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Former Head of State High-Speed Rail Authority Says Rail is Still on Track

November 11, 2010 | WMFE - A long-time insider in Florida high-speed rail circles thinks plans for the $2.6 billion fast train between Orlando and Tampa will still move forward. That's despite this week's suggestions from Central Florida Congressman John Mica that the project may have to slow down.

Mica is on track to head up the U.S. House Transportation Committee in January when the new Congress is seated. The Winter Park Republican says voters sent a message in last week’s election – they want cut to government spending.  He says that may mean building just a small part of Florida’s high-speed rail line before committing to the whole route, which is supposed to start operating in 2015.

However, Lee Chira, the state's former High-Speed Rail Authority head, says the rail will eventually pay for itself.

“I’m not discounting what he’s saying,” Chira points out. “But, on the other hand, we have the ridership studies that show the line would be profitable and be able to pay the debt down to a point where it would not cost the state of Florida any money at all to put this system in.”

The federal government has pledged to contribute $2 billion toward the $2.6 billion rail project.

Mica has also said that only the northeastern U.S. may have enough population density to support a high-speed rail system. Chira replies that it’s Florida’s tourism traffic and not its population that clogs the roads and makes the high-speed rail a necessity.

 

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