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'''Florida High Speed Rail''' is a planned [[High-speed rail in the United States|high-speed rail]] network in the [[United States|U.S.]] state of [[Florida]]. Initial service will run between the cities of [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] and [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], with plans to then extend service to [[South Florida metropolitan area|South Florida]], terminating in [[Miami, Florida|Miami]]. Trains with a top speed of {{convert|168|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} to {{convert|186|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} would run on dedicated rail lines alongside the state's existing highway network. As of 2009, the project is headed by the Florida Rail Enterprise (formerly the Florida High Speed Rail Authority), an agency under the authority of the [[Florida Department of Transportation]] (FDOT). On January 28, 2010, [[Barack Obama|President Obama]] announced $1.25B in funds to construct the Tampa-to-Orlando route of this project.<ref>[http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1450689.html "", by Beth Reinhard, January 28, 2010, [[Miami Herald]]]</ref> Construction of the line is slated to begin in 2011, with the initial Tampa-Orlando phase completed by 2014.<ref name="TBO Payment"/>
'''Florida High Speed Rail''' is a planned [[High-speed rail in the United States|high-speed rail]] network in the [[United States|U.S.]] state of [[Florida]]. Initial service will run between the cities of [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] and [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], with plans to then extend service to [[South Florida metropolitan area|South Florida]], terminating in [[Miami, Florida|Miami]]. Trains with a top speed of {{convert|168|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} to {{convert|186|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} would run on dedicated rail lines alongside the state's existing highway network. As of 2009, the project is headed by the Florida Rail Enterprise (formerly the Florida High Speed Rail Authority), an agency under the authority of the [[Florida Department of Transportation]] (FDOT). On January 28, 2010, [[Barack Obama|President Obama]] announced $1.25B in funds to construct the Tampa-to-Orlando route of this project.<ref>[http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1450689.html "", by Beth Reinhard, January 28, 2010, [[Miami Herald]]]</ref> Construction of the line is slated to begin in 2011, with the initial Tampa-Orlando phase completed by 2014.<ref name="TBO Payment"/>
⚫
On October 25, 2010 Senator Nelson office issued a statement in which Florida will recieve another $800 million of Federal Funding leaving Florida to find another $300 million of funding to complete the total projected cost of the project at $2.6 Billion. Also the US DOT is requesting from congress another $8 million in Federal Funding in the form of grant to Florida DOT for the study in the Orlando to Miami Phase of the HSR Project.


==Planning==
==Planning==
Line 63: Line 62:


On January 28, 2010, the White House announced that Florida would receive $1.25 Billion of its request, about half of the cost of the Tampa-Orlando segment.<ref name="White House Fact Sheet"/> The state's efforts towards high speed rail between 2000 and 2005 put Florida ahead of the field in terms of the level of planning already completed, and this proved to be a major factor in winning the funds.<ref name="TBO Payment"/> The preservation of the I-4 corridor by the FDOT, and completion of the environmental impact studies in 2005 meant that the project could proceed to construction in a very short time frame for a relatively affordable cost. As of March 2010 the Florida Rail Enterprise was seeking to refine cost estimates based on advanced engineering, finish development of possible Early Works (Install permanent barrier systems along most of I-4 and remove/relocate elements in median) and contract for bid this year and finally initiate a new bid procurement process specific to the Tampa to Orlando phase.<ref name="Lakeland Brief Mar 2010"/> Construction of the line is slated to begin in 2011, with the initial phase completed by 2014.<ref name="TBO Payment"/> In June, 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration issued its record of final decision, the final stage of approval for the design, purchase of land and construction of phase one. Tendering is thus able to begin.<ref>http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/pointers-june-2010.html</ref>
On January 28, 2010, the White House announced that Florida would receive $1.25 Billion of its request, about half of the cost of the Tampa-Orlando segment.<ref name="White House Fact Sheet"/> The state's efforts towards high speed rail between 2000 and 2005 put Florida ahead of the field in terms of the level of planning already completed, and this proved to be a major factor in winning the funds.<ref name="TBO Payment"/> The preservation of the I-4 corridor by the FDOT, and completion of the environmental impact studies in 2005 meant that the project could proceed to construction in a very short time frame for a relatively affordable cost. As of March 2010 the Florida Rail Enterprise was seeking to refine cost estimates based on advanced engineering, finish development of possible Early Works (Install permanent barrier systems along most of I-4 and remove/relocate elements in median) and contract for bid this year and finally initiate a new bid procurement process specific to the Tampa to Orlando phase.<ref name="Lakeland Brief Mar 2010"/> Construction of the line is slated to begin in 2011, with the initial phase completed by 2014.<ref name="TBO Payment"/> In June, 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration issued its record of final decision, the final stage of approval for the design, purchase of land and construction of phase one. Tendering is thus able to begin.<ref>http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/pointers-june-2010.html</ref>

⚫
On October 25, 2010 Senator Nelson office issued a statement in which Florida will recieve another $800 million of Federal Funding leaving Florida to find another $300 million of funding to complete the total projected cost of the project at $2.6 Billion. Also the US DOT is requesting from congress another $8 million in Federal Funding in the form of grant to Florida DOT for the study in the Orlando to Miami Phase of the HSR Project.


== Construction ==
== Construction ==

Revision as of 16:28, 26 October 2010

Florida High Speed Rail
Federal Railroad Administration map of the
Florida High Speed Corridor
Overview
StatusPlanned
OwnerFlorida Rail Enterprise (FDOT)
Locale Florida
Termini
StationsPhase 1: 5
Phase 2: TBD
Websitefloridahighspeedrail.org
Service
TypeHigh-Speed Rail (HSR)
Ridership2 million yearly (Projection)[1]
History
Opened2014 (Projected)[2]
Technical
Line length84 mi (135 km) - Tampa-Orlando
240 mi (390 km) - Orlando-Miami
324 mi (521 km) - Total (Proposed)[3]
Operating speed168 mph (270 km/h) Tampa-Orlando
186 mph (299 km/h) Orlando-Miami

Florida High Speed Rail is a planned high-speed rail network in the U.S. state of Florida. Initial service will run between the cities of Tampa and Orlando, with plans to then extend service to South Florida, terminating in Miami. Trains with a top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h) to 186 mph (299 km/h) would run on dedicated rail lines alongside the state's existing highway network. As of 2009, the project is headed by the Florida Rail Enterprise (formerly the Florida High Speed Rail Authority), an agency under the authority of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). On January 28, 2010, President Obama announced $1.25B in funds to construct the Tampa-to-Orlando route of this project.[4] Construction of the line is slated to begin in 2011, with the initial Tampa-Orlando phase completed by 2014.[2]

Planning

Original referendum

In November 2000, Florida voters approved an amendment to Florida's constitution mandating the state establish a system of high speed trains exceeding 120 mph to link its five largest urban areas, with construction to commence by November 1, 2003. The Florida Legislature enacted the Florida High Speed Rail Authority Act in March 2001, creating the Florida High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA).[5] The HSRA established a Vision Plan for the system which proposed construction in several phases.[6] Preliminary assessments and environmental studies were begun to develop an initial phase of the system between Orlando and Tampa.[5]

The first phase, planned for completion in 2009 under the original referendum, would have connected Orlando to Tampa (Phase 1, Part 1), with a later extension to St. Petersburg (Phase 1, Part 2).[7] Later phases might have extended the network to Miami, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Pensacola.

The Florida HSRA issued a Request for Proposal to Design, Build, Operate, Maintain and Finance (DBOM&F) the Orlando to Tampa Phase In October 2002. Two of the four received in February 2003 were reviewed further, one from a consortium of Fluor Corp. and Bombardier Transportation and one from Global Rail Consortium. The proposals showed cost of the Orlando-Tampa route to be approximately $2.4 billion. Both proposals offered private equity contributions to support operations of the system and show willingness of the private sector to share risk associated with projected ridership revenues.[5] In June 2003 Florida Governor Jeb Bush vetoed funding for the project that the Florida Legislature had approved.[8] The HSRA continued moving forward with the project, using funds already authorized by the federal government, and in October 2003 ranked the Fluor Bombardier proposal first.[5]

In early 2004, Governor Jeb Bush endorsed an effort to repeal the 2000 amendment that mandated the construction of the High Speed Rail System. On October 27, 2004, the authority voted to prefer the consortium of Fluor Corp. and Bombardier Transportation to build and operate the system, using Bombardier's JetTrain technology. However a month later in November, Florida voters repealed the 2000 amendment, removing the constitutional mandate for the system. Although the amendment was repealed, no action was taken by the state legislature in regard to the Florida High Speed Rail Authority Act. With the law still in effect, Florida's HSRA continued to meet, and completed the environmental impact statement for the Tampa-Orlando segment in 2005. With the constitutional mandate gone, however, funding for the project came to a halt and very little action was taken over the next several years.[5]

Plans revived in 2009

Passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 designated $8 billion for the development of a high-speed intercity passenger rail system. The Federal Railroad Administration named Florida one of ten high speed rail corridors potentially eligible for the federal funding.[9] The HSRA met on February 26, 2009 to being planning their application for these funds.[10] Due to the passage of time, potential legal issues, and new federal funding criteria rendering the earlier bids from 2003 inapplicable, the decision was made in May 2009 that a new bidding process would be necessary.[11][12] A first round application was summited in August 2009 for $30 Million to conduct a two year environmental study on the Orlando-Miami route. In October 2009, the authority summited an application during the second round for the entire Tampa - Orlando - Miami corridor, broken into two components: Orlando-Tampa and Orlando-Miami.[13] Connect Us, a political action committee, was launched on August 18, 2009 to rally public support for these applications.[14]

A typical High Speed Rail cross section in I-4. Note the safety barriers between the tracks and road traffic.

On December 16, the Florida Legislature passed a bill authorizing FDOT move forward with the purchase from CSX of the Central Florida Rail Corridor for the SunRail commuter rail project, and providing much needed additional funding for South Florida's Tri-Rail commuter rail system.[15] Funding of these initiatives was vital to the state's hopes to win federal HSR funding, as it showed the state of Florida was committed to creating a comprehensive rail network allowing connectivity between high speed rail and local mass transit systems.[16] The legislation also replaced the Florida High Speed Rail Authority with the Florida Rail Enterprise, a new agency created under the FDOT, responsible for construction, maintenance, and promotion of the state's high-speed rail system, as well as development and operation of publicly funded passenger rail systems in general.[17]

On January 28, 2010, the White House announced that Florida would receive $1.25 Billion of its request, about half of the cost of the Tampa-Orlando segment.[3] The state's efforts towards high speed rail between 2000 and 2005 put Florida ahead of the field in terms of the level of planning already completed, and this proved to be a major factor in winning the funds.[2] The preservation of the I-4 corridor by the FDOT, and completion of the environmental impact studies in 2005 meant that the project could proceed to construction in a very short time frame for a relatively affordable cost. As of March 2010 the Florida Rail Enterprise was seeking to refine cost estimates based on advanced engineering, finish development of possible Early Works (Install permanent barrier systems along most of I-4 and remove/relocate elements in median) and contract for bid this year and finally initiate a new bid procurement process specific to the Tampa to Orlando phase.[1] Construction of the line is slated to begin in 2011, with the initial phase completed by 2014.[2] In June, 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration issued its record of final decision, the final stage of approval for the design, purchase of land and construction of phase one. Tendering is thus able to begin.[18]

On October 25, 2010 Senator Nelson office issued a statement in which Florida will recieve another $800 million of Federal Funding leaving Florida to find another $300 million of funding to complete the total projected cost of the project at $2.6 Billion. Also the US DOT is requesting from congress another $8 million in Federal Funding in the form of grant to Florida DOT for the study in the Orlando to Miami Phase of the HSR Project.

Construction

Worker taking soil samples in the median of Interstate-4.

In July 2010, the Florida Department of Transportation began geotechnical sampling along the Orlando-Tampa corridor.[19] The soil will be tested every 200 feet (61 m) along the route to check soil conditions and allow proper foundation planning.[20]

Phase 1: Tampa to Orlando route

Planned Orlando -Tampa Route
Legend
 Orlando International Airport
Orlando Utilities Commission Spur
CSX Transportation "A" Line (Future SunRail)
Florida's Turnpike
SR 528
 Orange County Convention Center
SR 528
Interstate 4 (Eastbound)
Walt Disney World
Lakeland
Interstate 75
Interstate 4 (Eastbound)
 Tampa
Florida Rail Enterprise map of the Orlando Tampa route"
Florida Rail Enterprise map of the Orlando Tampa route"

In early planning stages, all routes but the one along the median of Interstate 4 (which has been and is being widened by several road construction projects) were dropped from consideration; alternates used the CSX tracks to the south of I-4. Stations would be provided at downtown Tampa, northern Lakeland, Walt Disney World, possibly at the Orange County Convention Center (see below), and at Orlando International Airport.

Orlando area route selection

Two routes were considered in the Orlando area. One would have split from I-4 at the interchange with SR 536, World Center Drive, and run east along SR 536 and SR 417, the Central Florida GreeneWay, to the south entrance to Orlando International Airport, from which it would head north to end at the planned South Terminal. The other route would continue along I-4 to SR 528, the Beachline Expressway, with an extra stop at the Orange County Convention Center and International Drive, and then run east along SR 528 and a new right-of-way east and southeast to the south entrance of the airport.

The Walt Disney Company initially announced that if the SR 417 route was built, they would direct tourists to take the train from the airport to Walt Disney World. They would keep busing tourists if the SR 528 route was built. The SR 417 route was initially selected by a 7-1 vote on October 27, 2004. However in November 2004 the Florida High Speed Rail Authority dropped the SR 417 from consideration and selected the SR 528 route due to a lack satisfactory progress on the agreements with The Walt Disney World Company and Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority.[5]

Journey times

A train would be capable of reaching speeds of "168 miles per hour (270 km/h)"[21] but due to the number of proposed stations, a "bullet train would beat a car by only 30 minutes."[22] Proposed journey times for some routes[23]

Route Distance Current Avg. Travel Time
(2000 Uncongested)		 Current Avg. Travel Time
(2000 Congested)		 Proposed Avg. Travel Time
High Speed Rail
Convention Center – Orlando Airport 11 Miles 16 minutes 21 minutes 11 minutes
Disney – Orlando Airport 19 Miles 25 minutes 34 minutes 21 minutes
Downtown Tampa – Orlando Airport 84 Miles 1 hours 22 minutes 1 hour 31 minutes 1 hour 4 minutes
Lakeland – Downtown Tampa 31 Miles 39 minutes 40 minutes 22 minutes

Orlando International Airport

The Orlando International Airport is planned to be the Orlando terminus of the initial Orlando-Tampa route. The airport has already invested considerably to accommodate the station, such as the extra length of the taxiway bridge over the southern access road. This station will provide access for the 35 million passengers of the airport and to Orlando's LYNX local bus service.[24][25]

Orange County Convention Center

The Orange County Convention Center is the second largest in the United States, located on International Drive, a major tourist strip connecting SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort. The planned intermodal station here will also provide access to Orlando's LYNX local bus service, and to International Drive's I-Ride trolley.

Disney World

Walt Disney World will be donating a site for the station, the exact location is to be determined. The station will link into the extensive Disney Transport bus system.[1]

Lakeland

Two locations are under consideration for a station near Lakeland, Florida. The top choice is near USF Polytechnic followed by a location near Kathleen Road.[1]

Tampa

A site in downtown Tampa is being cleared for an multi-modal station at the teminus of the route.[1] The station is next to the Marion Transit Center, the main hub of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit system. A connection to Tampa International Airport is being considered[citation needed]

Phase 2: Orlando to Miami route

Proposed Orlando -Miami Routes
Legend
 Both options that were under consideration are shown.[26]
Orlando International Airport
Phase 1 Route to Tampa
Florida's Turnpike Option / Interstate 95 Option
Melbourne (Interstate 95 Option Only)
Both options run side by side here to Miami
Fort Pierce
West Palm Beach
Fort Lauderdale
MiamiCentral
Florida Rail Enterprise map of the Orlando Miami route
Florida Rail Enterprise map of the Orlando Miami route

The second phase of the project will be an Orlando-Miami link. As of the Regional Rail Briefing in Lakeland, Florida on March 24, 2010, two routes are under consideration. One route follows SR 528 past the Orlando International Airport toward Cape Canaveral, before joining and following Interstate 95 down to Miami. The other route would travel south along Florida's Turnpike to Miami.[1] The environmental impact study for the corridor is scheduled to begin in 2010 and will take approximately two years to complete.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL UPDATE:Regional Rail Briefing March 24, 2010, Lakeland" (PDF). Florida Department of Transportation. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Jackovics, Ted. January 28, 2010, "Obama calls high speed rail funding a 'down payment'". The Tampa Tribune (TBO.com).. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Fact Sheet: High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program: Tampa - Orlando - Miami". The White House: Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  4. ^ "", by Beth Reinhard, January 28, 2010, Miami Herald
  5. ^ a b c d e f http://www.floridabullettrain.org/fhsra/1_overview.html
  6. ^ "Rail Corridors". Florda High Speed Rail. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  7. ^ http://www.floridabullettrain.org/fhsra/2c_phases.html
  8. ^ http://www.siteselection.com/ssinsider/snapshot/sf041108.htm
  9. ^ http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/Stimulus_Application.html
  10. ^ http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/uploads/Auth_Mtg_Minutes_02-26-09.pdf
  11. ^ http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2009/05/high-speed-rail-commission-in-the-lead.html
  12. ^ http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/uploads/Auth_Mtg_Minutes_05-14-09.pdf
  13. ^ http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/uploads/FHSR_INDUSTRY_FORUM_PRESENTATION.pdf
  14. ^ http://www.fastrailconnectus.com/cms.php?action=Endorsements
  15. ^ http://www.sunrail.com/newsevents.asp?type=releases&id=21#Article
  16. ^ http://www.sunrail.com/newsevents.asp?type=news&id=93
  17. ^ http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/uploads/HB_1B.pdf
  18. ^ http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/pointers-june-2010.html
  19. ^ http://www.theledger.com/article/20100720/NEWS/7205036/1338
  20. ^ http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=137356&catid=250
  21. ^ Is the U.S. turning a corner on high-speed rail?
  22. ^ High-Speed Rail Loses Steam in Ohio
  23. ^ http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/uploads/Ridership_Study_-_all_reports_2002.pdf
  24. ^ http://floridahighspeedrail.org/uploads/FHSR_INDUSTRY_FORUM_PRESENTATION.pdf
  25. ^ ACI passenger figures in 2007
  26. ^ "FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL UPDATE:Regional Rail Briefing March 24, 2010, Lakeland" (PDF). Florida Department of Transportation. March 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  27. ^ http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/Environmental_Studies.html

External links

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