson said, was considering the request. LaHood’s office did not comment on Nelson’s remark.

Scott repeated Thursday that the train was too risky of a proposition.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/critics-blast-scott-over-high-speed-train-1279972.html

Common Rick, where is the risk? Please explain!

[FayeforCure]

Here is hoping Rick Scott will see there is NO Risk to Florida in accepting the federal funds......it's a total win, win for Florida!!

Florida gets an extra week to reconsider refusal of $2.4 billion in funding for a major high-speed rail project before the money is sent to other eager states.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood agreed during a meeting in Washington on Friday to provide Republican Gov. Rick Scott with an additional week to reevaluate the decision before reallocating the funds to other states such as New York and Maryland that requested a portion of the additional funds.

During the meeting, LaHood provided the governor additional information on the proposed Florida high-speed rail project between Tampa and Orlando. LaHood has said he worked with former Gov. Charlie Crist "to make sure we eliminated all financial risk for the state, instead requiring private businesses competing for the project to assume cost overruns and operating expenses."

"I am grateful the governor has agreed to listen to the facts on how the state will have no financial responsibility in high speed rail," said Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). "I’m especially grateful to Secretary LaHood for giving Florida at least one more week before our money goes to another state.

Hopefully, this will be enough time for people of good intentions to come together and put Florida’s interests first. There is too much at stake for us not to try everything we can."

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/146207-florida-gets-an-extra-week-to-think-about-high-speed-rail-funds