Yes to SunRail
Florida, SunRail, tax 9:55 AM
by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.
Florida would remain an uninhabitable swamp if Henry Flagler hadn’t spearheaded rail investment deep into the southernmost wilderness in the 1800s. Little rail progress has come to the Sunshine State since then, but times appear to be changing. Just last year, Governor Charlie Crist secured $1.25 billion in federal aid to move forward with so-called SunRail along the I-4 corridor from Tampa to Orlando. This high speed railway would, in theory, connect passengers with future light rail systems in Tampa and Orlando, bus routes and existing rail corridors. Florida would be open for business.
Governor-elect Rick Scott faces tough decisions, as the GOP supermajority legislature has voiced fierce opposition to rail projects in the face of tough budget cuts and potential cost overruns that could cost Florida taxpayers billions of dollars. Republicans insist that rail is an unaffordable scheme, but have also mentioned they would support rail along with reassurances that Floridians would not foot the bill. The federal government, some suggest, should pick up the tag.
What shortsighted nonsense.
Of course, Florida families could hardly afford higher taxes on top of mounting insurance and millage taxes, higher utility bills, a weak economy and high unemployment. And of course, budget balancers in Tallahassee must wisely prioritize our spending outlays to items which benefit our economy most. Rail is precisely such a crucial investment and deserves the support of taxpayers.
Infrastructure is, without a doubt, the purview and responsibility of government. Unlike health care decisions or what kind of light bulbs to buy, infrastructure should be built and managed by government. Infrastructure is a public good for the benefit of all. It should not be privatized. Suffice to say you don’t want Frito-Lay paving I-95 with potato asphalt or NASCAR setting speed limits. Get the picture?
Eisenhower’s great interstate highway system has allowed our cities to expand, our neighborhoods to flourish, and our economy to grow for decades. But as highways have filled in the American landscape, we’ve kicked the can down the road instead of investing in alternate transportation methods. Our interstates can hardly handle current gridlock from automobiles and trucks. Urban sprawl and higher traffic keep American workers and products on the road longer. Cars sit idle across crumbling bridges or straddled over potholes.
New rail corridors would speed workers and products through our economy.
Of course, America needs more than just high speed rail. We need new and expanded subways. We need tunnels and bridges, bike lanes and pedestrian trails. We need an all of the above approach to fill America’s vast transportation needs. America must lead in infrastructure.
Though Asia and Europe have been heavily invested in rail projects for decades, America has quite a bit of catching up to do. As mandatory spending (entitlements) has eaten up a growing portion of our federal and state budgets, America continues to spend as little as 1% of GDP on the arteries of our economy. An infinitesimal portion of that goes into rail construction and maintenance. Republicans and Democrats have given lip service to the issue, but little has been done. Only 5% of the Obama stimulus bill went toward infrastructure, despite being sold as an infrastructure bill.
Already, Uncle Sam has generously offered to pick up the tab for nearly the whole $1.2 Billion, after other penny-wise/pound-foolish states refused the money. Powerful Republicans Ray Lahood and John Mica both support new rail projects and could steer even more federal funding toward Florida for rail projects. But SunRail offers Florida a unique opportunity to use a federal hand up and ultimately take charge of its own future. SunRail could spur new light rail projects, an expansion of Tri-rail, and an unimaginable matrix of new public transit connections. It is an investment, not a boondoggle.
Governor-elect Scott, I urge you to take a chance on Florida. Take a chance on high speed rail. Put infrastructure investments up near the top of Florida’s budget priorities in coming years. When products and people sail across our state, our economy will grow. Revenues will soar. Florida will be an increasingly attractive place for new people and businesses. Every Floridian will benefit if you do.
Become an insider today
Check us out on FACEBOOK
Florida would remain an uninhabitable swamp if Henry Flagler hadn’t spearheaded rail investment deep into the southernmost wilderness in the 1800s. Little rail progress has come to the Sunshine State since then, but times appear to be changing. Just last year, Governor Charlie Crist secured $1.25 billion in federal aid to move forward with so-called SunRail along the I-4 corridor from Tampa to Orlando. This high speed railway would, in theory, connect passengers with future light rail systems in Tampa and Orlando, bus routes and existing rail corridors. Florida would be open for business.
Governor-elect Rick Scott faces tough decisions, as the GOP supermajority legislature has voiced fierce opposition to rail projects in the face of tough budget cuts and potential cost overruns that could cost Florida taxpayers billions of dollars. Republicans insist that rail is an unaffordable scheme, but have also mentioned they would support rail along with reassurances that Floridians would not foot the bill. The federal government, some suggest, should pick up the tag.
What shortsighted nonsense.
Of course, Florida families could hardly afford higher taxes on top of mounting insurance and millage taxes, higher utility bills, a weak economy and high unemployment. And of course, budget balancers in Tallahassee must wisely prioritize our spending outlays to items which benefit our economy most. Rail is precisely such a crucial investment and deserves the support of taxpayers.
Infrastructure is, without a doubt, the purview and responsibility of government. Unlike health care decisions or what kind of light bulbs to buy, infrastructure should be built and managed by government. Infrastructure is a public good for the benefit of all. It should not be privatized. Suffice to say you don’t want Frito-Lay paving I-95 with potato asphalt or NASCAR setting speed limits. Get the picture?
Eisenhower’s great interstate highway system has allowed our cities to expand, our neighborhoods to flourish, and our economy to grow for decades. But as highways have filled in the American landscape, we’ve kicked the can down the road instead of investing in alternate transportation methods. Our interstates can hardly handle current gridlock from automobiles and trucks. Urban sprawl and higher traffic keep American workers and products on the road longer. Cars sit idle across crumbling bridges or straddled over potholes.
New rail corridors would speed workers and products through our economy.
Of course, America needs more than just high speed rail. We need new and expanded subways. We need tunnels and bridges, bike lanes and pedestrian trails. We need an all of the above approach to fill America’s vast transportation needs. America must lead in infrastructure.
Though Asia and Europe have been heavily invested in rail projects for decades, America has quite a bit of catching up to do. As mandatory spending (entitlements) has eaten up a growing portion of our federal and state budgets, America continues to spend as little as 1% of GDP on the arteries of our economy. An infinitesimal portion of that goes into rail construction and maintenance. Republicans and Democrats have given lip service to the issue, but little has been done. Only 5% of the Obama stimulus bill went toward infrastructure, despite being sold as an infrastructure bill.
Already, Uncle Sam has generously offered to pick up the tab for nearly the whole $1.2 Billion, after other penny-wise/pound-foolish states refused the money. Powerful Republicans Ray Lahood and John Mica both support new rail projects and could steer even more federal funding toward Florida for rail projects. But SunRail offers Florida a unique opportunity to use a federal hand up and ultimately take charge of its own future. SunRail could spur new light rail projects, an expansion of Tri-rail, and an unimaginable matrix of new public transit connections. It is an investment, not a boondoggle.
Governor-elect Scott, I urge you to take a chance on Florida. Take a chance on high speed rail. Put infrastructure investments up near the top of Florida’s budget priorities in coming years. When products and people sail across our state, our economy will grow. Revenues will soar. Florida will be an increasingly attractive place for new people and businesses. Every Floridian will benefit if you do.
Become an insider today
Check us out on FACEBOOK
Posted by Nick Stone
on 9:55 AM.
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