[Midge538]

"Tuesday, February 19, 2008
St. Augustine Record
By MIKE BRANOM
Associated Press Writer
ORLANDO -- A road builders' lobbying organization gave $330,000 of the $1.3 million collected for a petition drive aimed at derailing Florida's bullet train project, according to a campaign finance report filed Monday.
The first leg of the proposed rail network, from Orlando to Tampa, is estimated to cost $2.6 billion.
The Villages, a massive retirement community in central Florida, gave $300,000. Developer Gary Morse is a major fundraiser for the GOP, and Republican Gov. Jeb Bush has ardently opposed bullet trains."

Is the proposed track for the bullet train anywhere near TV?

[swrinfla]

Tal:

Not so far as I know. It's over near Sanford, and would run near I-4, I think.

SWR

[Russ_Boston]

Isn't Charlie Crist the gov. of Florida?

Makes you wonder about the accuracy of the report.

[jadebox]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Isn't Charlie Crist the gov. of Florida?

Makes you wonder about the accuracy of the report,

LOL you are correct. I read it and missed the error.
I am sure the bullet train would not be near here.

[Village Kid 2]

http://www.floridahighspeedrail.org/1_overview.jsp

Read the last sentence in the overview. If the Legislature doesn't appropriate state funds, this is dead in the water.

VK2

[drr47]

I would think Mr Morse was spending his money to help the residents of the Villages. If the high speed rail goes through, the TRAIN traffic through this area will more than double. Enough that they are going to build an overpass over Hwy 44 in Wildwood. I think he was looking out for you.

[saratogaman]

Correction: The railroad overpass on 44 is for CSX freight trains only. The proposed high-speed rail line is way east of us -- from DeLand to Orlando and farther south. It was designed to ease auto traffic for workers commuting to Orlando...also to save commuter expense and reduce pollution.

[chuckster]

I believe the rail line from Deland to Orlando is strictly a commuter not high speed line. The high speed or bullet train was originally proposed from Miami to Orlando and on to Tampa. Orlando to Deland would use existing CSX rail lines therefore the rerouting of some freight trains through Wildwood, Ocala to the CSX yard in Jacksonville.

Could be wrong but this was in the local media 6 - 8 months ago.

[drr47]

I know the high speed rail is on the east coast, my point was that the freight traffic is going to increase due to the high speed/commuter need for those tracks. We will be seeing many more trains through Sumter County.

[Talk Host]

The train issue was not passed in the Florida legislature before it ended the session. It is currently a dead issue until it is brought back to life sometime in the future. There was extensive coverage of the matter in media outside of the Villages. The trial lawyers association was a big mover in the lack of support the measure had.

Ocala Star Banner

The Florida Senate did not approve a bill for the state to assume liability for crashes on a future commuter rail line in the Orlando area, but the commuter rail and the resulting routing of additional freight train traffic through Ocala are not dead.


The FDOT plans to bring the bill back in the next legislative session. The plan had CSX trains using the commuter rail system when passenger trains were not running, and that led to a sticking point during the session, because the bill would have had the state assuming liability for crashes involving freight traffic as well.

[Muncle]

I cannot swear that is 100% accurate, but I understand the Bullet Train is designed to go from Spanish Springs thru Lake Sumter Landing to Brownwood. It's route would roughly parallel Morse St north of 466, cross the Lake Sumter bridge on the existing multi-modal lanes, snake through LSL and the deserted buffalo fields and go south to Brownwood in the Buena Vista median.

One purpose of the train and route is to satisfy those people who do not live close to the Talk Host and have expressed envy of the romantic sounds of trains he hears throughout the day and night. Additionally, the POA has proposed that the prow of the engine of the Bullet Train be removed, leaving a blunt front end to the train. It would then, of course, be renamed the Dum Dum Train.

But, like I said, I can't swear by the accuracy of this. Righ now, it's just a rumor.

[drr47]

If you think the train issue is dead, do some research on the Cross Florida Barge Canal.

[nitehawk]

No --- muncle i heard the same thing this may not be a rumor

[Frangyomory]

Jeb Bush was the governor of Florida prior to Mr. Crist.