Orlando SunRail meets its fate this week

A very interesting article. I think the Tea Party may be wrong on this one as I see a lot of potential commerce benefit to the freight aspect of this proposal.

A very interesting article. I think the Tea Party may be wrong on this one as I see a lot of potential commerce benefit to the freight aspect of this proposal.

I agree, although I don't like the liability state taxpayers have in the deal. Thankfully it only lasts seven years and hopefully the state won't have to continually bail the system out after that. (Although I wouldn't get my hopes up. The commuter aspect of the system will likely lose money forever.)

I think the aging Boomer population and gas prices are going to make rail travel more popular than in the past.

I think the aging Boomer population and gas prices are going to make rail travel more popular than in the past.

Scott likes the larger oil companies--the car emissions, the asphalt, etc--and all the jobs they will create?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/us/politics/28mica.html

The NYT attacks our SunRail project on it's front page? I must be dreaming.

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/gov-rick-scott-approves-sunrail

Sorry Tea Party folks, it appears he is becoming a politician,:lol:

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/gov-rick-scott-approves-sunrail

Sorry Tea Party folks, it appears he is becoming a politician,:lol:

As I have said previously, but what no one seems to recognize, the Tea Party is made up of many different people just as is every group interested in political action. (Note post #2) I, subscribe to most of the the Tea Party tenets, but am glad to see him approve this project.
No, he is not necessarily becoming a politician and furthermore, if the NYT is attacking it on its front page, it must definitely have some merit.

From what I've read he came to conclusion it couldn't legally be stopped since the project had already been approved by legislation. I guess we'll find out if the rail proponents were right or wrong. Either way it'll serve as a valuable example indicating whether such projects are a good idea.

As I have said previously, but what no one seems to recognize, the Tea Party is made up of many different people just as is every group interested in political action. (Note post #2) I, subscribe to most of the the Tea Party tenets, but am glad to see him approve this project.

So all Tea Party folks are not alike and should not be stereotyped, but it's okay to stereotype liberals?

There was a report last night about how China already has an extensive network of high speed rail.

It's a more efficient way of moving folks around.

Plus it will...da dum...create jobs.

There was a report last night about how China already has an extensive network of high speed rail.

It's a more efficient way of moving folks around.

Plus it will...da dum...create jobs.

China's rail system also has a number of other dubious accolade - substantially underestimated ridership projections, corruption, massive budget shortfalls, design flaws and mechanical failures, all of which occurred in infrastructure designed and built by.. government.

You're right though, China's rail did create jobs via "make work" - nobody in China makes use of what they produced because there's no compelling reason to do so. (People there still prefer to take the bus.) But hey, the government was writing a check which was funded with income from the U.S., so..

Buz says ..lets build rail here using money borrowed from, China? It'll create jobs!

mass transit saves fuel and enhances economic activity

So all Tea Party folks are not alike and should not be stereotyped, but it's okay to stereotype liberals?

Evidently. Liberals appear to be of a more like minded group than "Tea Party folks". Just look at your "Thanks" list if you have doubts.

:roll:

mass transit saves fuel and enhances economic activity

On this project that has yet to be determined. But we will definitely find out in time. I hope the project is a success. I made use of CalTrain in SF and while it had a number of short falls (speed, and limited access due to being rail based) it was handy for getting down into the valley. Maybe this systemwill have a similar future, we'll have to wait and see.

I've never lived in Orlando so I can't speak to how much need there is. Bob you live there maybe you can? Will you be riding the train?

Evidently. Liberals appear to be of a more like minded group than "Tea Party folks". Just look at your "Thanks" list if you have doubts.

My thanks is on the post you referred to...and I'm no liberal.

China's rail system also has a number of other dubious accolade - substantially underestimated ridership projections, corruption, massive budget shortfalls, design flaws and mechanical failures, all of which occurred in infrastructure designed and built by.. government.

You're right though, China's rail did create jobs via "make work" - nobody in China makes use of what they produced because there's no compelling reason to do so. (People there still prefer to take the bus.) But hey, the government was writing a check which was funded with income from the U.S., so..

Buz says ..lets build rail here using money borrowed from, China? It'll create jobs!

Yep, it makes better sense than using the money to invade countries.

It appears you have no problem using money borrowed from China to pay for tax cuts.

Evidently. Liberals appear to be of a more like minded group than "Tea Party folks". Just look at your "Thanks" list if you have doubts.

Using that logic, you are a liberal because you frequently "thank" me.

Or it could be that despite all the labels, demographics, and party rhetoric, most Americans have similar opinions on a wide variety of topics.

On this project that has yet to be determined. But we will definitely find out in time. I hope the project is a success. I made use of CalTrain in SF and while it had a number of short falls (speed, and limited access due to being rail based) it was handy for getting down into the valley. Maybe this systemwill have a similar future, we'll have to wait and see.

I've never lived in Orlando so I can't speak to how much need there is. Bob you live there maybe you can? Will you be riding the train?

I-4 is a living nightmare of congestion from the Maitland exchange south to Disney. It can be jammed any time of day with the slightest glitch. An officer ticketing a motorist in this zone can cause a mile long slowdown, and a breakdown left of the passing lane is worse for traffic. For the most part, the community is embracing this project because of the dysfunctionality of I-4, and the fact that the beltway is completely toll roads. The east-west[SR408] expressway has been a toll road since I was in high school. Infrastructure here has never caught up with growth, and SunRail will be heavily traveled as it parallels the interstate to downtown. It will save millions of gallons of fuel, and lost lost work hours. All of these savings will be realized in a city destined to be the largest in Florida. I will use it to travel downtown , going to Magic games, avoiding gridlock during peak hours. This rail system will follow the optimum path through the heart of our rather large community.