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High speed rail called a "boondoggle"
Experts are not big fans of our new train.
Just a day after President Obama announced a 1.25 billion dollar downpayment on a train between Orlando and Tampa, the naysayers are slamming the plan. Ed Braddy from Gainsville's American Dream Coalition has studied rail systems across the country and world. He says get ready for sticker shock.
"If it really comes in at that cost that's being projected, it will be the first of its kind."
Once the train is built:
"It will require taxpayer subsidies indefinitely because none of these transit systems pay for themselves."
Braddy's group did a study and claims the average Floridian will ride high speed rail once every 15 years, basically saying its a tourist and businessman's train. He estimates the total cost of running all systems in Florida will reach 100 million dollars a year once Sunrail, Tri-Rail, and high speed rail are all built out.
What others are saying
- Boondoggle Choo-ChoosIs it really hard to believe high-speed rail is a worthless endeavor? A colossal waste of hard-earned taxpayer money? Ditto for SunRail, the local version of a worthless choo-choo. Is anyone surprised about the call for new taxes to support both rail systems? Hasn't anyone read about Tri-Rail's abysmal fiscal performance, or any of the nation's local commuter rail systems' dismal ridership and perpetual red ink? Will any of Florida's choo-choo supporters now admit that we're going to be on the financial hook for an endless sea of red ink from both High-Speed and ScamRail projects? I've been preaching this for the past year-and-a-half and get so frustrated by myopic citizens who think we need these nonsensical rail systems. Some may want choo-choos but the region doesn't need them.
- TrainsThis is terrible journalism. The Americna Dream Coalition is an ideologically biased organization that only wants to politicize the High Speed Rail issue. They are not transportation experts and have come to their own conclusions before even beginning their highly slanted research. Please get your information from sources with real credentials.
- Get Real!If anyone thinks this is going to do anything for the traffic on I4, they're sadly mistaken. Exactly how are the commuters supposed to get from home to a station and from a station to work? Without local mass transit considerably improved from present levels, this is simply a waste of time and money.
- BoondoggleThat kind of money would run alot of buses and cover more areas then Orlando to Tampa
- Stop spending, I can't afford it.
- Rail BoondoggleCome on , Marco Rubio, speak up against this waste !
- Rail Boondoggle.Ed Braddy for PRESIDENT.
- Rail In Central FloridaGreat piece about the waste of taxpayer money - again ! When will Republicans wake up and act like one ?
- BoondoggleAnother waste of our taxes if rail was needed let the private sector build it.
They are already talking about a sales tax increase for the sunrail project when does it stop.
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