FDOT agrees to "provide" for rail on bridge spanning Tampa Bay

[tufsu1]

While all they are doing is agreeing to provide the appropriate substructure, this is a big deal because FDOT had been balking for nearly a year on whether they would provide for rail when replacing the northbound span of the Howard Frankland Bridge (I-275).

Also, at the bottom of the editorial, it notes that Tampa Bay has fallen below Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville in planning for rail...I assume that's a nod to the fact that All Aboard Florida is more likely to come to Jax. first.

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-transit-planning-spans-the-bay/2150180

[acme54321]

Is COJ actively planning for rail?

[thelakelander]

Rail is in the COJ mobility plan and North Florida TPO's 2035 long range transportation plan.

[icarus]

So is a mobility fee?

[thelakelander]

The mobility fee component of the mobility plan includes local funding for streetcars and commuter rail. Some of the mobility fee road improvement projects will also help the flow of a few BRT corridors.

[fsujax]

I believe JTA is leading a little effort to bring commuter rail to northeast Florida. :-)

[Buforddawg]

Where will this rail go? Who will ride it, or rather who will pay to ride it?  The last time I rode that dinky train downtown it was free. When I tried to take it to the Home and Patio show at the Prime Osborn on a Saturday it wasn't running.

Does JTA even know how to plan, build, and run a train set?

[BackinJax05]

This is too funny! I wonder if history will repeat itself. When the 1st auto bridge over Tampa Bay was built (George S. Gandy Bridge), an interurban railroad track was built into the bridge. However, it was never used. The ACL & SAL railroads never built bridges over the bay, either.