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N Howard
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Sounds like a great idea. Linking central Florida with rail commuter service. What could be better to aleviate traffic congestion? If this plan works, rail connections could link the entire state. This would be a way around high fuel costs.
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FloridaLives
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The protest is not over commuter rail but turning polk county into an industrial commercial center without their permission. Lousy politics.
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Dave
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Trains are better than semi-trucks and cars. Our reliances upon cars is what is crushing our economy right now. We should be doing whatever possible to enable less expensive and more environmentally friendly transportation. Gas prices are going to continue to rise. The people picketing in Lakeland now had best think about the needs of their children and grandchildren to travel instead of their misguided sensibilities.
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Tink
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What was the general consensus of i-4 when it was put through Lakeland? Lakeland is not a small town anymore. They should look ahead to see the benefits of this for the future.
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WTF
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200 the Movie!
"Trying to stop Light Rail? This is madness!"
"Madness? THIS... IS... LAKELAND!!!"
(cue music)
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tommy
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Every time this idea moves forward, someone throws down another challenge. I'm amazed it hasn't been derailed already (pun intended).
No way this thing gets done. Central Florida isn't ready to come out of the sticks just yet.
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Commuter Rail Failures
AOL
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N Howard wrote: Sounds like a great idea. Linking central Florida with rail commuter service. What could be better to aleviate traffic congestion? If this plan works, rail connections could link the entire state. This would be a way around high fuel costs. The only problem with this rosey "great idea" is that it does not move people or get people out of their cars. FDOT studies show that by 2028 - yes, that's 2028 - only 7,000 people per day may - yes that's may - use commuter rail along this 61 mile track. At a cost of over $2 billion you could give everyone a helicopter to fly to work! The studies also show: INCREASED air pollution INCREASED noise pollution INCREASED congestion INCREASED fatalities INCREASED taxes Sure, it's a wonderful plan! A 150 year old choo-choo train "technology" with a new millinium price tag. It's an attempt to pay off the special interests with our tax dollars - that's the only "movement" you'll see with this bad boy.
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boggy69
AOL
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My sister lives in Kearney, Nebraska. There are 132 trains a day going thru town. They are not a problem and she said now if she doesn't hear the whistle, everyone wonders what is wrong. We need more commuter trains and interstate passenger trains in this state. Florida is 20 years behind other states. Lakeland is doing this backwards again!
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Lawless in Tallahassee
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N Howard wrote: Sounds like a great idea. Linking central Florida with rail commuter service. What could be better to aleviate traffic congestion? If this plan works, rail connections could link the entire state. This would be a way around high fuel costs. I agree in theory but this "train" doesn't stop at the Orlando International Airport or ANY of the major theme parks. Too costly for too little! Would you take a train from Deland to DeBary traveling 45 mph? How many people does that entail?
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boggy69
AOL
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Mr. Howard,
You has better look at ridership in Minneapolis and other parts of the country. Your figures will not stand up. You sir are 20 years behind the times. Minneapolis is building light rail and commuter rail as fast as possible. Ridership is thru the roof! Don't take my word for it. Check the ridership numbers.
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boggy69
AOL
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Each helicopter now costs 1 billion dollars.
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Troof
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Why do you Lakeland hicks hate commerce and progress?
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CommuterBob
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Commuter Rail Failures wrote: <quoted text>
The only problem with this rosey "great idea" is that it does not move people or get people out of their cars. FDOT studies show that by 2028 - yes, that's 2028 - only 7,000 people per day may - yes that's may - use commuter rail along this 61 mile track.
At a cost of over $2 billion you could give everyone a helicopter to fly to work!
The studies also show:
INCREASED air pollution
INCREASED noise pollution
INCREASED congestion
INCREASED fatalities
INCREASED taxes
Sure, it's a wonderful plan!
A 150 year old choo-choo train "technology" with a new millinium price tag.
It's an attempt to pay off the special interests with our tax dollars - that's the only "movement" you'll see with this bad boy. Where in the world are you getting your numbers??? What special interests are getting paid? LYMMO in downtown Orlando was projected at 4,000 riders per day AFTER 5 YEARS! And it OPENED with almost 7,000 per day and sees almost 10,000 per day now. Don't you think that by at least providing an alternative to driving (especially with gas prices going nowhere but up) that people will use it? The arguement that this money can be used elsewhere is also invalid because if this project doesn't go through, the Federal money (which is over half of the price tag) WILL NOT GO TO FLORIDA AT ALL!!!! The state money will not go to Central Florida, either. It's 4 trains a day!! WITH MORE OVERPASSES! Get over yourself!
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Redogg
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Commuter Rail Failures wrote: <quoted text>
The only problem with this rosey "great idea" is that it does not move people or get people out of their cars. FDOT studies show that by 2028 - yes, that's 2028 - only 7,000 people per day may - yes that's may - use commuter rail along this 61 mile track.
At a cost of over $2 billion you could give everyone a helicopter to fly to work!
The studies also show:
INCREASED air pollution
INCREASED noise pollution
INCREASED congestion
INCREASED fatalities
INCREASED taxes
Sure, it's a wonderful plan!
A 150 year old choo-choo train "technology" with a new millinium price tag.
It's an attempt to pay off the special interests with our tax dollars - that's the only "movement" you'll see with this bad boy. The tree-hugging liberals don't care about the actual ridership numbers. And the greedy conservatives are just out to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to their friends at CSX (with a little kickback). It's all politics for a worthless commuter rail system that you can ride to the metropolis of Deland.
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Pooh-Bah
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When will I be taking a choo-choo train from Deland to Disney when I live in East Orlando? LiteRail resolves nothing.
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Informed
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Pooh-Bah wrote: When will I be taking a choo-choo train from Deland to Disney when I live in East Orlando? LiteRail resolves nothing. Which is why no one is offering it.
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Cannot Fathom
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So, Lakeland wants to kill Orlando commuter rail because it will add four trains per day through the city? FOUR TRAINS? I've lived in and driven in Orlando for 34 years. I've been stopped hundreds of times for trains, even the really long trains. It costs me maybe five or six minutes. And, I certainly don't hit every train every day. So, if I have this right, Lakeland want to kill OUR light rail because it might cause them five or six minutes of inconvenience a day? Give me a break!
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Bert
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Just a bunch of NIMBYS.
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Rail Thinker
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OK, let's get the facts straight:
1. Lakeland will not be effected by the proposed commuter trains in this plan.
2. CSX wants an overhaul of their freight route in the center of the state which runs from Jacksonville (Baldwin) to a new proposed yard south of Winter Haven. The route is via Ocala, Dade City, Plant City, Lakeland and Auburndale.
3. A better plan would be for the state to buy the former Seaboard (S Line) right of way from Coleman to Auburndale and replace the rails on it. This route misses all of the cities mentioned above and is 32 miles shorter.
4. Regarding the lady's quoted facts: she is wrong on two counts. A: Freight trains are usually 1, not 2 miles long. and B. freight trains pass through most locations in no more than 4 minutes. She needs to stop making up nebulous facts.
5. If the old route (S Line) is resurected, the line from Orlando to Tampa via Kissimmee, Poinciana, Haines City, Auburndale, Lakeland and Plant City could be used for regional passenger rail which would be highly beneficial and actually take a lot of drivers off the road. By connecting with the planned Orlando commuter service a true central Florida passenger rail service could be built because the freight would largely be on the other line.
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DarthMC
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I all actuallity the state would fair much better looking at Amtrak to serve as the commuter rail provider. At this point the state is buying track, paying for all liability and will probably end up contracting with Amtrak to provide this service anyway. Cut the middle man, go straight to Amtrak and save everyone a bundle, all while providing commuter at an affordable price and still have funds to provide a decent education for our childern!
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