FDOT studying billion dollar train project along FEC/Dixie Hwy. corridor

Since 2005, the Florida Dept. of Transportation has been conducting a study on using the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC), which generally runs along Dixie Highway in South Florida, for passenger rail instead of just freight by adding two to four sets of tracks parallel to the current set. In recent public hearings, the consultants, along with FDOT have presented seven different options for the project that range from $164 million dollars to $6.4 billion dollars to build a passenger rail line from South Miami to Jupiter.

“The difference between each is how frequent the service operates, the number of stations, whether the service stops at all crossings, or only express stations, possible connection to Tri-Rail in Miami, and two plans include bus improvements in all three counties (Miami, Broward and Palm Beach),” said James Schwarzwalder, senior project manager for the study. Public meetings are expected to be called again early 2010 to continue discussions on the project at FDOT narrows the options.

However, regardless of how configured, the project would have to be underwritten with tax dollars. According to numbers released by FDOT, the annual operating costs range from $58 million to $197 million for the six options that are dominated by train, while the seventh option is only $2 to 3 million (still offset by tax dollars). In the presentation, the cost per passenger ranged from $5.25 to $13.25, though Schwarzwalder said that isn’t what customers will pay.

“That is the cost to supply service. (It will) be subsidized with state, local and federal dollars, though the feds will contribute to the cost of construction, not operation,” he explained.

When asked how the project would really be funded, considering the stalled SunRail project in Orlando and Tri-Rail barely hanging on with a lack of state funding, despite requests during this year’s legislative session to consider a $2 car rental tax to pay for the train service.

“That’s a public policy question—our role is to develop the project—it’s up to the state or local body politic to figure out how to pay for it,” said Schwarzwalder. “We have to create the project and then get the funding. Across the nation, there are many more projects in the pipeline than federal dollars, so they’re all competing with each other, but we think this is a meritous project.”

According to a purpose paper released by FDOT, the study began in 2005 to “improve north-south mobility for the citizens of southeastern Florida along the US1/FEC Railway corridor.”

“Even with the economic downturn, we are projected to continue to grow and we’re not able to keep up with growth in roadway capacity, and the heaviest traveled area is I-95 to the Intracoastal,” said Scott Seeberger, special projects manager in planning and environmental management for FDOT. “So why does it take so long? Well construction would take 3-4 years, but you have to do all the planning, the logistics, the materials, go through the process, collect a lot of environmental data and develop a travel model to forecast rides.”

BrowardNET asked Seeburger if he thought that the mentality of South Floridians would require a drastic change, and he said no, despite a very heavy use of cars versus the current Tri-Rail option.

“I think if we have something that’s convenient, people will use it,” he said. “Some folks just love driving, but some will change where they work or live—in other major metro areas, there’s a premium for housing near commuter rail so they don’t have to spend three hours to get downtown.”

Richard Labinsky, city engineer for the city of Hallandale Beach, approves of the project, and seems excited about how the passenger rail will play into the city’s redevelopment plans. He attended this week’s public session to learn more about the project.

“We have a stop scheduled for Hallandale, and I’m going to make sure we don’t get dropped—it meshes with our redevelopment plans,” said Labinsky who mentioned possibilities of connecting the train with shuttles and more buses that would move residents around the city. “It’s something they need to do—and it’s been on the table a while in different forms.”

Labinsky said the federal Dept. of Transportation is leaning more towards mass transit projects over more roadways, though other projects being considered include two toll/express lanes on I-95 (already started in Miami) as well as a reversible I-595 to match the peak rush across the county. Another study is also looking at a train line in the center of the county west to east as well as making SW 10 St. a full expressway lane to I-95.

The study is currently in phase 2 and is wrapping up public sessions around the tri-county area. Residents can get information at  http://sfeccstudy.com/index.html, participate in an online survey or submit public comment.

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Posted by Andrea Freygang on Oct 22 2009. Filed under Broward County, Environmental, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale, Hollywood, Local news, Miami, Oakland Park, Palm Beach, Tallahassee, Transportation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.