Brightline update

I don't get the logic in flying to Orlando and then taking a train to South Florida. Why not just fly directly there?

Of course, I'm kind of jaded anyway as a Brevard County resident. We've had lots of road closures lately for the construction of this thing, while getting no impact. Train won't stop here....home to one of the busier cruise ports.

 

I think mass transit is a good idea in theory. Building it in pieces seems doomed to underuse though.

 

The taxpayer will pay for this!

Funny story. My wife was in St Pete at the Dawson Academy for CE and training with TMJ last week. She has already completed the core and was down getting more as there just are not that many people out there who know how to deal with TMJ and the Dawson Academy is one of the elite places to pursue the latest on it. So to the quick story…

There were maybe 20 Dentists/Doctors there for the classes. One was from Germany (only two from Florida including my wife). He took the train from Orlando to Tampa (granted must have been Amtrak). Told my wife he would never take a train in the US again lol. Our society/culture is not built for it. I lived in Germany from 1st to 4th grade. Train travel there is much more the norm. And that is fine. But I do not see it. Especially the way we are expanding. It would be one thing if expansion was keep it close to the city center. But I do not see rail working in Florida. Just not enough German Dentists coming to St Pete demanding it LOL…

My wife got the first ball in the stands after the first pitch for the kiddos at the Rays game last Friday night…

 

Trains can work in the northeast imo…

 

This is perfect for South Florida residents that can't fuel their cars.

 

I can see people going to Miami and then wanting to hit Disney taking this thing but if it's only shaving about an hour off and you still need to drive somewhere once you get there, don't think it's that convenient and convenience is how you will get people to use it.

 

Just for the thrill of experiencing fast rail, which is a true rarity in third world America.*

*at least in terms of rail transportation

 

I think you uber when you get to the destination. I'm not convinced the volume will be there, but I can see some solid benefits. I do a ton of business in So Fl, it would be a consideration to hop a train so I can work or just post on GC for that 3 hours vs driving....then hop an uber to my meeting. My issue is 45 minute drive to get to the train

 

Makes no sense when surrounding areas don't have the mass transit system in place. And what happens when your train is sitting because of an accident? There are 333 RR crossings along the way and South Florida has one of the most accident prone rail corridors in the US.

 

Right now, you can take a Red Coach from Orlando to Miami for about 4 hours (and vice versa) for less than $50. It will be interesting to see what the cost is anticipated to be. To drive from MCO to MIA, it can be done in 3 hours *if* the traffic is right (and without having to worry about a speeding ticket). 3 hours doesn't seem like a great time for a new feature, in my opinion.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

 

The benefit for the trains would seem to be more for business commuting. You can get work done on a train that you cant do in a car.

 

Yeah, that extra 45 minutes kills it. One reason it's so handy in the NE is that there are stops and connectors everywhere so no matter where you are going, you will be able to get to within a couple blocks of your destination if not closer.

 

Uber> mass transit on arrival
What happens when you sit on I4 or the turnpike, or 95 because of an accident? When I go to Tampa/Sarasota/Clearwater I almost assume I'm going to sit on 4 at some point due to an accident. Only question is how long/bad

 

I would say OIA to Miami proper is closer to 4 hours than 3, it's well over 200 miles

 

East bound from Tampa usually backs up starting at US 27 and then westbound it's packed up until the champions gate exit. Starts backing up around Plant City also for some reason.

 

I think it's nuts that they decided to do Orlando to Miami before Orlando to Tampa. The I4 traffic is crazy.

 

You mean where they already work? Bold claim, Q.

 

If I'm going south of Tampa I've just given up on 4 and head south on 27....cut over depending on destination.