New grant could cover extending rail to airport

[thelakelander]

To bad it's Tampa instead of Jacksonville.

New grant could cover extending rail to airport

By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: July 1, 2010

TAMPA - Federal money is available to extend high-speed rail into Tampa International Airport from a station planned for downtown, officials say.

The area's leading proponent of an airport stop says she will take steps to pursue the funding, available through a competitive federal grant announced this week. The application deadline is Aug. 6 for more than $2.1 billion in grants to continue development of high-speed corridors.

Tampa City Council member Mary Mulhern said Wednesday that she will begin her pursuit of funds with a proposal to Hillsborough's Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Mulhern is backed by a loosely organized group of business community activists who have long supported measures to enhance the Tampa airport's role in international trade, a challenge in the shadow of flight demand that Orlando's tourist attractions generate.

They fear that Orlando's airport and region may gain a major economic development advantage with its terminal plans to serve high-speed rail, commuter rail and proposed light rail.

"People don't realize there is an option for more (high-speed) stops so they aren't speaking in favor of it," Mulhern said. "I'm working to rally our business and political leadership to seize this opportunity before it passes us by.

"It's a key component to Tampa and Tampa Bay remaining competitive locally, regionally and globally," she said.

What's uncertain is who would pay for required feasibility studies and when the extension would be added.

Plans for an airport extension could wait for a second phase of high-speed development, said Mulhern, who indicated she did not want to disrupt plans for the rail project between Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando that is scheduled to be operational by 2015.

Florida was awarded $1.25 billion in federal funds in January to build the $3.5 billion rail line. If funding is available, the high-speed rail line could extend to Miami by 2018.

"The plan that secured this funding is well researched and vetted and it should be left to the experts on the optimal location for the station stops to assure success," said Stuart Rogel, head of the Tampa Bay Partnership, the economic development agency for the seven-county region.

Extending high-speed rail to the airport would require overcoming a shortage of space for both high-speed and light-rail trains, which local officials also hope to bring to the airport. Rail officials have said high-speed and light-rail trains cannot run on the same track for safety and technical reasons.

Also, the question of what demand there would be for high-speed rail at the airport remains unstudied, officials said.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at 813-259-7817,

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jul/01/na-new-grant-could-cover-extending-light-rail-to-t/

[tufsu1]

Here's an article on why mass transit is so important to the future of Tampa Bay....now there is some slant to this piece, but it is generally on target.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/without-mass-transit-tampa-bay-businesses-economy-may-face-slow-death/1115125

and for all you Jax. naysayers, note that this has all happened in Tampa over the last 3-5 years....so it is definitely possible here too!

[civil42806]

"Also, the question of what demand there would be for high-speed rail at the airport remains unstudied, officials said:

Love that statement

[copperfiend]

I am sure airport location helps. Our airport is in BFE, the Tampa airport is right next to downtown.

[tufsu1]

TUFSU, naysayers?  Whenever the topic of 'This will take at least 10 years' comes up, its usually from you.  Thank God youve seen the damascus light!

ah but what has happened in Tampa is just discussion right now...construction will start no sooner than 2015 and it will take decades to complete....so I'll stand behind any "at least 10 years" statements I may have made.

[tufsu1]

I am sure airport location helps. Our airport is in BFE, the Tampa airport is right next to downtown.

the idea of high speed rail to Tampa's airport has been quashed (again)....the airport board voted unanimopusly to pursue a light rail connection

[CS Foltz]

TUFSU, naysayers?  Whenever the topic of 'This will take at least 10 years' comes up, its usually from you.  Thank God youve seen the damascus light!

ah but what has happened in Tampa is just discussion right now...construction will start no sooner than 2015 and it will take decades to complete....so I'll stand behind any "at least 10 years" statements I may have made.

Ah.  so both then....excellent.  I never doubted it for a moment. Maybe some other people,besides us have seen the light! Sure do hope so......$1.2 Billion from nowhere to nowhere is not cost effective!

[tufsu1]

uh no CS...the HSR issue is that they decided not to try and extend the line by 6 miles justto get it to the airport...i has nothing to do with the DT Tampa-OIA route itself

but the bigger issue is how to fund transportation improvements in Tampa Bay...they are proposing a 1% sales tax increase...would you be in favor?

[CS Foltz]

tufsu...........I would be in favor of that, if that 1% were earmarked for "Rail only"! That HSR is going to be a waste and I don't think that Lakeland has designated their stopping point! I would bet that the Ratville stop is earmarked though!

[tufsu1]

well HSR isn't part of the deal...that is a statewide/national program...not a local issue...the local sales tax is proposed to be split as follows:

75% transit (2/3 rail 1/3 bus)
25% roads

so, again, would you support it?

[CS Foltz]

Once again........yes I would! HSR is seperate and I still believe it is going into the wrong area! LR would be a better and more economical fit for that region! I believe Jacksonville would benefit from the same thing, but we are still ten or twelve studies away!

[tufsu1]

More from Tampa....sounds like this plan is goinbg to have a real tough time

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/aug/16/161728/november-light-rail-vote-will-have-few-specifics/news-politics/

[CS Foltz]

Well tufsu..........after reading the article, tough is putting it midly! Without a definitive plan in black and white, most people will say.......WTH! Promises are one thing, a vision on paper is something else entirely! I think they are putting the cart before the horse, but what do I know.............I am just a simple taxpayer!

[tufsu1]

so wait, now you wouldn't vote for it?

[Ocklawaha]

Here's an article on why mass transit is so important to the future of Tampa Bay....now there is some slant to this piece, but it is generally on target.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/without-mass-transit-tampa-bay-businesses-economy-may-face-slow-death/1115125

and for all you Jax. naysayers, note that this has all happened in Tampa over the last 3-5 years....so it is definitely possible here too!

Hey TU, I realize this is not just you but will someone please tell me what lives in Tampa Bay that would use mass transit? "Tampa Bay, route of the dashing squid..." sort of has a ring to it.

...And NO Florida apologists, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkley, and Alameda, NEVER refer to themselves as "San Francisco Bay." City on the bay, city by the bay, etc, but never CITY IN THE BAY!

Ever since the NFL came to town (a team that was actually projected for Jacksonville before we jumped the gun and dove into the WFL) Tampa has become a body of water and Florida needs a geography lesson.

OCKLAWAHA