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Jackie Colson-Miller

Jackie Colson-Miller
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'High Speed Rail'

        

We Need a “NO” Vote on High Speed/Light Rail in Florida…The “Lobbying” has Begun!

Filed under: High Speed Rail, Light Rail, Moving to Tampa, Real Estate News

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Unless you have been living under a rock, you are aware of the “massive” push for “high speed rail” in Florida, specifically in the Tampa to Orlando corridor.  While many politicians are pushing hard for, or against, the rail issue, and some are taking a “wait and see” approach, it was the email message that I received yesterday….”lobbying” for high speed rail on the part of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors and instructing its’ members how to send a message to the President, in order to secure funding for the rail project, that “derailed” me today.  Why would GTAR be lobbying for a project that would create more taxes initially, and, ultimately create long-term subsidization of the rail system, at the expense of taxpayers??? The Tri-Rail system in southeast Florida cannot sustain itself with ridership monies. Some estimate a $2.00 fare on Tri-Rail is subsidized with $98.00 in government subsidies ( translation: taxpayer expense).

I have yet to see a “feasibility” study which outlines the demographics of the “ridership” on such a proposed rail system, or the cost effectiveness of such a venture. Ironically, in private industry, you would not start a venture without such a study. And, you certainly would not build something, that, ultimately could not pay for itself. The government, however, seems to be of the “build it and they will use it” mindset. Visions of the now defunct Harbour Island monorail come to mind right now! Right now, it’s all in the hands of the Florida Legislature, not the Florida Voters. While they cite the creation of jobs in the short-term, they fail to cite the creation of the “taxpayer subsidy” of the Rail Project, which cannot possibly pay for itself.

While proponents cite other cities, across the US, with rail systems(high speed and light rail), what all of those comparisons fail to take into account is the Florida weather. This isn’t Boston, Chicago, Seattle or Washington DC. Florida is HOT and HUMID for much of the year.  What commuter is going to sit at a rail station in the 90 degree heat? I’d like to see those polls.  

From my perspective, this high speed system  is about moving tourists around the state. Great…let Disney, Sea World, Universal Studios, et al, pick up that tab…not the Florida taxpayer.

Also on the drawing board, is a “light rail” proposal for Hillsborough County, which is separate from the High Speed Rail proposal. However, high speed rail NEEDS light rail to get the “tourists” beyond the “high speed station” once they reach their destination.  The County Commissioners voted to place an amendment on the ballot for a 1 cent sales tax to fund the light rail system. Well, at least the taxpayers get to vote on SOMETHING.  It seems to me, before any light rail should be considered, the county should increase the routes on Hartline and embark on SEVERAL feasibility studies with workers who travel into downtown from the suburbs, and those frequent travelers to Tampa International to determine actual USE for the system. How many commuters will actually brave the heat and humidity to use a rail system? Of course, the system should support itself economically. That seems to be the part of the equation that eludes state and local elected officials. A recent article in the St. Pete Times discussed the light rail system that runs between Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, Arizona.  The majority of the riders: tourists and “bar-hoppers”.  I wonder if that demographic group was part of  THEIR feasibility study?

All in all, I resent the lobbyists. I do not contribute to the lobbying efforts for the National Association of Realtors,  The Florida Association of Realtors, or the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors. Not one dime.  Just wait…the “skewed” commercials to twist the facts and misrepresent the cost to the Florida taxpayers will be streaming across the airwaves soon enough.

This is akin to the “lobbying” effort for the Property Tax amendment of two years ago. Remember? Governor Crist assured us that property taxes in Florida would “drop like a rock”. He was wrong. The President of the Florida Association of Realtors was “lobbying” for me to be quiet on my “opposition” to that issue. I refused to be silenced...not then, not now.

Get the facts. Watch the how your elected representatives vote…on High Speed Rail… on Light Rail…on every issue.  If they don’t represent the “facts” and they don’t represent YOU…let them know, or run to the ballot box!

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Posted by Jackie Colson-Miller   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   01.12.2010