From Orlando newspapers, questions about whether that city will be ready to link the new line to other transportation:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-kassab-high-speed-rail-20100129,0,7422852.column">href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-kassab-high-speed-rail-20100129,0,7422852.column">
I've found similar concerns from the Tampa end:
What have you heard/read about the proposed high-speed line?
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I agree with the concerns about connecting to other forms of transit and I do think this is the biggest issue with HSR in Florida. In the northeast, the Acela trains connect DC-Philadelphia-NY-Boston. All cities with viable mass transit systems, unlike any city in Florida. I personally believe that without a local system, HSR in florida runs the risk of being a novelty similar to the Ybor-Channelside trolley, just on a much more expensive level. Can anyone think of possible solutions?
ReplyDeleteThat said, unlike the article I do not have a huge issue with the route omitting downtown Orlando. Tourism is by far the economic engine driving Orlando so I think focusing on Disney and the airport as a destination makes more sense than downtown Orlando. Additionally, as with most transportation projects, Right-of-way acquisition costs are one of, if not the biggest budget item and a route from Disney to the airport via an alignment similar to (or within) the right-of-way of the Greenway makes a lot of sense cost wise compared to obtaining right of way from Disney all the way into downtown Orlando.