Happy for Orlando...still get that weird punch in the gut feeling, though, everytime I see this in other cities.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-orlando-international-scott-20140217,0,892246.story
Gov. Rick Scott is expected to announce this afternoon at Orlando International Airport that he intends to set aside $200 million in his budget to build a new station at OIA that could house several trains, including a privately financed one that would link Central and South Florida.
Scott's office says only that the governor will be making a transportation announcement. But a source close to the situation said Scott will be discussing the depot, which initially would serve the $1.5 billion All Aboard Florida that is slated to run from the airport to Miami.
Airport officials last year contacted Scott, seeking $200 million from the state to build the depot about a mile south of the existing main terminal.
The station also would have space for a potential future spur of the SunRail commuter train scheduled to start operating in May and for one other train, possibly the proposed magnetically levitated system from the airport to the Orange County Convention Center.
All Aboard Florida would pay the airport $2.8 million annually for rent, plus up to $1.50 per train passenger who leaves from Orlando. The train company also would spend $50 million to build a maintenance facility at the airport and pay more than $580,000 a year to lease the land for it.
Especially since Jacksonville put him in office :o
Both All Aboard Florida and Sunrail are going to be huge economic stimulators for the regions they serve and even if that doesn't mean a whole lot for Jacksonville it will be good for the state.
But this has nothing to do with Rick Scott. He rejected so many good projects in the first couple years he was in office that now he can approve and take credit for all kinds of things now that it's time to start bribing the good people of this state to re-elect him. He's taking massive credit for the improving economy even though any other bald monkey leaving skidmarks on the furniture in the governor's mansion would be producing the same or better results if they ever actually did something.
But if Orlando gets that magical train from the airport to the convention center that'll be going way too far.
Hmmm, so Rick Scott is a rail buff now. Must be getting close to reelection time.....
The State is going to pay for the rail station at MCO. It will initially serve AAF but will be designed for a SunRail extension as well.
QuoteRick Scott announces $215M for new train depot at Orlando International Airport
Gov. Rick Scott announced this afternoon at Orlando International Airport that he intends to spend up $215 million in state money to build a new station at OIA that could house several trains, including a privately financed one that would link Central and South Florida.
Scott has set aside $123 million in his budget this year. The remainder would come next year, if he is re-elected.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-orlando-international-scott-20140217,0,892246.story
Easy to get cynical on the Gov. The state was on some iffy financial ground back when he got elected. Alot of people didn't like his choices, and they did represent political suicide too many but he did right the ship. Now that the economy is recovering, there is more latitude for him to spread the wealth.
Compare to Illinois who is broke, doubled their income tax, and did a double down on borrowing and is spending it on new transit cars, corporate welfare (they gave up on Office Depot recently who moved to Florida), new Amtrak lines (to Moline) and high speed upgrades on the Chicago to St Louis route.
At least Florida is making choices from a stronger position and it won't put us in the debt dungeon. And I think most everyone agrees that SunRail and AAF do have benefits. Plus he waited until all the marbles were in place before he made any commitments as opposed to some states who will willingly throw money away just to say they did something.
I am not saying he is the most ultimate Gov we have ever had (he communicates poorly) but earlier choices are allowing him to make commitments now.
Is it any wonder that Charlie Crist wants to run again so badly? Scott already made the unpalatable decisions that will bear fruit when the economy reaches full recovery. Crist would look like a hero.
I'd be more agreeable IF the State was on the hook for the $2 billion HSR project he killed. This is +$200 million that would have been paid by someone else a few years back, if not for politics.
With that said, great for Orlando and Central Florida. These multimodal transit investments in their region will spur thousands of short and long term, well paying jobs.
Quote from: thelakelander on February 17, 2014, 09:45:28 PM
I'd be more agreeable IF the State was on the hook for the $2 billion HSR project he killed. This is +$200 million that would have been paid by someone else a few years back, if not for politics.
With that said, great for Orlando and Central Florida. These multimodal transit investments in their region will spur thousands of short and long term, well paying jobs.
Agreed.
Btw, CSX's new Integrated Logistics Center in Winter Haven opens in April:
(http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ILC-1-24-14.jpg)
(http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Crane-1-24-141.jpg)
http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/transportation/economic-lift-just-around-the-corner/