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FL HSR
Seventy years ago this Oct. Sir Winston Churchill spoke these famous words which apply to my opposition to CA HSR today. “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Previously we learned that conservative Ohio and Wisconsin Republican Governors refused to accept candy from president Obama in the form of HSR stimulus money. Last Oct. N.J. GOP Governor Chris Christie shut down their $8.7 billion train tunnel project that was to go under the Hudson River to Manhattan as it might run over budget. We can now add a third GOP Governor making the same tough decision of rejecting HSR stimulus funds. Gov. Rick Scott of Florida.
What president Obama fails to recognize is that unlike the federal government, with its pending trillion dollar 2012 budget deficit, every one of our states governors and legislatures have fiduciary obligations to pass balanced budgets. The following report is from the Florida Independent News.
Gov. Scott rejects high-speed rail project
By Cooper Levey-Baker | 02.16.11 | 9:54 am
- 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. #
I’ll beat Vern to the punch – great, now that’s more money Congress can divert to California’s HSR! Sadly, I suspect that will be a real response from the lefties in Sacramento and Washington (heaven forbid we simply take the opportunity to cut that money altogether). Even more money to flush down the HSR toilet. At least other states are wising up.
[salivates]
What if Winston Churchill thought trains that reduced American dependence on fossil fuel was a courageous and sensible idea? Would Larry change his mind ever ever ever?
Paula Was Here.
Sidebar. Churchill thought it was a good idea to keep the pending attack at Pearl Harbor under wraps. Is that what you mean by courageous? I digress. Back on topic.
Fifty years ago you might have seen me in the pits. No, not down and out. The pits with Don Garlits, Art Arfons and other drag racers as we prepared for the next run.
My point is that I do appreciate being in the fast lane. However, as stated by the Reason Foundation reaction to Florida saying no thanks to HSR stimulus funds, we live within my means and do not purchase items that we cannot afford with the attitude of others to simply buy now and pay later with the “tab” being picked up by our grandkids.
Reason Foundation: “Florida Governor makes the right decision on high-speed rail project”
Since Florida Gov. Rick Scott turned down $2.4 billion in federal funding for the proposed Orlando to Tampa high-speed rail project, one of the more frequently asked questions has been why didn’t Florida just take the billions from the feds and let the private sector build and pay for the rest? Reason Foundation Director of Transportation Robert Poole says the private sector isn’t at all convinced there is any money to be made in operating the proposed system. Poole writes, “…the private firms interested in building and operating the [California] high-speed rail project are telling the California High-Speed Rail Authority that they cannot get financing unless the state provides them with ‘revenue guarantees.’ And what, precisely, is that? If the traffic and revenue on the rail line are below the forecasts on which the financing was based, the state would agree to make up the difference. In other words, operating subsidies. If the private sector required that protection in order to fund the California project, whose ridership potential is far higher than that in Florida, there is no way they would go unprotected in Florida. So Gov. Rick Scott was on firm ground in judging that the risks to Florida taxpayers were simply too great if this project went forward. He made the right decision.”
Remember that popular TV ad “Where’s the beef?”
My message (relating to HSR) is also simple. “Show me the money.”
“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” …….. Hmmm
So why he gave up the Eastern Europe to Stalin in Yalta?
Ha, good one Stan.
What I like about Churchill is how hard he fought (successfully) to create a National Health System for the British after his nation was devastated by WWII.
Again, it was Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck (1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898), not Churchill, who fought (successfully) to create the Health Insurance Act of 1883 entitled workers to health insurance.
I know that you do not like Adolf (the worker’s union socialist), but he Improve it to be the best Health care in Europe.
Churchill was cigar smoking fatso who lived healthy for 90 years, what he called British National Health System, meaning himself.
The quality of British National Health System sucks!
Back to the school, comrade!
Stan. This is not an in depth response to your off-topic question. But here goes.
I was disappointed to learn that as a result of the Yalta meeting with FDR, Churchill and Stalin, Ike was instructed to head to Dresden and leave Berlin open to Stalin and the Russian troops who arrived first. PS: When working on a Teen Challenge project in the Czech Republic we took a van trip into Allied bombed out Dresden. I’d be happy to share those photos with you. It was pay back by the Allies with emphasis.
From what I have read, aside from splitting Berlin into four sections after the surrender, part of the outcome from Yalta was a committment from Stalin to assist us in the Pacific Theatre fight against Japan once Hitler was defeated. We are getting into some deep water on this International Foreign Policy decision.
Stan. The UK PM we should both be angry with was Neville Chamberlain who signed the Munich Agreement with Hitler giving up Czechoslovakia to Germany.
Mr. Gilbert, your comment is as accurate as is Warren Commission Report, THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT, Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, etc. etc. etc.
In other words bullshit.
Stan. To use your words let me simply reply to you. DITTO
Say it Larry!
Be a man!
Say BULLSHIT!
Not DITTO.
Only smart people know that there is nothing wrong with using fossil fuel and everything right with it. Only smart people know that HSR is a way to waste money, waste resources and line more pockets. It can’t ever pay for itself. It will turn into urban blight if it is ever built. Californians love their road; its Americana. Stop telling us how to live!
Liberty 33.
While I agree with your closing comment I do not oppose investing in R&D for alternative forms of energy. For years several of us have promoted nuclear energy while we have been stonewalled. Over 75% of France’s energy is nuclear. While proponents of HSR refer to high speed trains in France notice how they also oppose expansion of our nuclear energy.
The same is true for drilling for oil in ANWAR. Aside from the unknown barrels of crude that exists there, approval would show OPEC that we can provide some of our own reserves to break their chokehold on our imports. At times we must play poker.
And lastly. Venture capitalists will not invest billions into a brand new system without a specific ROI for their investors. Without a “ridership guarantee” they would be insane to dump billions into our HSR that is not to have any subsidy.
Winston Churchill used a Mauser Broomhandle during the war in Crimea. He knew that
technology was un-political. The Germans made the best weapons and Churchill had no
qualms about using them.
The HSR system is a “concept” at this point. The Chinese utilize the 400KM type that
requires alot of great flex in the rail and great technology. Hopefully, we will not react
like the rest of the British Military during the war in Crimea and utilize the odd-ball over-weight
Webley .45……….when better technology exist.
rw
Ron & Anna Winship, you are extremely smart people!
Unfortunately my ESL can’t keep up with you.
However, how is your sex life guys?
“Well M, you might say….I’m just trying to hold the British end up!” Roger Moore quote!