High Speed Rail Announcement in Tampa on Thursday from Obama, Biden & Crist?

[vicupstate]

Crist may be with Obama in Tampa Thursday
Gov. Charlie Crist, who has been taking a steady pounding for his "man hug" with President Obama in Fort Myers last February, says he may be with the president again at the University of Tampa Thursday when the president may announce a major award of high-speed rail money for Florida -- money that state officials say will create thousands of new jobs.

The president and Vice President Joe Biden both plan to be at the UT campus at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

"Currently, I have plans to be in Tampa on Thursday for the Board of Governors (meeting). We're going to  announce the new membership. If we can work it out logistically, I will be with him," Crist said.

When BayNews 9 videographer Steve Thomas noted that Crist has been taking a beating from the GOP base over his previous appearance with the president, Crist said: "That's not my concern. My concern is fighting for jobs for the people of Florida."

Posted by Steve Bousquet at 09:15:52 AM on January 26, 2010

[buckethead]

Haysoos Crist! He's in league with Faye!

[Ocklawaha]

I cringe to think of what will happen to HSR nationally when Florida F$*K's this up. You can't run HSR or Airlines or FREEway's around 100 degree turns and expect to save any time or build ridership. The national showcase is going to become the national embarrassment.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

I sincerely hope (and kind of think) you are wrong Ock...time will tell!

[tufsu1]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904575025460095083750.html

[thelakelander]

I'm not crazy about the plan but I can see why it would be good to Obama from a political standpoint.

1. Its really the only HSR project that can be completed fairly quickly.

2. Florida is a major swing state and Central Florida is unpredictable around election time.  Drop two billions into an area hit hard by the recession and he'll most likely solidify votes come reelection time.

3. It will be well under construction when his first term ends.  Thus, it will receive a ton of press and publicity as one of his "accomplishments" come campaign time.

As for Florida's sake, I'm not crazy about the route (we're missing an opportunity to connect denser city centers in the region) but hopefully when reality strikes, they'll drop ticket prices and add a combination of local and express trains with local trains stopping at additional future stops not currently a part of the plan.

[buckethead]

Considering the treatment all forms of public passenger rail has recieved in FL recently as well as historically, I find it odd that we are somehow in the frontrunning for such a large chunk of the 8 billion.

It reeks of pandering. Not a sound means of developing transit infrastructure.

[Ocklawaha]

YEP! More "Shit-for-brains" Florida panache? or? more likely, more complicated or clandestine plot's or scheme's, and this one big enough, and stupid enough to bring down the presidency!

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

Doubt it.  It won't be operational come reelection time.  By the time ridership results start coming in, he'll already be back in office (assuming he wins) and be term limited.  Instead, you'll see a system nearing completion and hear statistics about the number of construction jobs that have been created in Central Florida with a promise to deliver more money for phase 2, if reelected.  Personal feelings for the plan, aside, its a good move for Obama to win Florida again.

[RainDoggie]

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/01/where-to-build-hsr.php

[thelakelander]

Five years ago if you told me, Lakeland would get frequent passenger rail service before Jacksonville, I would have said you were crazy.  I guess I was wrong.

[buckethead]

Well, the French need jobs too!

[tufsu1]

Here's an interesting viewpoint

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jan/27/na-putting-high-speed-rail-on-the-right-track/news-opinion-commentary/

[tufsu1]

I heard from a source that the announcemnt tomorrow is expected to be $2 billion for Florida

[stjr]

A visual aid for those of us "rusty" about the route for now and in the future:

Per office of Senator Nelson: