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Florida presses for funds for bullet train
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., -- Florida has requested additional federal assistance to build a Tampa to Orlando high-speed passenger railroad, the state's Department of Transportation said.
The Miami Herald reported Saturday that the state has asked for $1.1 billion to top off a previously awarded $1.25 billion to build a high-speed service that would link two critical population centers. In addition, Florida's DOT is seeking $250 million to restore passenger rail service from Miami to Jacksonville and $8 million to fund an environmental impact study for a run from Miami to Orlando.
The federal government previously said no to a $30 million request for an impact study on the Miami-Orlando run, the newspaper said.
Now, "Instead of going for the whole enchilada, let's just go for pieces of it," said Florida Rail Enterprise Executive Director Kevin Thibault.
Bruce Jay Colan, chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce task force on high-speed rail, said the state was committed to enhancing its passenger rail services.
"People who fly into the Miami airport and want to get to Orlando will no longer, as some have done, grab a taxi and say, 'Take me to Orlando,'" he said.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, in an Aug. 5 letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, said the funding was required, "so we can capture this unprecedented opportunity to make high-speed rail work in Florida."
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., -- Florida has requested additional federal assistance to build a Tampa to Orlando high-speed passenger railroad, the state's Department of Transportation said.
The Miami Herald reported Saturday that the state has asked for $1.1 billion to top off a previously awarded $1.25 billion to build a high-speed service that would link two critical population centers. In addition, Florida's DOT is seeking $250 million to restore passenger rail service from Miami to Jacksonville and $8 million to fund an environmental impact study for a run from Miami to Orlando.
The federal government previously said no to a $30 million request for an impact study on the Miami-Orlando run, the newspaper said.
Now, "Instead of going for the whole enchilada, let's just go for pieces of it," said Florida Rail Enterprise Executive Director Kevin Thibault.
Bruce Jay Colan, chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce task force on high-speed rail, said the state was committed to enhancing its passenger rail services.
"People who fly into the Miami airport and want to get to Orlando will no longer, as some have done, grab a taxi and say, 'Take me to Orlando,'" he said.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, in an Aug. 5 letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, said the funding was required, "so we can capture this unprecedented opportunity to make high-speed rail work in Florida."
