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Scott rejects high-speed rail project
florida independent ^ | 2/15/11

Posted on 02/16/2011 7:19:19 AM PST by SoFloFreeper

Gov. Rick Scott just announced that he has rejected federal money that would be used to build a high-speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando, saying the project would be “far too costly to taxpayers” and that he believes “the risk far outweighs the benefits.” More from his press release after the jump: #

Moments ago I spoke with u.s. transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to inform him of my decision. I appreciate the secretary’s efforts to work with us and I look forward to working with him in the future. #

My decision to reject the project comes down to three main economic realities: #

* First – capital cost overruns from the project could put Florida taxpayers on the hook for an additional $3 billion. * Second – ridership and revenue projections are historically overly-optimistic and would likely result in ongoing subsidies that state taxpayers would have to incur. (from $300 million – $575 million over 10 years) – Note: The state subsidizes Tri-Rail $34.6 million a year while passenger revenues covers only $10.4 million of the $64 million annual operating budget. * Finally – if the project becomes too costly for taxpayers and is shut down, the state would have to return the $2.4 billion in federal funds to D.C.

The truth is that this project would be far too costly to taxpayers and I believe the risk far outweighs the benefits. #

Historical data shows capital cost overruns are pervasive in 9 out of 10 high speed rail projects and that 2/3 of those projects inflated ridership projections by an average of 65 percent of actual patronage. #

It is projected that 3.07 million people will use the train annually. Keep in mind that Amtrak’s Acela train in Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore only had 3.2 million riders in 2010. And that market’s population is 8 times the size of the Tampa/Orlando market. #

President Obama’s high-speed rail program is not the answer to Florida’s economic recovery. #

We must make investments in areas where we will get a return for the shareholders – Florida’s taxpayers. #

The project has been a hot topic of debate since work began along the I-4 corridor. A coalition of politicians and business lobby groups recently formed in an effort to press Scott to accept the funds. The head of the powerful Associated Industries of Florida called the rail line a part of “America’s infrastructure bonanza” at a roundtable discussion earlier this month. #

Scott’s decision means the federal government will likely give the money earmarked for the project to another state. #


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: atlanticcoastline; beanpickeralert; federalism; fl; florida; goldentornados; highspeedrail; obama; rail; ridemtony; scott; seaboard; thisbuds4you; you2keith
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BADA BING!
1 posted on 02/16/2011 7:19:20 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: SoFloFreeper; Joe Brower

florida news!


2 posted on 02/16/2011 7:20:08 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: SoFloFreeper

Ruh roh.


3 posted on 02/16/2011 7:20:49 AM PST by twhitak
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To: SoFloFreeper

Already posted.


4 posted on 02/16/2011 7:24:39 AM PST by Reagan69 (I went to a shooting-victims' memorial service and all I got was a lousy T-shirt !)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Great news. Scott is serious about fixing Florida’s woes. screw obama and all his minions.


5 posted on 02/16/2011 7:24:46 AM PST by George from New England (Escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
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To: JulieRNR21; kinganamort; katherineisgreat; floriduh voter; summer; Goldwater Girl; windchime; ...

Florida Freeper


6 posted on 02/16/2011 7:25:40 AM PST by Joe Brower (Sheep have three speeds: "graze", "stampede" and "cower".)
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To: SoFloFreeper

So shines a good deed in a weary world.


7 posted on 02/16/2011 7:26:56 AM PST by Crawdad
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To: SoFloFreeper

You beat me to it, but forgot to add that Scott is cutting 300 state jobs at the DCA.


8 posted on 02/16/2011 7:27:30 AM PST by mission9 (It ain't bragging if you can do it.)
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To: SoFloFreeper
Oh f'cryin'outloud !!!

It's just plain stupid.

Stop this 'the cost vs. (whatever)'

It's a freakin' dumb idea.

9 posted on 02/16/2011 7:29:43 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true.)
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To: SoFloFreeper

That sound you hear is Willie Green’s bong hitting the wall.


10 posted on 02/16/2011 7:31:30 AM PST by Le Chien Rouge
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To: SoFloFreeper

Good for him!

The 0bama administration seems to have a proclivity for overstating results and understating costs. I’m glad Scott was able to see what was going on here before Floridians were stuck with the bill.

0’s “high speed rail” sounds like another Big Dig!


11 posted on 02/16/2011 7:32:00 AM PST by Joann37
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To: knarf

In other words, he gave “O” the middle finger. :-)


12 posted on 02/16/2011 7:32:09 AM PST by Kevin in California
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To: SoFloFreeper

Great Scott!!

following the lead of that other Great Scott....Walker of Wisconsin!


13 posted on 02/16/2011 7:36:29 AM PST by gnickgnack2 (QUESTION obama's AUTHORITY)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Great news. Bravo for Governor Scott for refusing to waste the tax payers’ money.


14 posted on 02/16/2011 7:36:36 AM PST by Amagi (Yo, Homeland Security: Stay stupid. Stay PC. Don't profile. Look for the bomb not the bomber.)
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To: SoFloFreeper
Now, to top all of that off ~ this would serve only to impress the "Sno Birds" who live there part of the year ~ but otherwise are all Canadian citizens.

Did you know that there are so many of them in the Orlando area that the post office almost grinds to a halt in the Summer when they return to their gold mines and oil wells in the Great White North?

15 posted on 02/16/2011 7:36:53 AM PST by muawiyah
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To: Joe Brower

.

Gator Bait!

Brahma bulls have 3 speeds:

Charge

Charge

Charge

.


16 posted on 02/16/2011 7:37:29 AM PST by devolve (. . . . . . . . . . . . "- we*ll bring a gun!" . . "Fill your hand you skinny son of a bitch! . . .)
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To: SoFloFreeper

17 posted on 02/16/2011 7:38:07 AM PST by Leisler (Our debts are someone's profit. Follow the money, the vig.....)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Wow, seems like every week he comes out with something that impresses me.

Very very glad I did not fall for the rhetoric, and voted for Scott in the primary. He’s living up to his words.


18 posted on 02/16/2011 7:39:28 AM PST by JenB
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To: Le Chien Rouge; Willie Green

Willie still wants massive infrastructure ‘investment’ in city to city bike paths. As in like China. Or India. Very fuel efficient. And Michael Obama approved healthy too!


19 posted on 02/16/2011 7:41:06 AM PST by Leisler (Our debts are someone's profit. Follow the money, the vig.....)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Excellent move!

There are at least a few governors who get the message and understand the seriousness of our financial condition.

Now congress needs to pass a law that any rail system built in any state as part of this Obama financial boondoggle will not have financial subsidies from taxpayers of other states to cover maintenance and operational costs. Let the riders pay the full cost of their own transportation.


20 posted on 02/16/2011 7:45:06 AM PST by Iron Munro ("Our country's founders cherished liberty, not democracy." -- Ron Paul)
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