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Florida DOT is no longer earmarking any state money for infrastructure improvements on the FEC to attract Amtrak service on the corridor, according to the SunSentinal website. FDOT had set aside $118 million to contribute to the project but it seems that the money is needed elsewhere. The question is: does FDOT think that the All Aboard Florida proposal is viable and that Amtrak's proposal is redundant?
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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First, please forgive my bad taste in essentially postiing an "I told you so", but if I may draw the Forum to my thoughts expressed both here and at my blog:
Most specifically with regards to Mr. Vincent's report (emphasis added):
Quite simply, there will never be a passenger train operating over the Florida East Coast Ry for their own account. I give Amtrak operation over the FEC, which is independent of this proposal, at best a 50-50. So long as Martin County FL remains "train hating", Fox News watching, country, I do not foresee any northward expansion of Tri-Rail to locations such as Stuart (FEC) or Northwestward to, say, Indiantown (CSX) as Florida law requires any county desiring rail service to impose a tax (ad valorem or excise) dedicated to that rail service's funding.
Be sure to note the thoughtful and mature comments the posting has generated.
A viable FEC is vital to the "billiebucks" the State has thrown to the post-PANAMAX party at the Port of Miami - for which I hope does not end up with the refrain...."and nobody came".
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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