Orlando to get privately financed light rail line?

[thelakelander]

It looks like the rail flood gates may be opening in Orlando.

Light Rail Plan Would Cost Taxpayers Nothing

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- There are now plans to connect Central Florida's two big rail projects. The high-speed rail and the SunRail will cost billions to build under the current plan, but the two rail lines don't meet anywhere.

But now, a private company wants to build a new train to link them from OIA to the convention center, which means it may not cost taxpayers a dime. The company wants free land to build the train.

That third train would come right through the area to connect high-speed rail to SunRail and a private group says it can do it cheaper and faster than the government.

Passengers could even use apps on their Smart Phones instead of tickets to get on-board.

It's being called the "missing link."

Now a private company says it can put magnetic levitation or Maglev trains on 12 miles of tracks to connect the proposed SunRail commuter trains with high-speed rail.

But none of the $223 million to build the third system would come from taxpayers.

“A private company? I think they'd run it better. I think they'd try to make money and obviously they would,” visitor Jim Leroy said.

The newly-formed group called Florida EMMI says it's partnered with companies from around the world to connect the Orange County Convention Center, the Florida Mall and the Orlando International Airport.

The company says tickets would run about $12. The trains would top speeds of 45 miles per hour, and it could all be ready before the end of next year which is sooner than the other rail projects.

“There's no doubt this segment of the market, from the airport, to I-Drive to Disney and hopefully downtown, will be very important and will be able to generate the kind of dollars to make it a profitable system,” said Susan Morris, Florida EMMI Advisor.

State transportation officials still have to review the proposal, but Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty says it's a real possibility.

“It's something that's on the table, something we need to take a look at and evaluate and see if it makes sense and if those numbers turn out to be doable,” Crotty said.

The group said a large team of investors will pay for the project, but it has formed a local board of advisers. It said it could get the trains running as soon as December of 2011, which would be even sooner than high-speed rail or SunRail are expected to be ready.

Construction on the first phase of SunRail is slated to begin in early 2011 and it is estimated it will create 13,000 jobs.

http://www.wftv.com/news/22783479/detail.html

[tufsu1]

ready in less than 2 years...and yet they still need government to give them the land...sorry, I don't think so.

also, look at the problems the Vegas system is having...and that's with only $4 fares....this proposal amounts to $1 per mile....there is clearly a market from OIA to the Convention Center, but HSR will serve that with some trains....I wish them luck!

[Lunican]

The title of the article says light rail, but the article itself says maglev (with a top speed of 45 mph?).

[Jason]

That is a snails pace for maglev.

[Dog Walker]

Isn't it sort of silly to mag lev for such a short distance? Expensive technology for this application. 

Are they trying to sell stock?

[Ocklawaha]

Isn't it sort of silly to mag lev for such a short distance? Expensive technology for this application. 

Are they trying to sell stock?

If they are my friend, DON'T BUY IT! I don't care if they build a gold plated system, if it carries passengers the chance of profit are slim to none. Just research the Las Vegas Monorail, which has a more or less captive ridership, and STILL loses it's tail...

OCKLAWAHA

[Dog Walker]

Yes, sounded like a stock selling scheme to me, not a railroad.