QuoteWith the U.S. Congress poised to approve a nearly $1 trillion stimulus package and plans in place to begin work on the project that eventually would stretch from DeLand to Poinciana, the timing is right to move forward.
“We’re the only thing standing in our own way,†Mica said.
Despite gaining backing from Gov. Charlie Crist earlier this week, there’s still strong opposition to the project in Polk County. In addition to concerns about increased train traffic, state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, has criticized the project for benefiting CSX.
However, Mica told Orlando Business Journal the purchase of 61 miles of CSX track has been appraised by two independent firms and represents an investment in the future. Commuter rail represents the only project in 40 years that has the potential to take truck traffic off Interstate 4, Interstate 95 and Interstate 75, he said.
The commuter rail project is important to Central Florida, but is also the key to expanding the system to Jacksonville, Tampa and South Florida.
full article: http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/02/02/daily47.html
And commuter rail takes truck traffic off the interstates how?
The track upgrades to CSX's "S" Line and the new Winter Haven yard (both related to this commuter rail project), will increase freight rail capacity throughout the state.
Ahha. So it serves dual purposes: less freight on the highways and less commuter traffic.
It's a no-brainer.
Thanks for the clarification.
Mica is working hard to get that done.
This thing is a big issue in Polk County. Half the county is for the deal because of the new jobs and industry the proposed railyard will bring. The other half is upset because they want commuter rail, not extra freight trains bypassing Orlando.
QuoteSummit on Rail Issues Rolls Along Smoothly
Lakeland Community Development Director Jim Studiale said Lakeland wants a downtown where people can drive - or even walk - without waiting for trains.
He said the city doesn't want more trains but has nothing against commuter rail.
"We want it to be right here."
full article: http://www.theledger.com/article/20090204/NEWS/902040343
QuoteMULBERRY | Memo to state rail planners: Don't mess with Mulberry
If Winter Haven wants more trains, fine, City Commissioner Ted Collins says. "But let them run through Winter Haven - not Mulberry.".....
The state has identified five possible alternate routes that could be used instead of running more freight trains through Lakeland.
In a memo to commissioners recently, Thomas said only the first two alternatives were acceptable to Mulberry.
"We were not happy with alternatives 3, 4 & 5, as they would route up to 11 more trains through Mulberry daily," Thomas wrote.
The city likes alternatives 1 and 2, which both use the 29-mile Van Fleet Trail north of Winter Haven to route trains to the planned rail terminal. The trail was built on what was once tracks and railroad right-of-way.
Alternatives 1 and 2 may make more sense to CSX in getting freight to its rail terminal in Winter Haven. The three alternatives that include Mulberry each add about 20 miles to a current 79-mile CSX S-line trip to Winter Haven. The two Van Fleet routes subtract about 14 miles.
full article: http://www.theledger.com/article/20090204/NEWS/902040336
(http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=LL&Date=20090204&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=902040343&Ref=AR&MaxW=600&border=0)
There is also a new rail opposition website up and running:
http://sunrailcommuter.com/
Some of the reply comments to the Lakeland rail stories are pretty funny. Others show two sides to the story. Here are a few examples:
posted by Drunk
Right now, there is an underpass on Gary Road, an underpass on North Lake Parker, an overpass on the In-Town Bypass, an underpass on Kathleen Road and another overpass is under construction on the second phase of the In-Town Bypass. Plus, there's an underpass at Five Points.
What more does Lakeland want?
Spending millions of taxpayer dollars to protect their snooty, little Antiques district is a colossal waste of time and money.
Posted by Insight
Lakeland Don't like being pushed around, but they like pushing their will on other people. I have one thing to say to them...
here comes the ChooChooooooooooooo's get use to it.
Posted by Ficklefinger_of_fate
Count me as part of the opposition. This plan benefits the Orlando area only and places an undue burden on areas like Lakeland. The plan reduced freight traffic in Orlando and reroutes through Lakeland and other areas. The effect? The rerouting places the traffic straight through downtown Lakeland (as well as Auburndale and Winter Haven). The end result is this will be pushed through because Orlando politicians have a bigger swing than Lakeland politicans. We in Lakeland will be buried for the benefit of others. So I ask, why should state tax dollars (of which I have contributed to) be used to negatively impact my community and my quality of life? If commuter rail/light rail/whatever is needed, then fine. Craft a plan that does not throw one community under the bus(or train in this case) to unduly benefit another. This is not an issue of being short sighted about transportation needs, this is an issue of doing what's right and fair for ALL citizens of the state, not one select group.
I like that they are going to try to route the increased traffic around Lakeland. Would that make Lakeland a possible future commuter rail addition.
If they can do that, it does open the door up for commuter possibilities for connections to both Tampa and Orlando. Btw, here are a few more rail maps:
(http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=LL&Date=20090117&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=901170349&Ref=V2)
(http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=LL&Date=20090117&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=901170349&Ref=AR&MaxW=600&border=0)
QuoteRailroad Divides Lakeland
LAKELAND | City commissioners are of two schools of thought in deciding how to achieve their goal of derailing any increases in the number of freight trains traveling through Lakeland's downtown.
One school, the majority, offers honey to leaders in other cities along the Interstate 4 corridor in an effort to attract allies to support a plan that would route freight traffic away from the core of Lakeland and the other cities.
The second school, a two-man minority, is preparing to serve glasses of vinegar.
As for building potential new rail corridors, CSX is not interested...
QuoteIn a $723,000 study started in May, FDOT identified five alternate routes that would bring freight to Winter Haven without traveling through downtown Lakeland.
The cost for each alternate route will be available in May, said Stan Cann, the District 1 FDOT boss. Some routes would be more expensive than others, depending upon how much track is already in place and how much right of way needs to be bought.
Gary Sease, a spokesman for CSX, said any new freight line corridor for CSX has to make business sense before the company will agree to use it. "And we're not going to pay for it," he said. "We have perfectly good freight lines right now."
The state can study alternate routes all it wants, put price tags on those routes and, with funding from the Legislature, build one of those routes, Cann said.
"But there's no point in building it if CSX ain't going to use it."
full article: http://www.theledger.com/article/20090117/NEWS/901170349#
Quote from: thelakelander on February 06, 2009, 03:24:28 PM
Gary Sease, a spokesman for CSX, said any new freight line corridor for CSX has to make business sense before the company will agree to use it. "And we're not going to pay for it," he said. "We have perfectly good freight lines right now."
The state can study alternate routes all it wants, put price tags on those routes and, with funding from the Legislature, build one of those routes, Cann said.
"But there's no point in building it if CSX ain't going to use it."
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/CRITICAL%20Maps/WILDWOODCUTOFF.jpg)
If FDOT rebuilds the track on options one or two, Wildwood - Auburndale, it would serve as a division point for Amtrak trains. Wildwood is a natural division point and served as such until the CSX took out the Wildwood (Croom) to Auburndale segment. This forced all trains over to Lakeland, pretty far west if one is going to Miami! The idea that this wouldn't be used is lame at best because the Florida Amtrak Service (whatever we call it) would use Wildwood like a mini-Jacksonville to break down trains for both coasts. Freight might not use it, but I think once back in place, you'll see CSX come crawling up with a story, "You know fella's we COULD use that as a short cut between our Miami-West Palm Segment and Jacksonville, If y'all aren't too busy with Amtrak, could we lease some time slots"???? YEAH! SUCH A DEAL I'LL MAKE FOR YOU!OCKLAWAHA
The Wildwood-Auburndale segment is a no-brainer, imo. It should have never been taken up and turned into a paved trail to begin with. However, it looks like if it is to be rebuilt, taxpayers will have to fund it 100%.
Croom (Wildwood) to Auburndale
Your right Lake, Taking this section of our former Mainlines off the map was criminal neglect on the part of our state regulators. A 5Th grader could have seen the logic in keeping this in place, but whoever said the State was smarter then a 5Th grader?
There are a couple of other BONE-HEADED abandonments that were allowed over the years and with or without freight customers, those tracks could have been saved in a process called "Rail Banking". Here are a couple of others for y'all to chew on:
1.) Gainesville to Mattox (Baldwin W.)
1. )Gainesville to Archer
2. )Gainesville to Lowell (Ocala N.)
1. )Hernando (Inverness N.) to Stafford (Brooksville N.)
3. )Wildwood to Tavares (the Florida Stimulus plan has $$ in it to rebuild the bridge over the Dora Canal? So maybe there is life in this yet)
4. )Bartow to West Lake Wales
5. )Lake City to Lake Butler / Hawthorne
6. )Kingsland GA. to Savannah Ga.
7. )Croom to Auburndale
8. )Ocala to Palatka
1. )Cut the opportunity for a true West Coast Alternative route between Jacksonville and Tampa, including all of the new growth Between Tampa and Dunnellon.
2. )Cut the chance of through Amtrak or State passenger trains running between Jacksonville-(Gainesville)-Ocala-Wildwood-Tampa, leaving Gainesville out of the picture completely.
3. )Cut the possible split of trains between the North and Miami via the Central Florida (Ocala) route, splitting and sending a section directly to an Orlando Terminal over the Florida Central Railroad.
4. )This one is a no brainer too, it cut our shortest route between Miami-West Palm-West Lake Wales-Bartow-Tampa, thus forcing all trains to run north of Winter Haven to Auburndale, adding needless time and movements.
5. )A branchline to be sure, but IF the Mattox-Lake Butler-Gainesville segment was replaced, this offers the only alternative route out of the heart of Florida without passing through Jacksonville Terminal. It also opens a second route via the CSX "S" line from Central Florida to Atlanta via Hawthorne. "Think national security, and ONE atomic warhead".
6. )Perhaps one of the dumbest of all abandonments, this was the former Seaboard Mainline between
Savannah and Jacksonville. That same track that runs from Springfield North to Bush, Yulee, Kingsland etc...
then suddenly a huge gap in the old line. Watch for this to become the route of future HIGH SPEED RAIL as it is the shortest route between the two East Coast Cities.
7. )Subject of our discussion, this is THE cut-off between the former Seaboard, todays CSX "S" mainline in North Central Florida to South Florida. It was abandoned for 2 reasons really (but they'll never tell). 1. Freight doesn't care if it's routed to Lakeland or Albuquerque before reaching it's destination, so why keep two tracks. 2. By cutting the shorter cut-off out of the map, they kept the slightly more densly populated route through Dade City, in the process they created a huge operations problem for Amtrak, which will forever discourage them from using the "S" again.
8. )The entire OCKLAWAHA VALLEY RAILROAD between Palatka and Ocala via Silver Springs and Orange Springs. Okay, I'm only sort of kidding here, but this little railroad gone since 1923, would have become a feather-weight golden gloves champ by the end of WWII. Maybe the most prime industrial and warehouse route ever laid out on a shortline. Besides who can argue with a Railroad named OCKLAWAHA?
That's my view, anyone got any additions?
OCKLAWAHA
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/RAILROAD%20Images/SEABOARDMODEL.jpg)
Even if Tallahassee and City Hall are certified Brain Dead, it's nice to know there are still a few places on earth where the glory days of the SEABOARD AIR LINE RAILROAD and all the others live on... Even if it is only for a few hours at a time. Hee Hee.
OCKLAWAHA
Here is another website against the Orlando Commuter rail.
http://www.wrongtrack4florida.com/ (http://www.wrongtrack4florida.com/)
QuoteWith the U.S. Congress poised to approve a nearly $1 trillion stimulus package and plans in place to begin work on the project that eventually would stretch from DeLand to Poinciana, the timing is right to move forward.
“We’re the only thing standing in our own way,†Mica said.
From the article.
This is misleading as Florida did not submit any rail projects to be included in the stimulus plan. Here is everything submitted for the state:
http://www.floridatoday.com/assets/pdf/A91248461222.PDF
I thought Mica meant the State of Florida as the "we" ... didn't he ask folks to support the Central Florida Rail Deal in the Legislature?
Quote from: Charles Hunter on February 07, 2009, 10:13:37 PM
I thought Mica meant the State of Florida as the "we" ... didn't he ask folks to support the Central Florida Rail Deal in the Legislature?
So why was the stimulus plan mentioned as no rail was was requested for Florida in the stimulus plan:
http://www.floridatoday.com/assets/pdf/A91248461222.PDF
File downloads
Full list of FDOT stimulus-ready list of projects for the whole state
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20081223/NEWS01/812230320/1006/news01&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL
We may be saying the same thing - Mica was blasting the State of Florida (Legislature and/or DOT) for not being ready to take advantage of transit money from the stimulus bill.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on February 07, 2009, 11:41:36 PM
We may be saying the same thing - Mica was blasting the State of Florida (Legislature and/or DOT) for not being ready to take advantage of transit money from the stimulus bill.
Actually no,.....I think he is implying that if they approve it now, it could get funded through the stimulus plan.
But that is a lie as there is nothing for rail in the stimulus plan. Here is the quote again:
QuoteWith the U.S. Congress poised to approve a nearly $1 trillion stimulus package and plans in place to begin work on the project that eventually would stretch from DeLand to Poinciana, the timing is right to move forward.
“We’re the only thing standing in our own way,†Mica said.
I'm actually trying to figure out where the funding for the Central Florida Commuter rail is going to be coming from:
QuoteU.S. Rep. John Mica, minority party leader of the federal House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says he’s secured more than $300 million to fund the Central Florida commuter-rail project. However, Mica produces no documentation to support his claim.
http://wrongtrack4florida.com/?q=john_mica
I see four railroad type projects for Duval... Ock can make more sense of it than I...
there is plenty of $ in the stimulus plan for rail, just not for Florida....and the only reason is because the Orlando commuter rail project is still in limbo....and that can be blamed on the Florida Legislature!
The City of Orlando has requested $9 million for the construction of four commuter rail stations in their city limits. The requests are listed under "streets/roads" instead of "transit".
http://www.usmayors.org/mainstreeteconomicrecovery/stimulussurveyparticipantsdata.asp?City=Orlando&State=FL
Quote from: tufsu1 on February 08, 2009, 01:35:00 PM
there is plenty of $ in the stimulus plan for rail, just not for Florida....and the only reason is because the Orlando commuter rail project is still in limbo....and that can be blamed on the Florida Legislature!
The Orlando commuter rail is independent from Jax commuter rail. Rail projects can take place simultaneously and are not dependent on one another.
Especially getting federal funding for an Amtrak run commuter rail into St Augustine shouls have been fairly easy given strong interest from Amtrak:
QuoteSpeaking at a meeting of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority Commuter Rail Task Force last week, Jay McArthur, officer for state contracts with Amtrak, said the government-subsidized rail company wants to offer commuter rail on the Florida East Coast rail lines that parallel Interstate 95 from Jacksonville to Miami.
"Amtrak thinks the corridor between Jacksonville and Miami is very viable," McArthur said. "The Southeast is one of the most underserved regions in the country when it comes to rail, and Amtrak wants to change that situation."
The rail company set a record for number of riders in 2007 with 25.8 million.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/102508/met_348092075.shtml
We're not all waiting on Central Florida, although John Mica would like us to believe that nothing else can be done until Central Florida gets going. It's been put out there as a threat by him, and it somehow seems to have materialized.
(http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/scim_04.jpg)
Streetcar Construction
Quote from: BridgeTroll on February 08, 2009, 01:09:34 PM
I see four railroad type projects for Duval... Ock can make more sense of it than I...
Hello Friend Troll, as for "railroad type projects" I would agree as long as we are talking entire categorys of projects: 1.) Commuter Rail, 2.) Amtrak Hub, 3.) Streetcar, 4.) LRT to the beaches. We could toss in 5). FINISH THE DAMNED SKYWAY! (but we'll let that one lay for now as it's not true steel wheel on steel rail.[/black]
(http://www.zombiezodiac.com/rob/ped/streetcar_future/lander_link.JPG)
Light-Rail Construction
The Projects Break down something like this:
JACKSONVILLE COMMUTER RAIL:
Jacksonville-Shands-Bush-Airport-Yulee-Fernandina Beach/St.Marys(Kings Bay)
Jacksonville-San Marco-Avenues-Nocatee-St. Augustine
Jacksonville-Yukon (NAS)-Orange Park-Doctors Lake-Green Cove Springs-Palatka
*Jacksonville-Marietta-Baldwin-Macclenny / Baldwin-Starke-Alachua-Gainesville *(under study)
JACKSONVILLE AMTRAK HUB:
(Available Rail Routes From Jacksonville)
NORTH
Jacksonville-Waycross-Savannah-Charleston-Richmond-Washington-New York City
Jacksonville-Jessup-Savannah-Charleston-Richmond-Washington-New York City
* Jacksonville-Kingsland-Savannah-Columbia-Raleigh-Richmond-Washington-New York City (likely the High Speed East Coast Corridor)
Jacksonville-Jessup-Savannah-Columbia-Raleigh-Richmond-Washington-New York City
Jacksonville-Jessup-Savannah-Columbia-Charlotte-Charlottesville-Washington-New york City
Jacksonville-Jessup-Savannah-Charleston-Fayetteville-Norfolk
Jacksonville-Jessup-Savannah-Charleston-Wilmington
Jacksonville-Jessup-Savannah-Augusta-Atlanta
WEST
Jacksonville-Waycross-Manchester-Atlanta-Nashville-Louisville-Chicago
Jacksonville-Waycross-Manchester-Birmingham-Nashville-Louisville-Chicago
Jacksonville-Waycross-Manchester-Birmingham-Memphis-Carbondale-St.Louis/Chicago
Jacksonville-Waycross-Montgomery-Birmingham
Jacksonville-Valdosta-Macon-Atlanta-Cincinnati-Detroit/Columbus/Cleveland/Buffalo
Jacksonville-Valdosta-Macon-Atlanta
Jacksonville-Waycross-Albany-Columbus-Birmingham-Memphis-Springfield-Kansas City
Jacksonville-Tallahassee-Pensacola-New Orleans-Houston-El Paso-Phoenix-Los Angeles
Jacksonville-Tallahassee-Pensacola-New Orleans-Baton Rouge-Shreveport-Dallas/Ft.Worth
SOUTH
Jacksonville-Baldwin-Starke-Waldo-Ocala-Lakeland-Tampa
Jacksonville-Baldwin-Starke-Waldo-Ocala-Lakeland-Arcadia-Ft.Myers-Naples
Jacksonville-Baldwin-Starke-Waldo-Ocala-Lakeland-Tampa-Sarasota-Venice
* Jacksonville-Baldwin-Starke-Waldo-Ocala-Leesburg-Tavares-Orlando
Jacksonville-Baldwin-Starke-Alachua-Gainesville
* Jacksonville-Baldwin-Starke-Alachua-Dunnellon-Inverness-Brooksville-Tampa
Jacksonville-Baldwin-Starke-Waldo-Ocala-Lakeland-Auburndale-Orlando
Jacksonville-Baldwin-Starke-Waldo-Ocala-Lakeland-Auburndale-Sebring-West Palm Beach-Miami
Jacksonville-Orange Park-Palatka-Sanford-Orlando-Auburndale-Lakeland-Tampa-St. Petersburg
Jacksonville-Orange Park-Palatka-Sanford-Orlando-Auburndale-Sebring-West Palm Beach-Miami
Jacksonville-Orange Park-Palatka-Sanford-Orlando-Auburndale-Lakeland-Tampa-Sarasota-Venice
Jacksonville-Orange Park-Palatka-Sanford-Orlando-Auburndale-Lakeland-Arcadia-Ft.Myers-Naples
Jacksonville-St. Augustine-Daytona Beach-Melbourne-Ft. Pierce-West Palm Beach-Miami
Jacksonville-St. Augustine-Daytona Beach-Melbourne-Ft. Pierce-Pahokee-Belle Glade-Clewiston.
What Was that someone told me the other day about Jacksonville not being a hub for rail like those Northeastern cities? Uh? Yeah right!
(http://www.southernmuseum.org/archives/images/Jacksonville.jpg)
Oop's the photo is too small, station's probably not important enough.
Quote from: thelakelander on February 08, 2009, 02:10:40 PM
The City of Orlando has requested $9 million for the construction of four commuter rail stations in their city limits. The requests are listed under "streets/roads" instead of "transit".
http://www.usmayors.org/mainstreeteconomicrecovery/stimulussurveyparticipantsdata.asp?City=Orlando&State=FL
Maybe this is key to the Florida Mind-Set Lake, we'll just call the trains "Buses, Roads and Bridges" and the State of Florida will get off it's ass. Quote from: FayeforCure on February 08, 2009, 11:41:42 PM
Quote from: tufsu1 on February 08, 2009, 01:35:00 PM
there is plenty of $ in the stimulus plan for rail, just not for Florida....and the only reason is because the Orlando commuter rail project is still in limbo....and that can be blamed on the Florida Legislature!
The Orlando commuter rail is independent from Jax commuter rail. Rail projects can take place simultaneously and are not dependent on one another.
In this case both of you are 100% correct, it IS the State Legislature that refuses to move on the liability agreement with CSX. So while they can be done simultaneously and independently, since the Federal Funding and State funding all funnel through Tallahassee, NO ONE IS GOING TO BUDGE on this issue until Florida signs on the dotted line. The fact that we won't agree to the same package that every other commuter rail state has is beyond belief. QuoteEspecially getting federal funding for an Amtrak run commuter rail into St Augustine shouls have been fairly easy given strong interest from Amtrak:
QuoteSpeaking at a meeting of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority Commuter Rail Task Force last week, Jay McArthur, officer for state contracts with Amtrak, said the government-subsidized rail company wants to offer commuter rail on the Florida East Coast rail lines that parallel Interstate 95 from Jacksonville to Miami.
"Amtrak thinks the corridor between Jacksonville and Miami is very viable," McArthur said. "The Southeast is one of the most underserved regions in the country when it comes to rail, and Amtrak wants to change that situation."
The rail company set a record for number of riders in 2007 with 25.8 million.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2151804549_102e87ea67.jpg)
Tri-Rail Commuter Train in Southeast, Florida on the CSX.
This is where the press has derailed the train. Amtrak is NOT going to operate a commuter service between Jacksonville and ANYWHERE, including Miami.
Commuter Rail and Regional or Corridor Rail are two, maybe three different animals. Commuter Rail is a frequent short distance shuttle type service which usually operates no more then about 60 miles from a city core. This has NO resemblence to the Florida East Coast. (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/1368117652_aa14ea5001.jpg)
Amtrak Cascade Corridor in the Northwest, Spanish Talgo Equipment, double ended, push-pull.
Regional Rail, Such as Cal-Train or North Carolina's Piedmont Train, can be anything from a state or locally added train schedule to compliment what Amtrak already provides, or the State working with Amtrak to provide a longer distance IntRA-State passenger service. The equipment is different, the ride is different, and the comforts are closer to long-distance trains, even though they MIGHT (Oklahoma's Heartland Special) run in PUSH - PULL configuration. THIS is probably what we'll get from the State of Florida on the FEC, (as Amtrak already has libility agreements with all carriers) it will be a pure AMTRAK deal with no liability agreement needed.
Corridor Rail: This could describe the above services, but often refers to a high speed rail line. Frankly there are hundreds of corridor that have fast, frequent rail without the high speed, and they are successful. Who would have though Eugene, Oregon - Vancouver, B.C. would rank as one of the hottest corridors in the nation? The formula is simple, pay for Regional-Rail and grow it into a full blown corridor type service. The railroads don't mind because as traffic swells, so will plant. New tracks, 2Nd or 3Rd Mainlines, advanced signals etc. are fringe benefits of hosting this type of service. Florida should have LONG SINCE gotten with her sister Southern States and formed a Southern-Regional-Rail-Compact.Quotehttp://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/102508/met_348092075.shtml
We're not all waiting on Central Florida, although John Mica would like us to believe that nothing else can be done until Central Florida gets going. It's been put out there as a threat by him, and it somehow seems to have materialized.
(http://www.tomstrainstation.com/images/piedmont.jpg)
Mica would like to see us advance our planning to the point where Central Florida is at, he cannot make the State approve the agreements with CSX. Even if we had ready to roll trains, we are stuck until the State and CSX get over their pissing contest. No more commuter rail is going to move in Florida until that happens.
However, as I said, Commuter Rail has NOTHING to do with the Amtrak routes, or Amtrak Regional Rail. The recent windfall of Amtrak funding included funds to study and restore the "Gulf Wind Route" (the former SUNSET LIMITED AMTRAK LINE). There is no reason why we should join South Florida into pressuring Tallahassee into getting the FEC route back. Also Georgia and Alabama are both ready to fund new train services on Amtrak. Gee do I hear the horn of the "Dixie Flyer" to Atlanta? or was that the "Seminole" headed to Birmingham and Memphis?
I think Bridgetroll was speaking about the rail related projects here:
http://www.floridatoday.com/assets/pdf/A91248461222.PDF
They are:
First Coast Railroad Amelia River Bridge - $2.27 million
Florida Northern Railroad (Newberry to High Springs) - $1.5 million
Florida East Coast Railway Jacksonville Lift Bridge - $700k
Florida East Coast Railway Sunbeam Bridge - $900k
QuoteHowever, as I said, Commuter Rail has NOTHING to do with the Amtrak routes, or Amtrak Regional Rail.
While they are all different projects, it is important to note that an Amtrak corridor service could be set up to where it benefits everyday commuters as well. Caltrain, the Pacific Surfliner, Keystone, California's Capitol Corridor and Hiawatha Corridor are all great examples. While pushing for regional rail, we should also push for an extra station or two, along each line, in our metropolitan area. This will allow residents in communities like Orange Park, Macclenny, St. Augustine and perhaps the Avenues area to take advantage of the Amtrak system as an everyday commuting option between those spots and downtown. Once local commuter rail comes on line, it will complement this service by offering additional stops along the established Amtrak corridors (ex. how Metrolink and the Coaster complement the Pacific Surfliner corridor service). Personally, I hope if we are successful at enhancing the Amtrak system in Florida, it ends up being more similar to California's systems, as opposed to North Carolina's (less frequent train service with a lower amount of stops between major destination points).
:D Thanks Lake... that is what I meant... but kudos to Ock for the above effort. The more people exposed to what we could have / should have the better!
That is what I get for trying to answer everyone at once.
OCKLAWAHA
The FEC RY St. Johns river bridge project is Paint and general cleaning... Maybe we can hope for PURPLE!
The Sunbeam bridge is a long overdue overpass in the Southside... Nice but where is the money for a San Marco Blvd and Hendrix overpass?
The First Coast RR, is a simple bridge paint and spruce-up that will involve a bunch of new wood piles.
The Florida Northern RR, has aparently gotten a spin off, of a spin off, from CSX. The line from Trenton to High Springs was once part of the ACL West Coast Mainline, has sunk to the point of being 5 MPH trackage. There is a huge PVC pipe plant on the east side of High Springs that needs rail service to continue, so this is most likely a rescue. I wish it was $$ for touching another industry or two to give the little line some security. There was talk a few years ago about a giant cement plant on the river north of town. The enviromental folks were pulling out their hair, and CSX had incorporated The "THREE RIVERS RAILROAD" to re-construct the old mainline (abandoned part) from High Springs, northward . If the enviromental issues were ever fixed, and the plant is still on go, this would make for a very good rail project for North Florida.
I don't like the fact that.
Tampa has only one carrier and only one route into town.
Florida has no access except through Jacksonville.
I love that all that traffic pours through our city but in a national emergency, we could pay big time for not having ourselves spread out a bit more. THINK ONE SMALL NUKE. Now how do you supply the Millions on the cut off end of the Florida Railroad System?
OCKLAWAHA