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Liability hurdle overcome for Florida East Coast Amtrak service
Good deal! Put it on ‘fast track’. Cough up some dough, Mica. We need this !
Amen. And what about the cost of highways? How easy it is to forget that. This will be far-sighted investment in Florida’s future. Why are so many politicians so myopic?
Amen. And what about the cost of highways? How easy it is to forget that. This will be far-sighted investment in Florida’s future. Why are so many politicians so myopic?
I will be respectiful toward my rebuttal of R Mica’s comments; please do not forget that any money spent by the government will be returned in greater mobility and increased tourism dollars. Also please don’t forget added jobs due to the service. Why do politicians forget all the intangible positives that come from train service?
gvz
How many politicians are right when it comes to rail? Mica is talking out both sides of his mouth. He says he doesn’t want local governments to lose money, yet he doesn’t put federal money toward the project to take the burden away from those local governments.
I think any such rail in Florida should either pay it’s own way or, if local governments think it will “increase mobility and tourism dollars” (which it might) then the local governments should subsidize it. My New York tax money shouldn’t be used.
This sounds like an excellent idea. The cost of the upgrade is surely minute compared to new highways.
Can’t wait to see this service. However, unless there are thru trains from the North that split at JAX and go down the FEC (and return), there will not be sufficient local PAX on that route- that includes sleepers, lounge, and coach. Making JAX to MIA as regional service is a non- starter.
Seems strange Mica won’t come out in favor of support of a project in his own neighborhood. Wake up Orlando! Vote him OUT! He deserves to be dumped just like Minnesota voted out Oberstar. That’s fair and balanced!
John Mica is right…There will not be enough riders to make it a paying proposition…gvz
The naysayers said our new regional from Lynchburg Va. would cost the state money. After two years, the train has been lengthened from 7 to 9 cars and is actually making money. This Sunday, they loaded over 100 passengers out of Lynchburg, the first stop on a trip to Boston!
I believe I’ve mentioned this before but I really would like to reiterate about the possible feasibility of the Palmetto being reextended to Miami but this time using the FEC. And as I’ve said bfore, leave the other two trains where they are and let the Palmetto have this route to itself.
How could any reasonable person oppose this wonderful idea? To actually get a host RR to propose passenger service is great! I’m afraid Mica is trapped by Republican ideology; i.e.“don’t spend any money on passenger trains”.
How could any reasonable person oppose this wonderful idea? To actually get a host RR to propose passenger service is great! I’m afraid Mica is trapped by Republican ideology; i.e.“don’t spend any money on passenger trains”.
If Amtrak would lobby Republicans as well as they do Democrats, perhaps there wouold not be a “Republican Ideology”