Florida East Coast Railway whistles new tune: Passenger trains possible

[JeffreyS]

Florida East Coast Railway whistles new tune: Passenger trains possible
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-flbfec0205sbfeb05,0,478606.story

Florida East Coast Railway says passenger trains welcome, but freight must stay on track

By Michael Turnbell | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
    February 5, 2009

For the first time in 40 years, plans to return passenger trains to the Florida East Coast Railway are gaining serious steam.

Don't take it personally, Tri-Rail.

After all, you've boasted some of the biggest ridership numbers in your 20-year history against formidable odds.

Many people who live or work along the coast would love to ride you. But they don't because you're just not convenient enough.

Good idea. Wrong set of tracks.

Enter the FEC, the easternmost freight line that connects 28 downtowns from Miami to Jupiter.

"It seems like such a no-brainer to me. Just where else are we going to find a contiguous piece of property 80 miles long running through the heart of South Florida?" said Bob Oelke, who lives in Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here..

Tri-Rail didn't end up where it is today on purpose. Leaders eyed the FEC 20 years ago when they planned a commuter rail line as a reliever while Interstate 95 was widened through Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports.

But the FEC didn't want to share the tracks.

The freight railroad, which has new owners, is now willing to entertain the idea, as long as a commuter line does not hinder its freight business.

By the summer of 2010, state planners hope to pinpoint stations, and the type of service â€" buses or trains â€" that should run along the corridor. They're also weighing how to silence train horns at almost 200 crossings.

State officials also want to pinpoint the project's construction cost, likely to range from $4.5 billion to $6 billion.

The next step is getting the Federal Transit Administration's nod.

If the feds give their blessing, the state would begin detailed design and engineering and get in line for federal money. It could be six to 12 years before any system is running.

The federal government is expected to pay only half the construction cost. The rest would have to come from state and local governments, which also would have to show they have dedicated funds available to cover the operating costs.

Although residents in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties strongly supported new passenger service on the FEC in a recent Tri-Rail survey, they were wary of supporting a tax hike to pay for it.A few years ago, the FEC was seeking $1.5 billion for its rights of way in South Florida. But in 2007, the New York-based Fortress Investment Group purchased the railway for $3.5 billion.

"It all hinges on whether the money is available," said Scott Seeburger, project manager for the Florida Department of Transportation.

The two lines would be connected in three locations: somewhere in the West Palm Beach area; along an existing track in Pompano Beach; and an existing FEC spur in Miami.

So far, planners have identified more than 90 potential station locations. But only 60 likely will be built and they won't be a "one-size fits all" design.

"What works in downtown Fort Lauderdale or downtown West Palm Beach won't be the same type of station that's appropriate for Oakland Park or Delray Beach," Seeburger said.

For supporters who have heard talk of passenger service on the FEC only to see the plans collect dust on a shelf, it's hard to believe the latest study will turn out any different.

"I can't believe that anything this practical is really moving forward," said Fred Taubert, of Delray Beach.

"For heaven's sake, buy the trains and start running them."

Michael Turnbell can be reached at mturnbell@SunSentinel.com, 954-356-4155 or 561-243-6550.

[stjr]

A few years ago, the FEC was seeking $1.5 billion for its rights of way in South Florida. But in 2007, the New York-based Fortress Investment Group purchased the railway for $3.5 billion.

I wonder if it ever occurred to the State that it might have been cheaper to buy the whole damn railroad than to buy piecemeal and/or forever covet its right of way forever and ever!  Just think how much CSX or Norfolk Southern would have recouped for the State by leasing back the freight rights to FEC's track and what this would have brought the net cost to the State down to.