Tri-Rail Could Come To Halt Without State Funds (Miami, West Palm Beach: 2009, lease)

[Ache]

Tri-Rail Could Come To Halt Without State Funds - Money News Story - WPBF West Palm Beach

MANGONIA PARK, Fla. -- South Florida's Tri-Rail system could come to a screeching halt because of a projected funding shortfall.

State legislators have yet to set aside $30 million in the fiscal year budget to keep the Tri-Rail operating.


South Florida's Tri-Rail system could be forced to reduce service without a revenue boost from state legislators.

Officials with the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which operates the Tri-Rail, said there is enough money to keep the commuter train operating for the next two years, but weekday service would have to be reduced from 50 to 30 trains effective in October, and weekend and holiday service would be terminated.

"I don't know where the legislators' minds are out," passenger Dorothy McManus said. "I mean, who's so foolish to dump millions and millions and millions of dollars into something that is now running and it's a success and then sit there, dump over everything and abandon the whole project?"

Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion Jr., who also serves as chair of the SFRTA governing board, said in a statement that the reduction of Tri-Rail services "will create a hardship for the people of South Florida who rely on the train for their livelihood and well-being. It will also have a devastating effect on thousands of businesses that depend on the train to get their employees to work."

The SFRTA announced last month that it would raise all Tri-Rail fares by 25 percent beginning June 1. It will be the first price increase since 1995.

[Wild Style]

meh,

Who needs mass transit and all its efficiency.

*sigh*

Florida for the lose, again.

[tallrick]

Yet there is always plenty of money for white elephants like a baseball stadium, or a worthless port of Miami tunnel. More money was spent on traffic circles and stop signs that are polluting the atmosphere and slowing down traffic than could be spent on tri-rail in two years.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Yet there is always plenty of money for white elephants like a baseball stadium, or a worthless port of Miami tunnel. More money was spent on traffic circles and stop signs that are polluting the atmosphere and slowing down traffic than could be spent on tri-rail in two years.

You know what KILLS me about that stadium? There was a businessman who owns the land that the old Miami Arena sat on and he was willing to lease it to the Marlins. He would have even built them a stadium. So let’s see, build a stadium in a place that already has parking garages, mass transit and mom and pop shops that would benefit from the foot traffic OR build it in a suburban waste land. Miami, the home of dumb decisions.

[tallrick]

The thing that gets me is that Tri-Rail costs more to me than driving. If they cannot earn enough income off of their fares, something is fundamentally wrong. It seems like all government mass transit operates at a loss. Why is this? Tri Rail trains are well designed, and have so much potential. Where does the money go? I would have expanded Tri-Rail to dadeland if I had my way. They should market more to tourists by going where they go.

[EnjoyTheSilence]

Originally Posted by tallrick

The thing that gets me is that Tri-Rail costs more to me than driving. If they cannot earn enough income off of their fares, something is fundamentally wrong. It seems like all government mass transit operates at a loss. Why is this? Tri Rail trains are well designed, and have so much potential. Where does the money go? I would have expanded Tri-Rail to dadeland if I had my way. They should market more to tourists by going where they go.

This is pretty much true. Look at the countries with the best mass transit systems, i.e. trains, such as France and Japan. They get by thanks to a lot of government funding + fares, but they would not survive on fares alone. To me, this is a good usage of taxation though, unlike ballparks and useless port tunnels.

[crisp444]

Originally Posted by BCreass

To me, this is a good usage of taxation though, unlike ballparks and useless port tunnels.

Wow! Crisp444 and BCreass agree on something

[EnjoyTheSilence]

Originally Posted by crisp444

Wow! Crisp444 and BCreass agree on something

I think hell just froze over

[cuba libre]

Uh oh, I guess the ghetto folk can't count on another round of gauranteed jobs...

[crisp444]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

Uh oh, I guess the ghetto folk can't count on another round of gauranteed jobs...

What is this supposed to mean?