FCRP Advisory Board Member George Diller penned the following Letter to the Editor which was published in the December 21 edition of the newspaper Florida Today:

High-speed rail plan
has key shortcomings

The federal government has now provided sufficient grant money to pay for 80 percent of the high-speed rail line between Orlando and Tampa.

Despite the high cost, the project sounds nice on the surface of it with the intent to entice drivers off Interstate 4. However, the way the Florida Department of Transportation is going about it, there is a significant shortcoming.

The train will not connect with anything. It will end east of downtown Tampa, will not go to Tampa Union Station or Tampa International Airport.

In Orlando, while the train will reach the airport, it will not connect with the planned SunRail commuter rail system or Amtrak at any point unless an additional connecting light rail system is built. So the true utility of the train is limited.

What customer base will the train be serving?

It appears the riders will be primarily visitors coming to the Orlando area to go to Disney World or for events at the Orange County Convention Center. Those local residents and business people in the downtown area and Winter Park will have to get on I-4 to reach the high-speed rail line should they still choose to use it.

George H. Diller

Titusville