Updated Florida HSR Study Released

[tufsu1]

and now it is clear why the Governor didn't want to wait on the new data before saying no

TALLAHASSEE â€" An updated ridership study released Wednesday shows that a high-speed rail line connecting Tampa to Orlando would have had a $10.2 million operating surplus in its first year and a $28.6 million surplus in its 10th year.

The study done by two independent consultants shows the line would have had 3.3 million riders in its first year. A 2009 study predicted the line would have had 2.4 million riders.

Gov. Rick Scott cited concerns about operating losses when he decided to kill the project by rejecting $2.4 billion in federal money to build the line.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/masstransit/article1156210.ece

[FayeforCure]

Hopefully LaHood will find a way to give the money directly to the coalition of cities ready to take on the HSR project. Lawyers with the federal government are still checking to see if this can be done.

[fsujax]

Interesting.

[thelakelander]

LOL, on the study results.  Faye, the issue that's going to be difficult to overcome on any alternative plan is the fact that the ROW is state property.  I don't think they can get around not having Scott change his mind to move forward.

[tufsu1]

Hopefully LaHood will find a way to give the money directly to the coalition of cities ready to take on the HSR project. Lawyers with the federal government are still checking to see if this can be done.

I seriously doubt it...

right now I'm hoping that maybe Florida can keep $150 million of the money and have it directed to the Amtrak/FEC project (FDOT also applied for high speed stimulus money for this)...when asked about this project the other day, the Governor said he wasn't automatically opposed to it.

at least that way some good comes out of all this nonsense.

[yapp1850]

i think rick scott might approve the fec line because of the miami port dredging and fec connect to csx line and rick has said he does favors  Expand freight lines.

[tufsu1]

i think rick scott might approve the fec line because of the miami port dredging and fec connect to csx line and rick has said he does favors  Expand freight lines.

that would be using logic...not his strong suit

[tufsu1]

Here's the full story

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/09/dot-report-high-speed-rail-would-have-made-more-mo/

[Ocklawaha]

and now it is clear why the Governor didn't want to wait on the new data before saying no

The study done by two independent consultants shows the line would have had 3.3 million riders in its first year. A 2009 study predicted the line would have had 2.4 million riders.

My side hurts from laughing at that one TU! It's the richest pot of bologna offered thus far. Another bogus set of numbers based on pure wishful thinking! Anyone want to bet on the passenger load on the 5Th year of operation - Tampa-Orlando, if they build as planned? I'll give them 250,000! Maybe 500,000 and that's a stretch.

There is a golden fleece in all of this for JACKSONVILLE, if these Cities in the coalition get their way, they are about to become subjects of the national spotlight of ridicule with them or their partner companies hemorrhaging a sea of red ink to keep this toy running.

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

Does the 5th year of operation make an assumption that the Miami link would already be in service?

[Ocklawaha]

No, as I don't believe it will... I'm just looking at Tampa-Orlando Airport (You know, the place where the trains land). In any case the 5 year ridership on that portion is going to be anything but what they predict.

OCKLAWAHA

[jaxnative]

OCK,  Thank you for your usual injection of reality into this matter.  I laughed myself when I heard this report on the radio today and skipped straight to your comments after finding the expected thread.

[tufsu1]

Maybe you should all read the report and look through the analysis assumptions before jumping to conclusions

[Ocklawaha]

Maybe you should all read the report and look through the analysis assumptions before jumping to conclusions

No need to TU, where are those people coming from? Let's see shall we?

Not from an airport that nobody in the metro area (except for a few unfortunates that live on South Semoran) wants to go to, or put up with, for parking or convenience. Considering that those 18 million or so that arrive there now already have arrangements (ie: nobody is currently walking around the terminal looking for a train) that leaves who? NADIE!

Not from a commuter train that likely won't see completion in time to matter if the HSR get's built over Scotts head.

Not from a cluster of miniature golf, shopping malls, fish bowls, and studios at the convention center because lets face it, if they can't find fun or purpose at International Drive, they sure as hell won't find it in Rural Polk County.

Not from Disney either...As Mickey plans to keep right on booking his tour groups on his tour buses. So you'll get a few here, but nothing like the millions projected, mostly park visitors taking another thrill ride on a high speed train.

Not from the Polk County Parkway, because uh? THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THERE!

Not from Lakeland where the traffic demand to Disney must be phenomenal and the commuters to Tampa won't be able to afford it.

Not from a City Bus Stop in Tampa either, because though you have some local connections you are dealing with a Florida bus transit network that will take you 2 hours and at least 2 buses just to get to the Gulf... And all those intermodal passengers? Their over at Union Station with has excellent Amtrak boardings, or over at the one airport on the system that you CAN get to but the train misses...

All of which leads High Speed Rail in America to one place, thanks to Florida's penchant for wetting themselves to jump the gun and screw up a project...

FLORIDA'S VERSION OF DAYS OF THE FUTURE PAST?

OCKLAWAHA

[mtraininjax]

Does Sunrail actually meet the ridership numbers now that were forecast when it was first created?