The Silver Rail Blog

From the St. Petersburg Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/masstransit/plans-afoot-to-find-way-to-build-high-speed-rail-line-without-state/1152056

--Jackson McQuigg

The Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers, which endorsed Florida's high speed rail project, is in extreme disagreement with Governor Rick Scott's decision to effectively terminate Florida's high speed rail project.

Not only does it kill off a project which would have brought attention, infrastructure improvements, and jobs to Florida, Governor Scott's decision sets a very negative tone for future passenger rail projects in our state.

Governor Scott's letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood about the refusal of Federal dollars for high speed rail can be found at his website here. The letter is filled with flawed logic about passenger rail programs in general.

Going forward, where do the Federal grants set aside for Florida go? Could they be reprogrammed for other passenger rail projects in Florida?

Let's be clear. Not a chance.

In the first place, that is not how the Federal high speed rail grants program works.

In the second place, given comments Governor Scott has made about Tri-Rail, Amtrak, and SunRail, his freezing of state funds for SunRail, as well as his latest decision regarding the high speed rail program, it should be very clear what Rick Scott's stance on passenger rail projects will be in the future.

Rail advocates should be concerned-- and prepared to fight for passenger rail improvements as never before.

--Jackson McQuigg

Governor Scott rejects HSR

Gov. Rick Scott just announced that he has rejected federal money that would be used to build a high-speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando, saying the project would be “far too costly to taxpayers” and that he believes “the risk far outweighs the benefits.” More from his press release after the jump: #

Moments ago I spoke with u.s. transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to inform him of my decision. I appreciate the secretary’s efforts to work with us and I look forward to working with him in the future. #

My decision to reject the project comes down to three main economic realities: #

• First – capital cost overruns from the project could put Florida taxpayers on the hook for an additional $3 billion.
• Second – ridership and revenue projections are historically overly-optimistic and would likely result in ongoing subsidies that state taxpayers would have to incur. (from $300 million – $575 million over 10 years) – Note: The state subsidizes Tri-Rail $34.6 million a year while passenger revenues covers only $10.4 million of the $64 million annual operating budget.
• Finally – if the project becomes too costly for taxpayers and is shut down, the state would have to return the $2.4 billion in federal funds to D.C.

The truth is that this project would be far too costly to taxpayers and I believe the risk far outweighs the benefits. #

Historical data shows capital cost overruns are pervasive in 9 out of 10 high speed rail projects and that 2/3 of those projects inflated ridership projections by an average of 65 percent of actual patronage. #

It is projected that 3.07 million people will use the train annually. Keep in mind that Amtrak’s Acela train in Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore only had 3.2 million riders in 2010. And that market’s population is 8 times the size of the Tampa/Orlando market. #

President Obama’s high-speed rail program is not the answer to Florida’s economic recovery. #

We must make investments in areas where we will get a return for the shareholders – Florida’s taxpayers. #

The project has been a hot topic of debate since work began along the I-4 corridor. A coalition of politicians and business lobby groups recently formed in an effort to press Scott to accept the funds. The head of the powerful Associated Industries of Florida called the rail line a part of “America’s infrastructure bonanza” at a roundtable discussion earlier this month. #

Scott’s decision means the federal government will likely give the money earmarked for the project to another state. #

More to come.

Amtrak announced today that it has ordered new Acela coaches.

One needs a scorecard to keep up with all the passenger rail news lately! Good thing we have The Silver Rail Blog to share all of it!

Here's the announcement:

http://www.mmdnewswire.com/amtrak-24699.html

--Jackson McQuigg

Just when one thought things couldn't get more interesting, the Obama White House issued its budget for next year which, among other things, ends direct operating subsidies for Amtrak.

It moves those dollars to a transportation trust fund instead-- in an apparent effort at parity between all surface transportation modes.

From the Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/02/budget-2012-transportation.html

Now is the time to write your Member of Congress and Florida's Senators to remind them of the importance of Amtrak to our state.

For more insight into the President's budget, check out this interactive graphic here:

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/newsgraphics/2011/0119-budget/

--Jackson McQuigg

Contradicting previous statements, an aide to Florida Governor Rick Scott told the Orlando Sentinel that money for SunRail is in the Governor's budget after all.

The question remains: where will Scott come down on passenger rail issues like high speed rail, SunRail, and Amtrak?

And what of the frozen contracts for SunRail?

Stay tuned...

--Jackson McQuigg

Contact your Member of Congress and Florida's Senators NOW to protest House Republicans' plans to eliminate Amtrak, high speed rail, and transit funding!

Contact information for them is available on the following websites:

Senator Bill Nelson: http://billnelson.senate.gov/

Senator Marco Rubio: http://rubio.senate.gov/public/

To locate your Member of Congress, click here.

This year, the battle for the future of passenger rail seems more partisan than ever. It shouldn't be.

The following analysis from Scripps Howard News Service is insightful: http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/59603

Once again, the future of Amtrak and passenger trains are in our hands. Let's pull together to keep passenger rail a part of America's future.

--Jackson McQuigg

In the wake of President Obama's high speed rail plans, Republicans in the house are encouraging the elimination of funding for Amtrak and high speed rail.

Veteran rail advocates will remember many of these same anti-passenger rail arguments originally surfaced in the 1980s.

At last report, elimination of funding for highways was not being considered.

More from Politics Daily:

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2011/02/09/house-republicans-swing-budget-ax-at-70-items-from-npr-to-exp/

--Jackson McQuigg

As promised in his State of the Union Speech, today the White House announced plans to build a national high speed passenger rail network.

From the White House website: 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/08/vice-president-biden-announces-six-year-plan-build-national-high-speed-r

Commentary from ABC News:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/02/vp-biden-us-needs-to-get-a-grip-on-the-high-speed-rail-game.html 

--Jackson McQuigg

What's next for SunRail?

What's next for high speed rail in Florida?

The answers remain unclear, as The Orlando Sentinel reports. Both projects are now in limbo and awaiting decisions from the office of Governor Rick Scott.

Scott had the opportunity to address these issues today when he announced his budget proposals at a Tea Party rally at the First Baptist Church of Eustis, but did not.

FCRP supports both projects, as well as the return of Amtrak service New Orleans-Florida and new service over the FEC.

And we encourage you to remind the Governor about the importance of these and other passenger rail projects for Florida by making your voice heard.

Contact information for Governor Scott can be found on his website here:  http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/.

Speak up for rail!

--Jackson McQuigg