Is there a way to salvage something of the latest Obama administration disappointment --Gov. Rick Scotts rejection of federal funding for a Tampa-to-Orlando rail line? A possible answer lies in a proposal advanced by U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Mr. Mica proposes to scale down the proposed 86-mile high-speed line to an initial 21-mile starter segment from the Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World. That segment, he contends, "holds the potential for not only being a viable project, but one that could turn a profit with a qualified private operator."
We think there is considerable merit to Mr. Micas proposal. The scaled-down project would offer an opportunity to demonstrate the feasibility --and reality --of a public-private partnership in the construction and operation of a passenger rail line. The documented history of high ridership demand between Orlandos airport and Disney World makes it likely that the rail link could be operated without public subsidies.
Moreover, the demonstrated market potential of the line is likely to attract private investors (including the Disney Company) to help fund a portion of the construction costs. Contribution by the state of Florida of the right of way (most of which is owned by the state) would further strengthen the fiscal viability of the project.
The slimmed-down Florida project would still generate jobs and offer private construction companies and equipment manufacturers a chance to demonstrate the benefits of modern "higher-speed" rail technology in real-world operating conditions (obviously, true high-speed technology could not be demonstrated on a 21-mile stretch of track; but that would also be the case with the 86-mile stretch of the Tampa-Orlando line, with its intermediate station stop at Lakeland).
A positive response by the White House to Mr. Micas initiative would be a welcome sign that the administration is willing to abandon the dogged pursuit of its quixotic vision of reaching 80 percent of Americans with a high-speed rail network, and that it is ready to embrace a more realistic strategy of improving passenger rail transportation opportunistically, in partnership with the private sector, in places where it makes transportation and economic sense.
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Kenneth Orski is editor and publisher of Innovation NewsBriefs. Orski has worked professionally in the field of transportation for close to 40 years. He served as associate administrator of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration under Presidents Nixon and Ford and, after leaving government, founded a transportation consultancy counseling corporate clients and agencies in federal, state and local government.
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