Orlando-area commuter rail will require some bargaining

Now is the time to contact your eleced state spenders and let them know this is not the time for CFL Rail.

OUR state has many more critical issues and cannot afford to waste OUR tax dollars on Congressman Mica's CSX Pork project. We need to address the excessive toll roads - payoff bonds and we need to expand bus transit before we waste tax dollars on an ineffective commuter rail system that funds free tracks for CSX while our transportation system declines even more.

Contact Tallahassee now - here is how..........

Florida Senate
http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm...

Florida House
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/

Governor's Office
http://www.flgov.com/contact_governor

More fertilizer through the center of Lakeland? HOW COULD ANYBODY TELL???

I think before we go ahead with a deal that will so greatly benefit the CSX rail company, we need to force them to fix the rail crossings that have been is extreme disrepair for many years.
A perfect example of a crossing site that has needed repair for many years is the one on Oakridge Road, just west of Orange Avenue.
I have called and written letters to CSX asking that they fix the crossing, so cars can pass without damaging their suspension, and was told that CSX has a schedule to repair crossings and they will eventually get to the Oakridge Road site, but they wouldn't give me a date.
CSX should fix some of the little problems that plague the road commuters daily, before "we" purchase their dilapidated, dangerous railway.

Now is the time to contact your legislators -- and tell them to SUPPORT commuter rail.

Commuter rail is step 1 to turning around Central Florida. Hate high gas prices? Annoyed by congestion? Concerned about sprawl and climate change? Commuter rail is a vital and necessary step to fight them.

There could be a "perfect storm" of complaints around the state, which could kill commuter rail -- again. Don't let that happen! Tell your legislators to work out the issues and MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Contact Tallahassee now and tell them your tired of being stuck in I-4 gridlock. Tell them Yes to Commuter rail!
Florida Senate
http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm ...

Florida House
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/

Governor's Office
http://www.flgov.com/contact_governor

So the Representative from Lakeland wants to derail the Commuter Rail project in Orlando, but down the road would be interested in talking about rail projects that benefits Lakeland and Tampa!

You can bet that if the Florida Legislature blocks the Commuter Rail project in Orlando, and thus forfeits the $300 million in federal money allocated for the project, it will be decades before any place in Florida gets another chance to reduce their road congestion through a rail project that receives federal money.

Our legislature needs to stop petty bickering and do what is best for the citizens of Florida. Having alternatives to traffic congestion is very important and needed in all communities.

I am sorry that this project does not benefit the City of Lakeland directly, but having the CSX hub in Polk County will provide a tax benefit to Polk County at a time when generating tax revenue will be hugely important to all communities.

And, if Commuter Rail in Orlando has the kind of success many expect, then who is not to say that Lakeland won't eventually get Commuter Rail coming from both Orlando and Tampa.

However, if their Representative is so short sighted and derails the project, everyone (including her residents) will ultimately lose.

I would be in favor of commuter rail in central Florida if I believed that people would actually use it. Except for some systems in large centrally populated urban areas light rail has not been successful.
When people are asked if they want commuter rail, they say yes. When asked if they intend to use commuter rail, they say no. The feeling among these people is that they want other people to use the rail so that the interstates and local highways are less congested for them to use.

The people that will use light rail in the end are the same people currently using Linx. For a rail system to work in central Florida, we need to transform our society to a NY mentality. For some this may be easy, but for this native, its sick. How much money is Linx generating? How much is the subway system in NY? Are expanding either through our own neighborhoods really desireable? How will commuter rail running through my neighborhood affect my already diminishing property value? property taxes? How many 6 figure salary employees does it take in taxes to run a train? unions?

The only way you could possibly support light rail through central Florida is if you refuse to question the promoted results. If you've paid any attention to the work of our legislators over the years, you really should question promoted "goals" and perhaps even motives.

Greg wrote:

Contact Tallahassee now and tell them your tired of being stuck in I-4 gridlock. Tell them Yes to Commuter rail!
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Please beware of false promises (aka lies)about CFL Rail. CFL Rail will do NOTHING to relieve I-4 congestion. That is a fact! Removing the tolls from the 417 would. That is also a fact.

Be careful for what you wish for. CFL Rail means spending twice as much time commuting to and from work or being more annoyed with I-4 traffic because tax dollars were used on an ineffective rail system instead of real solutions. Also...if you have children, please check the schedule for CFL rail. If the school or day care calls you at work, you will have no way to get there except by cab or someone else's personal automobile. Please think about the full impact of rail. It is a loser for the commuters and taxpayers. CSX is the only winner. That is a fact.

Contact Tallahassee now and loudly say NO to CFL Rail and YES to full disclosure of all of the costs and limited benefits of rail. What is a better solution - Commuter rail or removing the 417 tolls and widening I-4? It is time to use taxpayer money wisely instead of wasting it on political pork projects.

Florida Senate
http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm ...
Florida House
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/
Governor's Office
http://www.flgov.com/contact_governor

Thank you!

Dad wrote:

I would be in favor of commuter rail in central Florida if I believed that people would actually use it. Except for some systems in large centrally populated urban areas light rail has not been successful.
When people are asked if they want commuter rail, they say yes. When asked if they intend to use commuter rail, they say no. The feeling among these people is that they want other people to use the rail so that the interstates and local highways are less congested for them to use.

You are absolutely right! Those that promote commuter rail or light rail the most will NEVER use it. They want everyone else to use it! It is a fact that mass Transit is only effective in very very high density communities and that is not CFL. Just look at what is happening the all of the condos in downtown Orlando!! Not to mention, the current CSX tracks don't go anywhere. The commuter will have to depend on Lynx (stop laughing), cabs or other personal automobiles to complete their trip.

Study the facts and get involved. Stop this $$$BILLION DOLLAR$$$ waste of tax dollars now. Call the Tallahassee gang and demand change. TELL THEM NO TO CFL COMMUTER RAIL AND NO TO TOLL ROADS!

Stop CFL Rail Failure wrote:

<quoted text>
Please beware of false promises (aka lies)about CFL Rail. CFL Rail will do NOTHING to relieve I-4 congestion. That is a fact! Removing the tolls from the 417 would. That is also a fact.

Adding tolls to I-4 would reduce congestion! And properly charge the people who use it!

Thank you!

It's amazing how cities and states outside of New York have little or no idea of how effective mass transit works. We have an extensive netweork of rail and subways which allows commuters to arrive relatively close to their destinations. Running one rail line through Orlando or even from Tampa to Orlando will only pick up ridership within a mile radius of the stations. Translated--relatively few riders compared to the overall population. You would gain apprximately the same mass transit advantage running a bus route.
I wonder if the citizens of Orlando would be nearly as enthusiastic about the CSX project if it had the same negative impact on downtown Orlando that it will have on downtown Lakeland? As for the gentleman's comment about Lakeland and fertilizer--I have been in both Orlando and Lakeland. The next time he's in Lakeland he should open his eyes and look past his nose. Perhaps the problem is that he forgot to use his personal deorodorant. Lakeland has a quaint, pristine downtown area.

Terryl wrote:

It's amazing how cities and states outside of New York have little or no idea of how effective mass transit works. We have an extensive netweork of rail and subways which allows commuters to arrive relatively close to their destinations. Running one rail line through Orlando or even from Tampa to Orlando will only pick up ridership within a mile radius of the stations. Translated--relatively few riders compared to the overall population. You would gain apprximately the same mass transit advantage running a bus route.
I wonder if the citizens of Orlando would be nearly as enthusiastic about the CSX project if it had the same negative impact on downtown Orlando that it will have on downtown Lakeland? As for the gentleman's comment about Lakeland and fertilizer--I have been in both Orlando and Lakeland. The next time he's in Lakeland he should open his eyes and look past his nose. Perhaps the problem is that he forgot to use his personal deorodorant. Lakeland has a quaint, pristine downtown area.

Thank you!

Only CSX benefits in this deal. One track that is at grade level that will block 60 intersections in Orange County alone while only serving a 1 mile radius is a waste of tax dollars and will have a negative impact on the current transportation system and our community.

Why is Congressman John Mica so eager to give CSX a free set of tracks? I thought Mica was a conservative? How can he support this reckless use of Federal tax dollars for CSX?

Voters/taxpayers should call Congressman Mica and remind him who he works for. He seems to have "lost his way". Maybe he isn't aware of all the other economic problems we face today??

BUS-HUB SYSTEM that is Door-to-Door.
Save $1.7 Billion with this flexible system.
Shuttle Buses pickup the citizens near their home, take them to a transfer point where they get on a bus that takes them close to their destination. Or they can transfer to a bus that will.

$44 million that was spent on analysists could have been spent on starting the Bus-Hub system after the defeat of Mobility 20/20.

Those who are for the Commuter Rail, are those who will probably benefit from the construction.

There is little construction for the Bus-Hub system. Just a "T" roof for weather protection with lights and restrooms and security system.

By December 2008, we could have Bus-Hub service in Sanford, Deland, Debary, and the RioGrande and Bruton areas.

Before we spend millions making a select few rich, I would like to see the basics in our county taken care of first. I am more concerned about crime and enforcement of our laws than I am about increasing our land development --which this is really about--people who want to develop land. Increasing transit will not relieve I-4, it will only lead to more development. I don't want light rail. I don't want an arena. I want safety!!!!