I love my car. It’s a 1985 Mercedes Benz 380 SL . It needs a paint job and thousands in repair to include a new fuel pump. On any other car these things would cost hundreds, but yet I love this car. It’s like a mechanical pet I have to clean up after.
In the United States we have a love affair with the automobile. It gives mobility, privacy, incredible freedom, and sometimes it’s just plain fun to drive. On the other hand most of the time the traffic irritates us, the cost of fuel, insurance, and the car itself is a huge drain on our pocket book, and sometimes trying to find a parking place makes us want to drive a tank and park on a couple of Prius’.
As much as I love my car and driving, I love convenience, and I hate traffic. In fact, I despise traffic. It wastes gas, time, and incredible amounts of my patience. As much as I love my car, if I could I would ride a train whenever possible. That way I could plan my drives and my budget to optimize the driving experience.
I lived in Japan almost four years and their rail system is amazing. The trains are always on time, they are clean, and the get you anywhere you want to go. The bullet train, or Shinkansen (????, new main line) as it is known in Japan gets you there really fast and incredibly comfortably.
As early as the 1930’s Japan was planning a high speed rail system. Their lead in the world of high speed rail has led them to a ridership of 151 million passengers a year, as of 2008, and over six billion since its inception in 1964. As of this year they have had forty – seven years of high speed rail.
Now, their train speed on high speed rail run from 130 miles per hour up to 185 miles per hour. Test runs on their new trains have reached 275 miles per hour. It’s almost fast as some planes. Maybe that’s part of the problem? Airlines are going under and I’m sure they wouldn’t like that kind of competition.
In spite of their in depth rail system, the Japanese also have a love for cars. Their traffic when I was there was crazy. We measured distance in time, not miles. Sometimes the wait would be horrendous. I once sat in my car for two hours without moving, and there was no wreck! Sound like the LA 405? Maybe I – 4 leading to Disney?
Even at these speeds, there is a very interesting statistic. Over 45 years, and nearly 7 billion passengers later, there have been no fatalities due to derailments or collisions. Think about this…Japan has frequent earthquakes and typhoons.
Here’s another interesting thing. The bullet train rejuvenated the economy in many, many ways. Time savings alone from switching from conventional rail has been estimated at 400 million hours. The economic impact has been incalculable. Even small towns have been helped.
Lastly, according to Japanese studies, traveling Tokyo-Osaka, as a single example, by bullet train produces only roughly 16% of the carbon dioxide versus traveling by car. Suddenly that adds up to a savings of 15,000 tons of CO2 per year. Significant?
As of this month the E5 series trains, which are capable of 199 miles per hour, will be introduced. Needless to say, that is something to behold.
Alright, let’s briefly go back to the thing about air travel competition, while we are on the subject of Japan.
Let’s face it, Japan has it down, but they have had time to get it right. They have more flexibility and frequency, and they are punctual. They don’t have to worry much about weather delays, and I have to tell you, those seats are comfortable, plus for some planes, the speeds are comparable.
The airlines in Japan have a legitimate competition with high speed rail. This has also kept the air rates down. There have been distinct advantages to the rail system.
So I hear you saying, Lee, that’s Japan, we’re not Japan, how can rail help us? Is Rick Scoot, I mean Rick Snoot, sorry, Rick Scott, right or wrong. I’m glad you asked.
I say unequivocally, he is wrong.
So here we are. Rick Scott in his infinite business wisdom (remember the money he had to pay the government for fraud while CEO of Columbia/HCA) has decided it is best for the state of Florida to not have high speed rail.
On the surface, his explanations have some logic and we should really look at what he is saying. I’m not saying I am right but am trying to present ALLLLLL the facts as I know them. I am sure there are other issues and encourage you to explore on your own. I have spent two days exploring, but must admit I don’t like anyone that buys a governorship, which he did, to the tune of $73 million of his own money…and I don’t forgive his cheating of the government as a CEO of Columbia/HCA. Yes, in this story, I am biased. It’s not right for a reporter, so that’s why I am a columnist. So I have confessed my literary sins. I still don’t trust him, and I seriously question his motives.
I am biased because we need to lead. We are Florida. We have Japan who has proven high speed rail can work. They have proved clearly it is viable and self sustainable. This state clearly has some of the brightest minds in the world. Now I hear you say, that is but one country. How does it apply to the US much less Florida? Again, I am glad you asked.
It isn’t just one country first of all. High speed rail is functional throughout the world. Japan, however, has perfected it, and that’s why I use them as an example. We should emulate only the best. Spain is also proving it works. Three new legs in Spain are up and running with a profit.
Meanwhile California is pushing hard for the dollars Rick Scott is pushing away, to the point we are going to court over the issue.
I know the resentment against California but there are some things they do right. Their embracement of high speed rail is right. They may do a lot of things wrong, in our eye, but they do embrace the green attitude, which is right, and they believe in mass transit. Mass transit works.
Here is a statement made by U.S, Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood last week.” This morning I met with Governor Rick Scott to discuss the high speed rail project that will create jobs and economic development for the entire state of Florida. He asked me for additional information about the state’s role in this project, the responsibilities of the Florida Department of Transportation, as well as how the state would be protected from liability. I have decided to give Governor Scott additional time to review the agreement crafted by local officials from Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland and Miami, and to consult with his staff at the state Department of Transportation. He has committed to making a final decision by the end of next week. I feel we owe it to the people of Florida, who have been working to bring high speed rail to their state for the last 20 years, to go the extra mile.”
Yep, for twenty years this state has been trying to get high speed rail.
Europe has been embracing high speed rail for many years and it’s worked. Recently, Spain has gone forth with a number of routes and the Spaniards are continuing their expansion. In fact, the rest of the world is expanding their high speed rail or building their first lines. While the U.S. has some rail lines up and running, many states are fighting high speed rail, seemingly to the death, while there are other states that are looking toward the future and seeing the advantages.
So we have this tyrannical governor who either has little grasp of the future, or is simply obstinate, or possibly he has little sense of the people of Florida. He certainly is ignoring the fact twenty years of trying should be coming to fruition with his administration. So what are his objections?
His first objection is a belief there would be cost overruns to the tune of $3 billion in construction and then ridership won’t pay the operational cost. In his words:”The truth is that this project would be far too costly to taxpayers and I believe the risk far outweighs the benefits.” He also complained about the state having to return the money if the project failed. “My background is in business, not politics. But you don’t have to be an economics expert to understand that if you spend more money than you take in, your business will fail,” Scott said.
One thing he doesn’t take into consideration is the future of Florida. Florida is still one of the fastest growing states in the country. As we continue to take people into the state and also grow from within, our roads will become more and more congested. You don’t have to have an economics or math major to project what this will do to us. As a result we will continue to spend billions on widening roads, not to mention building and repairing roads. With a high speed rail we could take part of the money we spend on roads to get the trains up and running, and with proper marketing they would eventually turn enough profit to keep themselves above water. Our road infrastructure isn’t profitable either but we have to keep them up. This is how we should look at rail.
Even if they aren’t solvent it would take a load off the roads and off our ecology. Eventually we are going to run out of room to expand highways and will have nowhere to put the tens of thousands of automobiles desiring transport over our roads. We will be able to expand only so far. With all those cars comes the added requirements for more maintenance, more fuel that burns and emits poisons in the air, and even down to the fact it will add money to require more policing. There will be more wrecks and thus medical bills that will raise medical costs, not to mention the bills the people will have to pay because of lack of medical coverage.
As the wrecks increase, time on the roads will increase, causing further emission issues, and even further wreckage. You may think this logic is faulted, but check with any state or county traffic management offices and I assure you they will tell you the same. I worked for Brevard County Traffic and all the statistics are available. It only makes sense. Simply do the math. It’s only logical.
He is unequivocally wrong.
Rick Scott refuses to see the people of Florida have wanted this for some time. Recently, in December 2009 Florida lawmakers went into a special session to approve money for Orlando to approve a spur specifically to connect with the new high speed rail. They felt it was an urgent need because even back then it was needed to get the stimulus money.
To be fair there are other short sighted governors in Ohio and Wisconsin. They too turned down the funds.
Scott further stated as a reason for turning down the funds, “Higher taxes and more government spending is a recipe for disaster. Government has become addicted to spending beyond its means and we cannot continue this flawed policy.” At the time he was criticizing Obama but didn’t this spending start with Bush?
I think the benefits of the spending, unlike many other things where we are spending a lot of money, is an investment in the state’s future. We have to start thinking now about where our traffic levels will be in the next ten years.
I lived in Ft. Lauderdale back in the late eighties. During the time I was there they were building the Sawgrass expressway. It was considered at the time a huge boondoogle which is the same thing people are saying about high speed rail. The Sawgrass Expressway is now one of the most traveled roads in south Florida and is now considered part of the Florida Turnpike.
It just goes to show…
The reality of the situation is this is we need this and will eventually build this. If we don’t take the money now, my guess is we will have to do it through a bond issue. We will pay for Rick Scott’s sins.
Here are further remarks by Rick Scott.
Below are Governor Scott’s Remarks as Prepared: (and my response below)
As you know, I was elected to get Floridians back to work and to change the way government does business in our state. While I don’t doubt he has some good ideas here and there, his primary ideas are not palpable. Yes he is a business man but government recognize overhead and put things like highway repairs and high speed rail on the same level. If you take the load from the highway the money needs to be used to keep that program in play.
I am committed to making good on those promises. Just remember he is a politician that bought the office. That statement is debatable at best.
Recently, I sent a budget proposal to the legislature that reduces the size and scope of government; reduces the costs of that government and passes those cost savings on to taxpayers so that we can create new jobs and turn Florida’s economy around. Investing in the rail would create many, many jobs. We in this state waste tons of money on a lot of things. Creating jobs creates spending and in turn puts money back into the state.
I believe when you reduce government’s reach and hold that government accountable, you create an environment where the economy can flourish. Well, I can’t argue that, but can’t we reduce HIS reach?
When you reduce taxes and put that money back in the hands of hardworking Floridians and Florida businesses, that money will be spent on creating private sector jobs. Create the jobs first and then worry about lowering taxes after the money starts rolling in. Even if the public isn’t working, the government must march on.
First – capital cost overruns from the project could put Florida taxpayers on the hook for an additional $3 billion. This is an extravagant scare tactic drawn from the Tri-Rail in southern Florida. The Tri-Rail System and high speed rail are completely different.
In his effort to deride the high speed rail he has repeatedly drawn a parallel between the Tri-Rail and the proposed Orlando – Tampa link. These are different as night and day. The Tri –Rail is not high speed and is multi stop. High speed rail has a couple of stops and is considerably faster. The idea with this link is point “A” to point “B” runs.
His overrun scenario is completely wrong. Private contractors would be required to pay for the overruns. Scott has stopped the project before it has even gone to bid. The reality is if we don’t like the bids, we don’t have to accept them. Why the fear.
The truth about Tri – Rail is this. It was originally intended to help with traffic issues while I – 95 was being widened. The state legislature saw its worth and funded it. Last year it had 3.6 million riders. Think about that. That is 3.6 million cars that were not on the road.
True, it’s not paying for itself in a monetary sense, but still, there were 3.6 million cars off the road. Who can define that worth? There are other facts that makes me question his motives. The federal government will pay the majority of the costs and private companies have stepped up to say they will pay the rest. They will also be responsible for overruns.
So the question comes out. Who is Scott protecting? Who does he owe? The airlines? The highway construction companies? I have to ask.
Next, I have to ask this. Doesn’t it seem odd Scott got his numbers from the Reason Foundation. They were really tight with Scott, have taken a dim view traditionally of rail, and the report came from Robert Poole who was on Scott’s economic development team. Nepotism?
So here we are. The supreme court shot us down and said Scott has the power to go against the legislature, previous bills passed, but most of all, the people’s wishes. Repeated Floridians have shown they want high speed rail. Instead, Scott has stated he will, in essence, ignore and blatantly rebuke the Florida Rail Act.
“In the present case, the Legislature expressly set forth in the Florida Rail Act the public policy of this state regarding high speed rail,” their lawyer wrote in the argument filed with the court. Scott “has, by his own admission in his response, admitted that he does not intend to comply with the procedures and directives of the Florida Rail Act.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_high_speed_rail
Thad Altman’s comments were, “I believe that he exceeded his executive authority and in a very strong sense we have a Constitutional crisis on our hands,” Altman said. “We have a law on the books,” he said, and quoted the portion of the Florida Constitution that reads: “The Governor shall take care that the laws of Florida are faithfully executed.”
“The governor has completely ignored that,” Altman said.
All in all we have a governor, that for no obvious reason wants to go against the people, ignore laws that are already in place, and force his own short-sighted opinions on the people of Florida. Even if the rail should fail, the bottom line is all the bricks were in place and the people of Florida want the rail. Secondly, in the long run, it’s just good planning.
Of course, I am sure he never planned on having pay all those fines for fraud either. Who has him in their pocket?
