After three decades of false starts, Florida finally hopped aboard the trend toward high-speed commuter rail, thanks to President Obama’s announcement Thursday of $1.25 billion in funding to launch a Tampa-Orlando link.
While that’s only half of Florida’s $2.5 billion request for economic stimulus money, the president pledged an extra $5 billion in annual funding for rail projects around the country. The creation of tens of thousands of jobs will be a tremendous economic jolt, especially with the state’s unemployment in double digits and threatening to break the record set 35 years ago. With environmental studies and the land both in hand, the “shovel-ready” project promises a quick infusion of jobs.
Beyond employment during the four years of construction, passenger rail service between downtown Tampa and Orlando will create opportunities for other economic benefits. With our transportation infrastructure more diversified, the region will be in a stronger competitive position to attract and grow business and investment. Development along the 85-mile corridor is bound to follow. Tourists could climb aboard a train at the Orlando International Airport, ride the rails to Walt Disney World and then spend time and money in Tampa and our beaches.
The state would avoid spending money on adding lanes to the interstate with a major reduction in car traffic. Plus, fewer passenger vehicles on the congested Interstate 4 corridor will ease the constraints on commercial traffic, improving the speed and efficiency of deliveries.
Florida’s future rail plans call for high-speed passenger rail between Orlando and Miami. A commuter rail link to Bradenton and Sarasota appears to be decades away, given our smaller population base. Still, since Manatee County is a member of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, we stand to benefit from other projects, such as express bus service to Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Obama’s bold commitment to rail and jobs earned the support of a broad spectrum of political leanings, including Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and Rep. Vern Buchanan.
Skeptics have a legitimate concern that ridership will not cover the cost of operating the system, thus saddling taxpayers with the difference. That will challenge state leaders and transportation officials.
With 16 daily round-trips between Tampa and Orlando projected, one-way fares could range from $10 to $25. With gasoline again approaching the $3 mark, fares should be set to compete with the cost of driving a passenger vehicle.
The larger immediate concern, though, is job creation. With economists issuing a conservative forecast for employment and population growth in this region despite the statistical end of the recession, job growth is critical for a sustainable economic recovery. Once the rail construction is completed, development along the corridor should provide more new jobs.
Thankfully, Florida is moving in a promising direction.
