Jacksonville Transportation Authority Could Be In The Money For Terminal

[Ocklawaha]

JACKSONVILLE TERMINAL aka: The Jacksonville Transportation Center project has been walking in place so long the sidewalk has worn out. Enter Obama and the Billions for new High Speed Rail. Just as I predicted the money will NOT go to any one project, rather some here and some there to facilitate dreams and make the future conversion process possible. Some routes are fairly close to High Speed Rail, (such as the CSX, NS and FEC) and will not need a huge infusion of cash to get up to speed. All around town our track speeds are 79 MPH and a bit is good for 90.

Now DOT wants the Transportation Dreamers to come to Washington and spill their guts so we can move forward. No shovel ready strings on this one JTA. Somebody just get in the BUS and GO! Show our terminal plans, explain how well it would work if we had help to move the Convention Center. Explain how rebuilding the LEE/PARK street viaduct is needed to clear the trains. Tell them DOT said we needed 12 tracks but FDOT can't see more then 3... Take a photo of that massive edifice sitting empty inside and out. It would be elementary to include the whole of the Jacksonville Terminal into HSR funding, as NOTHING MOVES IN OR OUT OF FLORIDA WITHOUT COMING THROUGH JTC!

I suspected this was going to come to HSR = HIGHER SPEED RAIL, and that's what is happening. So why not explain how if Southeast HSR reaches from DC to Jax and from ATL to JAX, then why can't Gulf Coast HSR reach JAX as well as rural AL and GA? Why can't Florida HSR meet SE HSR at our station? BINGO, we snag all three systems, and have the most HSR in the United States for many years to come. But of course darling, that will take getting up from the desk and doing something.

Here's part of the news release:

The secretary said he plans to hold a meeting in Washington to hear from a number of high-speed rail planners and advocates to get a better idea of how to move forward to make Obama's pledge of a world-class high-speed network a reality.

"Every corridor is in a different phase of implementation, and our department is going to convene a meeting of all the high-speed rail dreamers from around the country representing all the corridors," he said. "We are going to ask them to bring their dreams and plans to Washington and talk to us about them so that we can work with them to figure out what is the best use of the $8 billion to really jump-start opportunity."

LaHood's vision was applauded by Reps. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), who are both expected to play a large role in directing federal cash to high-speed rail projects in the upcoming authorization bill. Oberstar is chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and DeFazio heads the Highways and Transit Subcommittee. Both chairmen hope to finish drafting the House bill next month. DOT stimulus 'ahead of schedule'

LINK: http://www.masstransitmag.com/publication/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=8550&pageNum=1

I'll go! I'll go! I'll go! I'll go! Let me at em!

OCKLAWAHA