ConnectUS: High Speed Rail in Florida

A special session in December isn't too far off - let your state reps know that you support the SunRail and High speed options - that they begin a solid placement of optional transportation infrastructure for Florida beyond just the auto.

Special Session Approval is critical for short term economic impact to get thousands of Central Floridians back to work. As long as we're at it, long term improvements in Freight Rail should be considered to reduce wear and tear on the state's (and nation's) transportation infrastructure....not to mention less fuel consumption and producing fewer emissions.

Who cares about the speed. Catch some ZZZZZZZZZ's Between two great cities. Why drive ?

Oh Yea we need one to Biloxi also

If you ride the train and use public trans as much as possible, high gas prices (gas taxes) aren't such a big deal.

I appreciate Jeff's insightful commentary. One of Florida's problems on this front is that there has been no consistent policy on intracity rail transit. We have been a road building state for a long time, but the world is changing and $4 per gallon gas opened eyes and emptied wallets. Because there is no consistent policy, we have jerked from ... See Moreone project to another. First there was TriRail, then Chiles high speed rail, which was then killed by Bush, but the idea was resurrected by Doc Dockery, but it was killed again by Bush but then SunRail was announced. Each of these really were a cobbled together approach that weren't entirely thought out and all occurred in a national enviornment which placed NO priority on HSR or intercity rail. Now, however, the genie may be out of the bottle. 24 states have requested $57 billion in projects and a bipartisan committee in the US House has requested $50 billion in the next transportation authorization legislation for HSR.

So...we have a great opportunity to frame a coherent program for intracity rail and regional rail that would allow us to capitalize on the commanding lead we have in readiness....a lead which won't exist a few years out. For a change, Florida has the chance to have the finest ground transportation system in the Hemisphere, one which can create a new foundation for sustainable and quality growth and economic development. My concern is that we won't live up to the moment or seize this opportunity. Instead of limiting the discussion to whether we should approve or disapprove SunRail, or voting on a regional source of funding for commuter rail systems, we should be establishing the foundation for competitiveness and be putting together a program for personal mobility based upon HSR, quality intercity rail and strong regional and local connecting systems. We might not get too far on this in a special session, but failure to take this step would be a wasted opportunity in my view. Further, we know the path we have been on has not been sustainable, and to continue on it would cost the citizens of the state of Florida.

Here is the Trib's article explaining the video above, and the action suggested. http://tinyurl.com/ygc2yqu I want to stress that commuter rail (not High Speed Rail or HSR) is an important asset for economic development & transit, but we can also improve connectivity within cities with meaningful bus service...which will increase in use if that is a legitimate option once someone gets off of the HSR from Orlando and needs to get to USF or the airport.

Regarding south Florida routes, if you watch the video, you will see that one of the route options between Orlando and Miami would serve a number of East Coast communities. Further, if you bring in the Jax-Miami intercity rail program, you would provide even more connectivity.

Why only 128mph? Japanese Shinkansen goes 186mph without any problems(test runs at 275mph).
128mph is like Shinkansen from 1964!!!

it is just a figurative expression. actual train speeds between tampa and orlando would reach over 160 mph. high yet on Orlando to Miami --- up to 180 mph.