MICA: THINK COMMUTER RAIL
U.S. Rep. John Mica, Special to The Sentinel. Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Fla.: Feb 11, 2000. pg. A.23
John Mica, R-Winter Park, represents Florida's Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
It is important that we, as community leaders, work together to salvage some of the $45 million and years of planning to develop a fixed-transit alternative for Central Florida. With 43,000 new vehicles registered just last year in our area, all of the proposed new and widened roads will not keep up with demand.
Commuter rail can be a cost-effective solution to move significant numbers of residents in outlying communities to major work and activity centers. This three- to five-year federal demonstration project could provide initial service extending 52 to 62 miles and include Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties. The vehicles used in the project could be leased or purchased and would be self- propelled diesel units that would run on existing CSX tracks or other rail lines. Cost estimates to acquire equipment, revamp lines and develop stations range from $39 million to $59 million. Residual funds from the failed light-rail proposal and additional federal mass- transit funds would cover most of the project costs. This demonstration project would not take away any funds from highway projects but instead would give our community access to the 20 percent of federal gasoline-tax revenues that can be used only for mass transit.
Operational costs would be equal to or less than current passenger- bus service costs. The commuter rail would operate during rush hours and for special events and could be administered by Amtrak, Lynx or Votran. Rail freight traffic would be suspended during passenger service, and a private vendor would be contracted to manage the system similar to Tri-Rail's operation in South Florida. A conservative estimate is that 2.4 million passengers would access commuter rail each year. Ridership in 2003 would relieve capacity requirements as Interstate 4 is widened and construction of the St. Johns River Bridge is completed.
This project is not really a new proposal. In the late 1980s, the state Legislature created a local commuter-rail authority. For several days in 1997, I conducted a demonstration of Siemens' RegioSprinter commuter-rail vehicles on CSX and Florida Central Railroad lines. Local officials and citizens rode quiet, wireless, environmentally sound and comfortable vehicles that did not unduly block crossings. While each lane on I-4 carries a maximum of 2,000 cars per hour, even minimal commuter-rail service will move more people.
Numerous studies for both commuter rail and light rail have provided more than sufficient data to move forward with this project. Commuter-rail equipment could be moved in the future to serve other commuter routes as a fixed-system route is approved, designed and constructed. Although commuter rail would not solve all of our future transportation needs, it would provide both a cost-effective short- and long-term transit alternative to congestion, pollution and expensive infrastructure.
However, only with the support of interested citizens and the leadership of elected officials can we move forward to meet our future transportation needs.
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Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Fla.: Feb 1, 2000
MICA PLUGS COMMUTER RAIL THE PLAN FOR A VOLUSIA-TO-OSCEOLA LINE WOULD SALVAGE SOME OF THE MONEY SPENT ON LIGHT RAIL AND RAIL STUDIES, HE SAID.Â
LAKE MARY - As an alternative to Orange County's failed light- rail project, U.S. Rep. John Mica wants regional officials to support a commuter train that would run from Volusia to Osceola counties along the CSX rail line.
The 52-mile commuter rail project could be up and running in as little as three years, giving Interstate 4 motorists a much-needed alternative.
Mica, R-Winter Park, presented the plan to about 80 elected leaders and transportation officials Monday at AAA headquarters in Lake Mary. The plan is one way to salvage nearly $60 million spent on light rail and rail studies over the past 18 years, Mica said.
The price tag for the commuter rail system - between $38 million and $59 million - would be a fraction of the $600 million once contemplated for 14 miles of light rail between downtown Orlando and SeaWorld. Unspent federal dollars originally allocated for light rail could cover much of the project's cost, Mica said.
Mica has been a strong proponent of mass-transit alternatives to solve the area's growing traffic problems.
Under his plan, the tracks would be leased from CSX Transportation. Mica said such leases are already being used in other metropolitan areas. For example, Virginia Railway Express, which offers service in the Washington, D.C., area, pays CSX about $2 million a year and another $1.4 million a year to Norfolk Express Line for about 115 miles of rail.
The system could include as many as 14 stations between DeLand and Osceola County with service every 10 to 15 minutes during morning and evening rush hours, Mica said. Ridership is projected at nearly 2.5 million passengers annually.
The service could start in about 36 months with a year for planning and another two years to get the necessary equipment. Most of the project could be financed as a federal demonstration project, but some state dollars would be needed for capital costs. Local governments and transit authorities would underwrite operational costs, which would be about the same as current bus operating costs.
The strongest support for Mica's proposal came from Volusia County officials.
"We're real excited about the potential for this," said Volusia County Council Chairman Patricia Northey.
Volusia County has paid for one study of commuter rail and passed a resolution last year calling for rail alternatives to ease traffic problems. Representatives from several Volusia cities, including DeBary, Deltona, Lake Helen and Daytona Beach attended the meeting.
Reaction from Orange County officials was more tempered.
Danny Pleasant, Orlando's chief transportation planner, would like to see more specifics, but said the city supports the concept.
"We all realize that we eventually will have to develop alternatives to I-4," he said. "We're all for looking at alternatives."
Orange County Chairman Mel Martinez did not attend the meeting but did review the proposal later in the day, said Oscar Anderson, the county's chief lobbyist.
"He was supportive of it at first blush," Anderson said. "He's pleased that Congressman Mica has found a way to try to keep the remaining light rail money in Central Florida."
Kathy Russell, inter-governmental relations director for Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, said details would have to be worked out.
"We need to find out if he has real regional support," she said. "The other thing is, is it doable?"
Mica asked for feedback about the plan in the next two weeks before he makes a Feb. 15 presentation on the issue to the House of Representatives Transportation Committee. However, the next crucial test will be the Feb. 9 Metroplan meeting.
Harry Barley, director of the regional transportation agency, said he would ask his board for direction on Mica's proposal.
"There needs to be some very strong local commitment to help fund both capital and operating costs," he said.
Commuter rail has been seen as part of a long-term plan, but now it is being seen as a short-term solution, he said. But questions must be answered about CSX's willingness to lease the track and the effect the project will have on the communities it runs through.
Barley added that motorists will be desperate for an alternative to I-4 when construction starts on widening the interstate to 10 lanes.
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