The new Florida governor-elect, Rick Scott, is showing some additional signs that he will not carry through with the new Florida high-speed-rail line between Tampa and Orlando, following suit with other Republican governors from Ohio and Wisconsin, claiming that they don't want to take more Federal dollars that would cost taxpayers.Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, wrote an Op-Ed in the Orlando Sentinel this week, emphasizing that "High-speed-rail will be our generation's legacy". His comments, directed at Rick Scott, are exactly what I would have argued if I was put in his position. Scott's campaign platform was all about jobs, jobs, jobs. Some elaborate plan using the number '7' (that he had published) to create an extremely optimistic amount of jobs in his term. Jobs? Construction industry jobs? What Florida is really good at? And Scott is considering turning down a high-speed-rail project? How many thousands of jobs will he be missing out on? I wouldn't be too disappointed if he even claimed all of the jobs created by such a project as ones toward his goal!
Instead, he is still undecided, and rather mute, about the topic, and it is beginning to worry myself and others. This is such an incredible opportunity for the region and the country! Even though the proposed rail line has flaws, right now, it IS a pilot, and it IS SOMETHING! If nothing happens now, nothing will ever happen, and all of the money that has already been spent on planning for this project will go to waste, and all of the money set aside for construction, will most likely end up in California, where amazing plans for their line will become reality sooner rather than later.
Dear Rick Scott,
Don't be a like all of the other Republicans. You said you were a "political outsider", and people believed you (for some ridiculous reason). Live up to your promises.
Sincerely,
Landon
Spot on Landon. People need to use their heads here. Whether you agree with the Obama Administration for designating the federal money for HSR projects, you cannot deny that the money will in fact go toward these projects (for better or worse). In my opinion, the Florida project is one of the more complete project plans in the nation at this point - sure there are places with better existing passenger rail infrastructure (Illinois, California etc.) but the Tampa-Orlando project has consumer demand and corridor space already. I believe it is well within reach in this decade.
ReplyDeleteIf Gov. Scott doesn't clamp this project shut, Florida will be the real "proof of concept" for modern HSR in this country. Every HSR planning group in this country will flock to the state to see it in action. But at this point, with the federal money almost in hand, setting this project aside will only allow another state to get that recognition. I can see the argument for not wanting to be the first as some lessons learned may be expensive, but that's not the excuse Gov. Scott is giving. With the amount of designated federal money going to high speed projects, some state will finish. Why not be the first and do it right?