Amtrak's Vision: Jacksonville/Orlando/Tampa

[jcjohnpaint]

Wish he would roast the u2c on his channel.

[Jax_Developer]

I have wanted that video so bad. I'll have to join his Patreon to recommend it.. lol

[marcuscnelson]

Not sure I can reach CityNerd but I've had talks with another transit and urbanism YouTuber (a larger one, actually) about doing a U2C video. There is a pipeline of other stuff in front of it but we've discussed a lot of the developments and they're interested.

[Jax_Developer]

Not sure I can reach CityNerd but I've had talks with another transit and urbanism YouTuber (a larger one, actually) about doing a U2C video. There is a pipeline of other stuff in front of it but we've discussed a lot of the developments and they're interested.

Please do link that video if it is made!

[ProjectMaximus]

Right... A story that has crippled mass transit investment all over the states sadly. City Nerd on YT has an interesting channel built around this. His main three talking points to the "car-centric" US are: building code, politics, and culture. Seemingly only in the last 10-20 years has some of that started to shift in parts of the country.

I really like his videos.

+1 for citynerd!

Not sure I can reach CityNerd but I've had talks with another transit and urbanism YouTuber (a larger one, actually) about doing a U2C video. There is a pipeline of other stuff in front of it but we've discussed a lot of the developments and they're interested.

City Beautiful perhaps? He is the gold standard and a Vanguard fellow to boot.

[HeartofFlorida]

Realized I never updated this. The State Rail Plan came out earlier this year, and it appears (as expected by some) that FDOT isn't interested in supporting a corridor service in Florida.

The state will study a number of corridors, including the ones proposed by Amtrak, and additional possibilities to Atlanta and New Orleans, but is only interested in lobbying to remove Amtrak's 750 mile limit that requires state funding, or in additional long distance service at no cost to the state.

Amtrak is continuing to work on relocating Miami service to the Miami Intermodal Center, but it doesn't appear any additional cooperation with FDOT is in the works.

You would think Amtrak relocation (minus rail car servicing & storage in Hialeah) would've been completed BEFORE opening of MIC.

[marcuscnelson]

^ It was supposed to, but Amtrak and FDOT failed to finalize a deal for the use of the station before opening for a bunch of reasons (including platform length issues) and they never came back to the table until now.

[HeartofFlorida]

^ It was supposed to, but Amtrak and FDOT failed to finalize a deal for the use of the station before opening for a bunch of reasons (including platform length issues) and they never came back to the table until now.

Yeah I remember that debacle.  Also, another issue is the length of Amtrak's train would've blocked street traffic at NW 25th St. 

[marcuscnelson]

Got in touch with someone at FDOT. They have applied for the FRA's Corridor ID program for these routes. As of now it's just with the goal of getting a firmer understanding of cost estimates and frequency expectations. But Amtrak has reportedly been "very supportive" since launching their Connects Us vision. FDOT did not apply for the Intercity Partnership Program this year.

[Ocklawaha]

CSX is exiting the Palatka - DeLand segment, effectively escaping maintenance on St. John's River drawbridges. Traffic has been shifted to the 'S' Line through Waldo and Ocala. I believe FDOT has thrown the 'S' under the train when it comes to any passenger services. It will take a bundle of money to ever expand capacity on this route for passenger service due to freight congestion.

On the plus side for Jacksonville long-distance or intrastate expansion comes this little item:

According to the funding documentation from FRA, Amtrak is getting funded $3.85 million to rehabilitate the CSX A Line between Palatka and Deland in Florida, and CSX will transfer ownership of that segment to Amtrak.
Florida — Amtrak Sanford Subdivision Infrastructure Renewal Project

Up to $3,850,000

National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)

Rehabilitates 52 miles of CSX Transportation's A-Line between Palatka and DeLand train stations in Florida. CSX will transfer the renovated track's ownership to Amtrak.

The entire list of Federal DOT funded projects can be found at https://railroads.dot.gov/newsroom/...nces-more-326-million-grants-support-railroad

[marcuscnelson]

I recall seeing that CRISI grant mentioned in the state rail plan.

What I don't understand is that it looks like Amtrak was awarded that grant nearly four years ago now and it doesn't appear that they ever actually acted on it and it doesn't seem to come up elsewhere at all.