Govt. and Money

[nipper]

Not from the Boston area, but my Mother lives about 20 miles south of Boston. Big Dig was finally finished, but there were some major problems with it a few years ago, including a fatality due to a large chunk of the tunnel falling on a car. Lots of leaks too. Even though it ran millions, if not billions, over budget, from my limited experience driving through it to get to the airport, it is a successful project. Sure helped the Boston skyline too eliminating the highway running right through town.

[RidgeRunner]

I hear you, traffic up there is hell, it really isn't any better from Orlando to Tampa. The main issue for me is , how much is it gonna cost me? I am all for progress but I can't see ever using the train and if it cost $10billion to build what is the upkeep for a train I will never ride on. If it cost me a dollar that is too much. There is no study showing how it will improve the flow of traffic or if anyone will even use it. It will shorten the ride from Orlando to Tampa to 45 minutes. After you find a parking spot, buy your tickets, luggage?, wait on the next outbound train etc. You could have made the drive and people will still need to have transportation on the other end to their destination. It just don't make sense, besides Americans are not going to park their car/independence to ride the train unless some drastic changes are made.

[joe7670]

Side tracking this conversation, but i'd use the Miami-Orlando proposed leg of this proposition.

Will stay out of the $ issue as it doesn't make sense. Will most likely go over budget anyway as with all else down here.

[spareparts]

they need to build a bullet train that runs from Miami/Ft Lauderdale stright up to New Jersey/New York, preferably with no stops between. Sure would make I95 alot nicer. next thing you know, they'll have one running from here(Charleston) to Cleveland. Maybee they'll only be one way headed North

[bradford]

I agree with Spare. Doesn't the goobermint already have rail service called Amtrak? Oh yeah, that little project is real profitable.

[charlie_the_tuna]

do they really need a high speed train to travel within the state? i'm not sure how long the trip is but it would seem to me a waste of money. yes, there will be jobs but once the project is finished the jobs will be minimal. especially if there's only one leg.

[phatdaddy]

this is a boondoggle from the get go, if it would be profitable to have this service, private enterprise should do it. i live in fl and they have been trying to get theis done for years and athe voters keep voting no..