Posted on 11/17/2009 1:02:06 PM PST by rabscuttle385
(snip)
There’s a list of issues being hammered out, but at the top is finding money for South Florida’s cash-strapped Tri-Rail. Republicans are targeting a $2 fee on rental cars as the source and discussing whether to let county commissions approve the charge or require a referendum.
“That’s sort of one of the issues we’re dealing with,” Crist said.
Florida’s Republican leaders believe they need to settle funding issues for Tri-Rail and a host of insurance and money issues for a proposed Central Florida line known as SunRail before the state has any chance at securing $2.5 billion in federal stimulus money for an Orlando-Tampa bullet train.
“That - in terms of job creation, in terms of alternative transportation arteries for our fellow Floridians — is incredibly important,” Crist said of the stimulus money. “And I would really hate to see that opportunity lost.”
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at postonpolitics.com ...
Rental cars to Florida are already expensive enough.
anyone who has rented a car in Florida knows they didn’t pay enough tax on it (sarc)
not to mention the 13% hotel tax and the $.50 a mile (or more) tolls on the highways around the aiport
IF SC gets rid of Linsey we may celebrate by checking out Myrtle Beach
Oh, I love it. TriRail can’t make enough money to pay for itself in a higher population area than Central Florida, but hey, let’s move forward with SunRail too. I’m sure it’ll do better. Definition of “insanity” anyone?
i can’t remember how many times we the voters in florida have shot this down and they still insist on ramming it down our throats.....
Will not be going back to Florida again unless forced to go.
So let’s see, I drive to the train station (which in Tampa could mean as much as a 25 mile drive — worse for those in St Pete, etc), park, wait for train, take a quick ride to another train station, at which point I probably rent a car (assuming Orlando like Tampa lacks viable public transportation).
Or I drive. When I used to make the trip from the far side of Tampa to the other side of Orlando regularly, it took two hours no matter when I did it (and this was before the improvements on 4/275).
The rail scam in Florida is shaping up to be the biggest tax payer ripoff in U.S. history under the guidance of Charlie, a close personal friend of the current Administration. With this rail scam, Charlie has completed his training for the job in Washington and will fit in nicely with the likes of Charlie Rangel.
I remember the first time my wife & I used Tri-Rail.
As good citizens of Boca Raton, we thought we would do good to go by train to some event in West Palm Beach.
As we looked over the fare chart, we saw that students, seniors & those “disenfranchised” on various programs of aid did not have to pay to use the Tri Rail.
There were also other “groups” who had had reduced fares but my good wife and I, good tax paying (esp. in Palm Beach County) citizens that we are, had to pay the full fare!
This was circa 1994-95 maybe.
It was losing money then and I remember the idiots in charge decided to expand the bus routes to the train stations as the solution to why it was losing money.
At that point in time, Tri- Rail had less than 10,000 riders per day - god knows how many actually paid a fare.
Oh, yes, that was the last time my wife & I rode the Tri-Rail.
Why rent a car when Disney offers Magic Express for free? Plus they get your luggage off the carosel and take it straight to your room. What’s not to like?
NOBODY WANTS THIS IDIOTIC TRAIN.
people do not ride these mass transit fiascos.
Crist is clueless but he has the senate committee endorsement and campaign money.
rubio has no money and no endorsements.
Disney just “donated” part of their land for a bullet train station from tampa airport to WDW.
Jed Bush = Jeb Bush, Jr,
I’m in Texas, and when I do go to Florida, I DRIVE myself (and family). That way, I don’t have to deal with these sickening ‘targeted’ taxes, so Charlie can shove it.
By the way, we’re just as bad here (in Texas), so it’s certainly not just Florida...it’s most states - but Florida REALLY counts on tourism, since the wheezers have stopped moving in.
Don’t forget his bearn of a wife comes from a family of means. He must have married her with the POLITICAL understanding that his dowery would be political contributions and support.
Follow the money, who has donated to Crist so far? (this may be the NJ race redux in a primary)
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