Florida High Speed Rail (Orlando, Lakeland: move, light rail, station)

[Raybo1]

This train will be another money pit for tax payer dollars just like Amtrak. It was strictly a political deal. Most tourists will still fly into Orlando or drive there to see the attractions. Only locals will ride this train and, like Amtrak, most of the cars will be empty. It will create a small number of permanent jobs. When has the Government ever successfully run anything? Also, you can bet this project will cost two to three times more than their estimates. Get ready for another Government boondoggle.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Raybo1

This train will be another money pit for tax payer dollars just like Amtrak. It was strictly a political deal. Most tourists will still fly into Orlando or drive there to see the attractions. Only locals will ride this train and, like Amtrak, most of the cars will be empty. It will create a small number of permanent jobs. When has the Government ever successfully run anything? Also, you can bet this project will cost two to three times more than their estimates. Get ready for another Government boondoggle.

Please explain how it was "strictly" a political deal? What are you talking about? Every time I hear people say this they never back it up with any facts. The HSR will be ridden mostly by tourists who fly to the airport, not locals. Disney was involved in getting this deal done, and they will be using it instead of their Magical Express busses. Disney will have to pay for their guests to use the rail line and that cost will be bundled into the vacation packages they sell. Also, the government runs the roads that we drive on and pay tolls for to be maintained.

[Shoreone]

I work for the government and can tell you that any project will cost more then initial estimates. I work on an Army base that is about to close in Sept 2011 as part of the Brac realignment. When they choose this base as one to close they said it would be cheaper to close it then operate it. When they went in front of the senate they gave a total of 650 million to close and move all of us and its buildings. We are still 18 months or so away and its up to 1.4 billion lol. That is normal

[Tiger Beer]

How long will it take to get from Orlando to Tampa on this high speed rail?

[sp2007]

The problem with HSR isn't so much that there is no benefits at all or even that taxes will go up to pay for it (Fed will take care of most of it although will maintenance costs ever go down?).

The real problem, especially in Tampa but everywhere on this new line, is what to do once you get there? Sure if your taking it from OIA to Disney, WDW has you covered. But take it from OIA to Tampa or Lakeland, is there a efficient Tampa/Polk bus/light rail line ready to move you to phase 2 of your trip? Not likely.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by sp2007

The problem with HSR isn't so much that there is no benefits at all or even that taxes will go up to pay for it (Fed will take care of most of it although will maintenance costs ever go down?).

The real problem, especially in Tampa but everywhere on this new line, is what to do once you get there? Sure if your taking it from OIA to Disney, WDW has you covered. But take it from OIA to Tampa or Lakeland, is there a efficient Tampa/Polk bus/light rail line ready to move you to phase 2 of your trip? Not likely.

I would put money on shuttle services to the beach and other points of interest cropping up after this line opens to service tourists. There is a trolley already that goes between Ybor and Channelside, perhaps other stops. I see all of this expanding.

[sp2007]

Lets hope so, but it doesn't help the guy from Lakeland who wants to use it to commute to work.

[FloridaKash]

Originally Posted by sp2007

The problem with HSR isn't so much that there is no benefits at all or even that taxes will go up to pay for it (Fed will take care of most of it although will maintenance costs ever go down?).

The real problem, especially in Tampa but everywhere on this new line, is what to do once you get there? Sure if your taking it from OIA to Disney, WDW has you covered. But take it from OIA to Tampa or Lakeland, is there a efficient Tampa/Polk bus/light rail line ready to move you to phase 2 of your trip? Not likely.

Originally Posted by Pete C

I would put money on shuttle services to the beach and other points of interest cropping up after this line opens to service tourists. There is a trolley already that goes between Ybor and Channelside, perhaps other stops. I see all of this expanding.

For the stop in Tampa it will just have a long line of cabs waiting. Seems to work for Orlando.

[sp2007]

Originally Posted by AlaskaKash

For the stop in Tampa it will just have a long line of cabs waiting. Seems to work for Orlando.

It does? Where?

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by sp2007

The problem with HSR isn't so much that there is no benefits at all or even that taxes will go up to pay for it (Fed will take care of most of it although will maintenance costs ever go down?).

The real problem, especially in Tampa but everywhere on this new line, is what to do once you get there? Sure if your taking it from OIA to Disney, WDW has you covered. But take it from OIA to Tampa or Lakeland, is there a efficient Tampa/Polk bus/light rail line ready to move you to phase 2 of your trip? Not likely.

Both in the works for Lakeland/Tampa.