Amtrak, All Aboard Florida, Tri-Rail

"The Florida Transit Nexus (My Description): A New Configuration" by v. johns, 7/27/13, 8:50 PM

Southeast Florida Transit Nexus is a term I have used to describe the massive network of federal, state and local mass transit outfits that would intersect and connect right here in Southeast Florida. When Governor Scott killed a bill that would have brought federal dollars for high-speed rail to our state, I renamed it the “Southeast Florida Mass Transit Corridor.” Now that All Aboard Florida has revived the option of passenger-rail service between Orlando and Miami (and possibly Tampa), I have renamed the term: The Florida Transit Nexus.

Should this system take shape, it will consist of the following entities:

1. East-coast Amtrak service between Jacksonville and Miami (federal, FEC tracks, proposed).

2. All Aboard Florida passenger-rail service between Orlando and Miami with possible expansion into Tampa (private, FEC tracks, proposed).

3. Tri-Rail service between Mangonia Park and Miami (state, CSX tracks, currently in operation).

4. Tri-Rail Coastal Service between Jupiter and Miami (state, FEC tracks, proposed).

5. FEC service between Jupiter and Miami with north-to-south and possibly east-to-west service on newly-built tracks (state, FEC tracks, proposed).

And…

6. All local mass-transit outfits, such as Palm Tran, Treasure Coast Connector, Martin County Public Transit, Miami-Dade Transit, etc. (all currently in operation).

Bringing a “Florida Transit Nexus” into fruition would solve a problem that Tri-Rail cannot: the growing need for commuter and passenger rail service between our region’s downtown urban cores (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Stuart, etc.). Tri-Rail was originally intended as a temporary solution to shuttle commuters between Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties as the completion of the last segment of Interstate 95 in northern Palm Beach county commenced. Since then it has grown in popularity and ridership amid rises in gas prices and a severe national economic recession that began in 2008 and left massive unemployment and rampant home foreclosures in its wake.

Recently, Tri-Rail has proposed a project called Tri-Rail Coastal Service to address commuter service needs east of I-95 and north of Mangonia Park. The addition of other commuter and passenger projects on FEC tracks will compliment and expand Tri-rail’s existing, built-in regional ridership.

Lexus Lanes, Lexus Trains

"From Lexus Lanes to Lexus Trains, More Choices In Mobility Will Make Florida More Competitive" by v. johns, 5/31/13, 11:35 PM

A few years ago, citing price tag and future maintenance costs, Governor Rick Scott, our newly-minted state leader, vetoed a bill that would have brought federal dollars into the state of Florida to build high-speed-rail service from Tampa to Orlando to Miami. Since then, the budget has been balanced, the national economy has been rescued and has improved, and federal stimulus money has poured into the state for other projects that are just as important (port channel-widening, road-resurfacing, bridge-replacement, solar power, etc.). Furthermore All Aboard Florida, Tri-rail and the SFECC Study Group have all joined forces to lobby for building train crossings for their respective projects all at the same time.

It’s not called the Florida Transit Nexus. It’s just a working title I have used to describe the massive intersection of federal, state and local mass-transit outfits that would begin to converge and form a large hub right here in Southeast Florida. The Florida Transit Nexus, as I have previously described it, would have consisted of:

1. East-coast Amtrak service between Jacksonville and Miami (federal, FEC tracks, proposed).

2. High-speed rail service between Tampa, Orlando and Miami (state, FEC tracks, proposed).

3. Tri-Rail service between Mangonia Park and Miami (state, CSX tracks, currently in operation).

4. SFECC service between Jupiter and Miami with north-to-south AND east-to-west service on newly-built tracks (state, FEC tracks, proposed).

And…

5. All local mass-transit outfits, such as Palm Tran, Treasure Coast Connector, Martin County Public Transit, etc. (all currently in operation).

The overall framework, of what could potentially be a rather massive and very busy transit nexus with deep positive impacts on commerce and trade, is still in place. Just consider that the federally-funded high-speed rail outfit, listed up above, has been scrapped but with All Aboard Florida moving in to fill the gap left behind in its wake. Also consider that in addition to current Tri-Rail service on CSX tracks, new Tri-Rail Coastal Service would be built quickly and cheaply to service downtowns between Jupiter and Miami.

I refer to All Aboard Florida’s project as “Lexus trains” because of the potential cost of moving between Miami and Orlando and, perhaps in the future, between Miami and Tampa. $90 I have heard. Kinda out of reach for the average low-income person. It’s also a nod to the infamous “Lexus lanes” on I-95, here in Southeast Florida, that free up more valuable lane space for those willing to pay the toll to get from Lauderdale to downtown Miami faster.

With so many options available, it probably won’t matter, in the future, that mostly higher-income people will be more able to afford to use All Aboard Florida for frequent trips between Miami and Orlando. Plus, with so many options available, price competition could possibly work in our favor to drive train fares down to more reasonable prices for lower-income families and individuals.

It’s one thing for people to clamor publically for more transit options and availability. It’s quite another for a private outfit such as All Aboard Florida to step up to the plate, in an area where there is presumed to be no real financial feasibility, and make the bold proposal that it has made to make our state more competitive. That tells me that they smell profits in the water and have figured out a way to make, allegedly unprofitable mass-transit, profitable.

When I last posted anything worthwhile on the subject, All Aboard Florida and Tri-Rail seemed to be in competition to green-light competing projects. Now, they’re working together, as it should be, to see that crossings from multiple projects are built simultaneously, if and when all projects are approved. So, I say bravo to All Aboard Florida, AND to Tri-Rail as well! And if I may propose… A toast to public-private partnerships… Cheers!

 

© 2013 www.lostparadisejournal.blogspot.com

Tri-Rail Coastal Service

"SFRTA’s Fast Start Plan for Tri-Rail Coastal Service" by v. johns, 11/22/12, 1:31PM

The graphic to the right (See: SFRTA) is a captured edit of the South Florida Regional Transit Authority’s service plan for new train stops between Jupiter and Miami. Their Fast Start Plan for Tri-Rail Coastal Service would help to significantly expand passenger rail throughout South Florida by complimenting already established service on CSX tracks west of I-95 with new train stops and service on FEC tracks to the east of the Interstate near US 1 and A1A.

Some objectives of the Fast Start Plan are: Integrated service, financial feasibility and fast implementation. The brochure from SFRTA’s Fast Start Plan website (PDF) is well-illustrated and informative. Their header reads: “Tri-Rail Coastal Service: Getting Southeast Florida to Work.”

Their service plan is far more local in scope than All Aboard Florida’s ambitious Orlando to Miami project but would fill a much needed gap in the current lack of train service between Southeast Florida’s downtown cores. For more information, please visit their website at: http://faststartplan.sfrta.fl.gov/index.htm.