"From Lexus Lanes to Lexus Trains, More Choices In Mobility Will Make Florida More Competitive" by v. johns, 5/31/13, 11:35 PM
A few years ago, citing price tag and future maintenance costs, Governor Rick Scott, our newly-minted state leader, vetoed a bill that would have brought federal dollars into the state of Florida to build high-speed-rail service from Tampa to Orlando to Miami. Since then, the budget has been balanced, the national economy has been rescued and has improved, and federal stimulus money has poured into the state for other projects that are just as important (port channel-widening, road-resurfacing, bridge-replacement, solar power, etc.). Furthermore All Aboard Florida, Tri-rail and the SFECC Study Group have all joined forces to lobby for building train crossings for their respective projects all at the same time.
It’s not called the Florida Transit Nexus. It’s just a working title I have used to describe the massive intersection of federal, state and local mass-transit outfits that would begin to converge and form a large hub right here in Southeast Florida. The Florida Transit Nexus, as I have previously described it, would have consisted of:
1. East-coast Amtrak service between Jacksonville and Miami (federal, FEC tracks, proposed).
2. High-speed rail service between Tampa, Orlando and Miami (state, FEC tracks, proposed).
3. Tri-Rail service between Mangonia Park and Miami (state, CSX tracks, currently in operation).
4. SFECC service between Jupiter and Miami with north-to-south AND east-to-west service on newly-built tracks (state, FEC tracks, proposed).
And…
5. All local mass-transit outfits, such as Palm Tran, Treasure Coast Connector, Martin County Public Transit, etc. (all currently in operation).
The overall framework, of what could potentially be a rather massive and very busy transit nexus with deep positive impacts on commerce and trade, is still in place. Just consider that the federally-funded high-speed rail outfit, listed up above, has been scrapped but with All Aboard Florida moving in to fill the gap left behind in its wake. Also consider that in addition to current Tri-Rail service on CSX tracks, new Tri-Rail Coastal Service would be built quickly and cheaply to service downtowns between Jupiter and Miami.
I refer to All Aboard Florida’s project as “Lexus trains” because of the potential cost of moving between Miami and Orlando and, perhaps in the future, between Miami and Tampa. $90 I have heard. Kinda out of reach for the average low-income person. It’s also a nod to the infamous “Lexus lanes” on I-95, here in Southeast Florida, that free up more valuable lane space for those willing to pay the toll to get from Lauderdale to downtown Miami faster.
With so many options available, it probably won’t matter, in the future, that mostly higher-income people will be more able to afford to use All Aboard Florida for frequent trips between Miami and Orlando. Plus, with so many options available, price competition could possibly work in our favor to drive train fares down to more reasonable prices for lower-income families and individuals.
It’s one thing for people to clamor publically for more transit options and availability. It’s quite another for a private outfit such as All Aboard Florida to step up to the plate, in an area where there is presumed to be no real financial feasibility, and make the bold proposal that it has made to make our state more competitive. That tells me that they smell profits in the water and have figured out a way to make, allegedly unprofitable mass-transit, profitable.
When I last posted anything worthwhile on the subject, All Aboard Florida and Tri-Rail seemed to be in competition to green-light competing projects. Now, they’re working together, as it should be, to see that crossings from multiple projects are built simultaneously, if and when all projects are approved. So, I say bravo to All Aboard Florida, AND to Tri-Rail as well! And if I may propose… A toast to public-private partnerships… Cheers!
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