Amtrak, 15 states get $2 billion that Florida lost

[babylonsister]

Amtrak, 15 states get $2 billion that Florida lost
By JOAN LOWY, Associated Press


Amtrak and rail projects in 15 states are being awarded the $2 billion that Florida lost after the governor canceled plans for high-speed train service, the Department of Transportation said Monday.

The largest share of the money -- nearly $800 million -- will be used to upgrade train speeds from 135 mph to 160 mph on critical segments of the heavily traveled Northeast corridor, the department said in a statement..

Another $404 million will go to expand high-speed rail service in the Midwest, including newly constructed segments of 110-mph track between Detroit and Chicago that are expected to save passengers 30 minutes in travel time.

Nearly $340 million will go toward state-of-the-art locomotives and rail cars for California and the Midwest. California will also get another $300 million toward trains that will travel up to 220 mph between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

"These projects will put thousands of Americans to work, save hundreds of thousands of hours for American travelers every year, and boost U.S. manufacturing by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in next-generation, American-made locomotives and rail cars," Vice President Joseph Biden said in a statement.

more...

http://www.salon.com/wires/us/2011/05/09/D9N3SQM81_us_high_speed_trains/index.html

[DrDan]

1. thank you, gov scott, for saving us from advancing into the future

[hatrack]

3. Reminds me of a bumper sticker I heard of: "Utah: 1896-1996 - 50 Years Of Progress"

nt

[Snoutport]

20. love that!!! nt

[Le Taz Hot]

2. California would like to thank all the Republicans

who voted for your batshit crazy Republican governor. That $340 million will come in handy as the first high-speed rail section will be build going through my city and is expected to create over 100,000 jobs.

Thanks again! :evilgrin:

[Wounded Bear]

4. Florida didn't "lose" anything.....they gave it away.....nt

:)

[patricia92243]

5. I can't make up my mind how I feel about this. Hubby and I moving to Florida. My first thought was

"what a loss for the state." On second thought, I am not too sure. The other states that got the money are already a proven sure-thing. People actually do ride those trains.

The train in Florida would be a gamble if people would use them or not. There has to be a huge infrastructure built in addition to the train. Example: automobiles or shuttles at destinations so people are not stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Soooo - I'm not so sure that Florida lost in this deal - IMHO.

[babylonsister]

6. I think FL lost massively; how's the unemployment around there?

And the hordes of people who visit FL on vacation-this would have been an alternative to renting cars.
Older people? Yep, they live in FL (case in point, my dad, who has macular degeneration/is going blind) and I'm pretty sure an alternate form of transportation would have been welcome by him.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. You obviously haven't lived in Florida.

It's a loooooong state. If you don't have a car, you're screwed. Public transit sucks.

[patricia92243]

21. You are correct. I have not lived in Florida. We were there about three months ago to buy a house

when the announcement was made about the train. The place where the Amtrak was already located was a hole in the wall. What people were supposed to do for transportation when they got off the train, I don't know.

Also, the new train would go across the state - not up and down the long length of it.

As I said, I am conflicted about it. My first reaction was - Republican Governor making stupid decisions. I'm just not sure. What we wish would happen and what will really happen are not the same thing. I would have to see people riding it to believe it. Guess we'll never know now.

p

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. It would have been a foundation, Patricia.

If we can't begin with this foundation, it's unlikely we're going to have the money or resolve to build track across the entire state at one time.

[still_one]

12. This was the start of building a nationwide rail system, that would NOT only provide jobs, but also

provide tourists and other travelers another means of access

I guess the Florida economy is doing so well it doesn't need the jobs, or the tourists

[Historic NY]

7. I like the train, upgrading the NE corridor is a great move....

its 303 miles from the station closest to me to DC.

[malaise]

8. K & R n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Rick Scott will go down as Florida's Epic Fail.

[still_one]

10. Gee Florida, I guess elections do have consequences. I wonder if the retirees have woken up and

realize that the republicans that they have elected to run their state, also want to destroy social security and medicare

[Shagbark Hickory]

13. So what are the states??? Only 2 were named.

I'd say it's probably all blue states far far far away from here but of course there isn't 15 blue states.

Let me rephrase the question. What RED STATES got some rail money?

[izquierdista]

17. Indiana?

I don't think they are planning a Lake Michigan bridge from Detroit to Chicago. If you were expecting GA to get a great DEAL in all this, that would require riding another DEAL out of town on a rail.

[Shagbark Hickory]

18. Actually I believe we may be the recipient of some of that money.

There is some talk about expanding our commuter rail. This was mentioned just last week on the news while literally in the same news cast, on the same channel, they talked about how bus service was being cut and fares raised due to budget cuts.

So if they don't even have to budget to keep the buses running, they're going to have to get the money for trains somewhere else.

[lib2DaBone]

14. pRick Scott admits that "Maybe he made a mistake" when he killed High Speed Rail...

He admits that he made a mistake on rail just after he accepted the recommendations (and a large check) from The Reason Foundation.

Check out the Board of trustees for the Reason Foundation.. David Koch - Koch Industries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason_Foundation

[madrchsod]

15. thanks again mr scott from the state of illinois!

between you and your buddy walker you have funded much needed rail line improvements through illinois. as soon as wisconsin recalls your buddy i`m sure that republican lahood and that democrat obama will fund the much needed rail line from madison to milwaukee.

so thanks again mr scott, you should be proud of funding other states rail projects. oh i forgot, all those thousands of jobs you created in other states. i`m sure all those construction workers and companies that were looking forward to this money will gladly vote for you and your friends in the next election cycle.

[lib2DaBone]

16. High speed rail would have created THOUSANDS of new jobs in Fla...

It would have connected downtown Miami and the Port of Miami (cruise ships) with Orlando attractions.

It would have connected Agri business between Orlando/Tampa and provided relief on the treacherous, overcrowded I-4 corridor. (70 car pileup) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlEzcbeRrAc

Thousands of jobs in hotels, motels , restaurants, taxi companies.. poof...gone.

[sarge43]

19. I love the sound of chickens coming home to roost in the evening.

Thanks gov.

[MindPilot]

23. Thank you from the left coast... n/t

[Blue Owl]

24. pRick Scott = Miserable Fuck

n/t