Floridians for Responsible Transportation Planning SayRail Proposal Would Cost Taxpayers Billions.
Business Editors
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2000
In a report titled "Constitutional Train Wreck: An Analysis of the Proposed Mandated Florida High-Speed Rail System," internationally renowned public policy consultant and transportation expert Wendell Cox has released eye-opening costs and data regarding Amendment Initiative No.1, which Florida voters will decide on Nov. 7.
According to the report, the estimated cost to construct a high-speed rail system connecting the state's five largest metropolitan areas would be between $8.2 billion and $21.9 billion; take 20 years to complete; and cost Florida between $617 million and $1.6 billion in annual deficits once in operation.
Amendment Initiative No.1 mandates the state to begin by Nov. 1, 2003, construction of a high-speed rail, monorail, fixed guideway or magnetic levitation system linking the state's five largest urban areas.
Because Cox believes the text of Amendment Initiative No.1 is vague about what urban areas would be served by the high-speed rail system, he estimated the financial and ridership implications of the amendment on an approximate 480-mile system linking Miami-Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg and Jacksonville.
For the analysis, Cox studied three potential technologies: near high-speed rail, which would operate at speeds up to 150 miles per hour; conventional high-speed, which operates at speeds up to 200 mph; and magnetic levitation, which operates at speeds up to 300 mph. Though proponents also proposed a statewide monorail system, it was not reviewed because there is no commercial monorail currently operating in the world in excess of 120 mph, which would be required by the Florida Constitution. Though Cox did provide an analysis on the magnetic levitation system, no commercial intercity system exists after a proposed route between Berlin and Hamburg, Germany, was canceled due to escalating costs.
In the 16-page report, Cox made what he called "optimistic" and "realistic" projections concerning construction costs, tax subsidies, capital, operating and annual costs, ridership, commercial revenue, deficits and tax subsidies, passenger fares, cost and tax subsidies, impact on congestion and comparative cost effectiveness of high-speed rail to highway and airport construction. The James Madison Institute in Tallahassee published the Cox's report as a Backgrounder.
