Florida Railroad Check (Driving to Tampa is cheaper.)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | FEBRUARY 18, 2011

[mbynack]

The county I use to live in commissioned a study to determine the feasibility of building a bridge across the bay. The company they choose to conduct the study was also the one who would build the bridge. The study determined that the bridge was a wonderful idea and the tolls would provide a huge windfall that could be used for other road construction.

The state and county went ahead and built the bridge. Three years after it was completed, the income for the bridge was barely covering the cost of the salaries of the toll collectors. Someone finally went back and took a good look at the figures used to justify the bridge and found that every resident of the county would have to cross the bridge four times a week in order for the figures to work out.

These programs always cost more than they're supposed to (look at the Big Dig in Massachusetts) and they don't ever bring in the revenue that they're projected to. They're just a "gimme" to the unions and a way for politicians to line their own pockets.

[zeugma]

The number of passenger rail lines that have made money in the entire history of the USworld can probably be counted on twoone hands.

 From what I understand, even in Japan, rail is subsidized.

[NonValueAdded]

I wouldn’t say the drive takes 30 minutes longer ... consider the amount of time to pass through the security checkpoint that will be mandated (you know it will), and then the whole issue of where to go once you arrive at either end. Endless bus transfers to go hither and yon in the vast metroplex at each end? No one will put up with that after one trip. Rent a car at either end? But you already have a car. No, from origin point to ultimate destination, the car will always be faster for this cross-state path. Unless, of course, the trainiacs cut I-4 back down to one lane to force choo-choo ridership.

[thile44]

The bottom line truth is that if it were needed it would be self sustaining and private industry would already be doing it.

[Eye of Unk]

I bet many liberal land developers are upset right now, they were hoping the land in that corridor would have made them a profit.

No profit for you!