Posted on 02/16/2011 10:56:25 AM PST by fight_truth_decay
Gov. Rick Scott of Florida on Wednesday rejected plans for a high speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando, in the process turning down $2 billion in federal funds and a key piece of President Obama’s goal of building a national high-speed rail network.
Florida is the third state with a newly elected Republican governor to turn down a portion of the administration’s high-speed rail project, joining John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Cost overruns could put Florida on the hook for another $3 billion and once completed, there's a good chance ridership won't pay for the operating cost, meaning the state would have to pump more money into the line each year, Scott said.
"The truth is that this project would be far too costly to taxpayers and I believe the risk far outweighs the benefits," the Republican governor said in a press release issued after he informed U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood of his decision.
LaHood later released a statement that contradicted Scott's assessment of the risk.
"We worked with the governor to make sure we eliminated all financial risk for the state, instead requiring private businesses competing for the project to assume cost overruns and operating expenses," he said.
So no one rides, worst case secario; and it's the competing/winning private business owner's financial responsibility to provide for the 'unknown'"?
Plus.. for the elderly who can't drive; however, or won't, after the death panel decides "the bat" has better vision.
And what happens when the overruns and low ridership costs are in the billions? Then the private company declares bankruptcy and sticks the expenses back on the state. Or else the company is sufficiently politically connected to get a huge bailout.
Let us pray that all newly elected governors act in this manner.
Chris Christie lit the path.
Now let’s see how many newly elected governors follow it.
Fight Obama and his administration and their agenda at every level of government possible.
Too bac that Jerry Brown hasn’t the cojones to turn down the money for a high speed rail in Calif.
That is a long state- & the ridership will NEVER support the rail line. Period.
Tampa->Orlando = Big airport to Disney...
Because Florida is so decentralized, riding a train from Tampa to Orlando or vice versa and then having to rent a car to get around makes no sense at all.
CA is crazy if they think the san fran line will work. Pop density isn’t near what it is in Japan or even on the east coast.
I pity you folks. You’ll be shelling out for this white elephant 50 years from now.
Good news here in Florida.
I just called Gov. Scotts office and thanked him for standing up against special interests and standing up for the taxpayers.
Somehow I feel we would be tapped as well..If Disney, for example; wants high speed rail or a casino group, then it becomes their privately owned company and they assume all the risks.
"Adopt a highspeed rr" or The Google Train takes to the rails.
Since the states have to pitch in a percentage, don’t the left understand 20% of a loss IS STILL A LOSS ?
I don’t understand that at all. The density is just not there in Florida. It boggles me.
Even the Acala line is difficult. They only have 1/3rd the density of the Tokyo/Osaka line.
There was NO train station at Tampa Airport...it might have been built sometinme later on..
Exactly. Not many realize how big Florida is. To get from Key West to Pensacola is about the same distance as it is to get from Detroit to Boston, MA. And speaking of Detroit, Pensacola, FL is further west than Detroit, MI.
I wasn’t gonna ride it. I’d have to leave my car in Tampa where it would get stolen. I worked at an auto claims co. in Tampa and while we were adjusting claims inside, our cars were being stolen from our pkg lot and we even had a guard.
Same with Texas. There is a really nice train that goes from downtown Fort Worth to Downtown Dallas. However to get where you are going you have to take another bus or train and it is just too difficult.
People need to keep an eye on Paul LePage the new governor in Maine..successful business background, popular mayor..coming from living in doorways as a child [abuse] in Maine, later with 2 different families who opened their doors, still attending school-college: and some believe you are born poor and will remain poor--
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