Jacksonville joins race for federal funds

[Ocklawaha]

If it wern't for Mica poking him in the ribs, not even Orlando would be on the list. Statewide, there is a list but our request for money for transit still stands at 1%!

Doesn't sound like Crist is any more gun-ho then Peyton to me.

OCKLAWAHA

[JeffreyS]

Why don't we turn in the high speed rail plan we voted for afew years ago. The one Bush didn't tell everyone was on oposit day.

[thelakelander]

State wants federal funds for roads

Congress is operating under the theory that for every billion dollars spent on transportation projects, about 35,000 jobs will be created. Mica hopes the stimulus package will create about 14,000 jobs in Northeast Florida.

Mica said he would push for commuter rail funding in the stimulus package and wants state transportation department, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and Jacksonville City Hall to move ahead with tentative plans to create a commuter rail network.

Northeast Florida is behind other parts of the country when it comes to mass transit, he said, and the area needs to catch up.

full article: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/122008/met_369550334.shtml

[tufsu1]

An interesting article regarding the projects that the states have put on the stimulus list....its from an advocacy group that is working on transportation reauthorization issues

http://t4america.org/blog/archives/582

[JeffreyS]

^Great article, my favorite part is.

This is not because road projects are “ready to go” and others are not. On the contrary, local governments and public transportation agencies have identified scores of transit, sidewalks and local road repairs. It appears that the DOTs often are simply leaving them off the list.

[JeffreyS]

I would love for Obama to tell the states to try again their first effort was pathetic.

[thelakelander]

That would be nice.  He ran on a platform that called for green jobs, investment in mass transit and alternative energy.  Hopefully, they'll evaluate these lists and demand for projects that fall in line with his campaign goals.

[Ocklawaha]

Interesting piece on the FDOT meeting with Volusia from the West Volusia Beacon. Check out the last line, as stated by Orlando's Mayor, then tell me they don't plan to be the rail hub of Florida... and we're gonna let um!

A new agency, the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission, includes elected officials from the four counties and Orlando, and it will become the operating entity of the system.

Commuter rail uses advanced diesel trains to move people to and from work in outlying areas to workplaces in Greater Orlando, and to relieve congestion on an already overburdened Interstate 4.

U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, has been a leading proponent of the commuter rail since the Orange County Commission voted down a plan for light rail connecting Downtown Orlando and the Orlando International Airport in late 1999.

The commuter-rail project is planned in two phases. Phase I is to extend from DeBary to Sand Lake Road on the south side of Orlando. The first trains on this portion are scheduled to begin operating in 2011, after a new depot is built along Fort Florida Road in DeBary.

Phase II, which may become operational in 2013, will extend to the DeLand Amtrak station on the north and to Poinciana on the south. The commuter rail will use 61 miles of the CSX rail right of way, which the state purchased in 2005.

"In my opinion, the DeLand station is what will open it up to the east side and the west side," County Council Member Andy Kelly said.

As state and local leaders currently envision it, the four-county commuter rail will be the first part of a new mass-transit network that will branch out to other parts of Central Florida and link up with other metropolitan areas.

Once the short-haul system is in place, advocates have suggested, it could be enlarged to include rail service to Orlando International Airport, the University of Central Florida, and Daytona Beach.

"Jacksonville and Tampa want to connect," Dyer said.

JACKSONVILLE - PULL YOUR HEAD OUT!

OCKLAWAHA

[CMG22]

I know that we have some projects coming up at Cecil Field that we are attempting to get funded from this program.

[JeffreyS]

Would it have to be the Mayor's office to request these funds. Perhaps the JTA or city council could sponsor the requests.
Has an Op-ed piece ever been submitted and published by the TU from Metrojacksonville? Perhaps one that asks the Mayor to include river dredging, Commuter rail, Streetcar and even courthouse costs. I agree with Lake's take if they say no we haven't lost anything.(Unless Gate loses some future road repair concrete sales).
Ask for it and they will fund or they won't. 
The Mayor is really making me mad on this one.  This may not be the money free for all of the century but it really might.