New Passenger Rail to Link Miami and Orlando 2013
New Passenger Rail to Link Miami and Orlando 2013
Over 50 million people travel between Orlando and South Florida annually for both business and pleasure. The number grows even larger when counting those who travel within the major tri-county area that includes Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. This week, the Miami Herald posted an article outlining the plans of Florida East Coast Industries (FECI), who is developing a privately owned, operated and maintained intercity passenger rail service.
This new rail initiative is called “All Aboard Florida.” It is a passenger rail to link the major cities for the millions of Floridians traveling between them. This new service will provide travelers with an escape to ever increasing highway congestion and costly delays. By implementing this energy-efficient rail service, it will lower the state’s overall carbon footprint, and improve the quality of life and travel for all Floridians. A report by the company says that the new train station in Miami will be built on a platform, four stories high between the Government Center and Overtown Metrorail stations in downtown Miami. There will also be two other stations constructed: one in Fort Lauderdale and one in West Palm Beach. The Miami Station, the largest of the three, will provide train passengers with “a panoramic entry into the city” and “a celebrated piece of engineering and architecture.” The new system is aimed at providing service and amenities: Wi-Fi, gourmet meals, reserved business, coach seating and baggage compartments are all provided on board.
The FECI plan to break ground in March, and the company says it will privately finance the $1 billion project without public subsidies. Apparently, much confidence is expressed by the Coral Gables based company, saying that the 50 million tourists traveling between Miami and Orlando will turn a profit.
The company hopes to launch trains in 2014 with hourly service and only a three hour travel time between Orlando and Miami; which is at least two hours faster than the current Amtrak travel time. The project is expected to create nearly 6,000 direct rail construction jobs and another 400 permanent jobs for the rail operations. Also, it should be prominent that taxpayers will see savings; highway-maintenance costs will be reduced, and the state will benefit from increased tourism, real estate appreciation and all the new transit-oriented development opportunities.
Sources:
http://www.allaboardflorida.com/
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/11/3092857/new-miami-orlando-passenger-rail.html
http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak
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