Click HERE to read Eliza Harris's blog post (reprinted at http://www.commuteorlando.com/) on the conviction of the Mother whose young child was killed trying to walk from a bus stop to their apartment complex across an arterial thoroughfare. The Governor of Georgia should pardon the grieving Mother and end this injustice. Responsible officials should install a signalized crosswalk as a first step to prevent a repeat of this senseless tragedy.
Here's NBC News video:
Transportation for America opined:
…This is a major issue in inner-ring suburbs across the country, places originally built as auto-only suburbia that now are home to many lower-income families who don’t have access to cars. Neither the public transportation system nor the highway designs work for those who live, work and walk in these areas. People are being punished and killed simply for being pedestrians. Our research shows that thousands of lives could be saved — and millions more lives improved — by retrofitting these dangerous roads, as many communities are trying to do.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Secretary Prasad: "We Need Transportation Alternatives"
 |
| United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Florida Secretary of Transportation Ananth Prasad at the Ceremonial SunRail signing. |
At the future site of Florida Hospital's newly announced statewide corporate headquarters--a future SunRail station--United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Florida Secretary of Transportation Ananth Prasad signed a contract committing an additional infusion of $77 million of Federal funds for construction of the commuter rail line.
"Coming from the road transportation side," Secretary Prasad said, "I know we can't build our way out of congestion. We need transportation alternatives." The Secretary's comments reflected a point I made to him with a graph only weeks ago during his whirlwind tour of SunRail's local government partners.
Congressman Mica emphasized the bipartisan nature of the SunRail effort. He praised Secretary LaHood for resolving issues with Amtrak over liability. He said the question is "no longer whether it will be built" but "who gets the next leg." He showed a graph of more than $6 billion in transit oriented development around the $1.4 billion light rail system in Houston.
Secretary LaHood summed up the Central Florida SunRail effort: "You got your act together."
Friday, July 1, 2011
Governor Scott Approves SunRail
Governor Rick Scott's approval of SunRail today demonstrated that political reality, pragmatism, and economic need can prevail over ideological distrust. It also demonstrated the Governor's confidence in his Secretary of Transportation, Ananth Prasad (who made the announcement), Central Florida's business community (which strongly backed the project), and the fiscally conservative Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. The strong consensus among citizens and elected leaders of both political parties to build the project--from Volusia County to Osceola County--overwhelmed SunRail opponents.
Over the next two years, during construction, Central Florida leaders need to ensure that SunRail emobodies the best practices and not ignore valid points raised by SunRail's fiercest critics. I would suggest the following as preliminary thoughts:
* CRITICISM #1: SunRail will compete poorly with automobiles since trains will run only every half-hour during rush hour. Trains every half-hour during rush hour are, in fact, inadequate. An initial--not long-term goal--should strive for ten minute separation between trains, which may require the purchase of additional locomotives. The built-in $77 million (30%) contingency in the budget for both Phases I and II could allow for such purchases given that contract prices are locked-in. The fear of cost overruns expressed by SunRail opponents should prove unfounded.
* CRITICISM #2: The trains won't serve where people want to go, including the airport, convention center, or Disney. This criticism ignored, or discounted the fact that SunRail is serving central business districts in Winter Park and Kissimmee, Downtown Orlando as well as major employers such as Tuperware, Florida Hospital, and Orlando Regional Medical Center. However, click HERE for a video from the Orlando Sentinel of Mayor Jacobs' recent comments. I agree strongly with her assessment of a need to connect SunRail to the Orlando International Airport and Orange County Convention Center. Ideally, I would like to see the ability for Williamsburg residents--many elderly--to access the rail network.
MetroPlan's vision for a multi-modal Central Florida, with connections to UCF and the theme parks, should remain a long-term goal:
CRITICISM #3: People won't travel from car to rail to bus. The need for convenient multi-modal connectivity will remain heightened, especially while SunRail remains only the spine of a rail network. A card system similar to SunPass--the integrated charging system for most Florida toll roads and airport parking--should ensure seamless boarding between buses and rail and vice versa. Lynx will need to schedule buses to connect to the airport, Disney, and other major destinations so they're available as soon as passengers disembark. GPS-enabled signs, with data available on iPhones, BlackBerries, etc. should inform passengers when the next bus and train will arrive. Lynx needs to post maps showing where the buses go. Passengers should also have the opportunity to bring and safely store bicycles onboard.
Ironically, within hours of Secretary Prasad's SunRail announcement, a severe crash blocked traffic in both directions on I-4 in Polk County--a reminder of how placing all your transportation eggs in one basket is unwise.
Over the next two years, during construction, Central Florida leaders need to ensure that SunRail emobodies the best practices and not ignore valid points raised by SunRail's fiercest critics. I would suggest the following as preliminary thoughts:
* CRITICISM #1: SunRail will compete poorly with automobiles since trains will run only every half-hour during rush hour. Trains every half-hour during rush hour are, in fact, inadequate. An initial--not long-term goal--should strive for ten minute separation between trains, which may require the purchase of additional locomotives. The built-in $77 million (30%) contingency in the budget for both Phases I and II could allow for such purchases given that contract prices are locked-in. The fear of cost overruns expressed by SunRail opponents should prove unfounded.
* CRITICISM #2: The trains won't serve where people want to go, including the airport, convention center, or Disney. This criticism ignored, or discounted the fact that SunRail is serving central business districts in Winter Park and Kissimmee, Downtown Orlando as well as major employers such as Tuperware, Florida Hospital, and Orlando Regional Medical Center. However, click HERE for a video from the Orlando Sentinel of Mayor Jacobs' recent comments. I agree strongly with her assessment of a need to connect SunRail to the Orlando International Airport and Orange County Convention Center. Ideally, I would like to see the ability for Williamsburg residents--many elderly--to access the rail network.
MetroPlan's vision for a multi-modal Central Florida, with connections to UCF and the theme parks, should remain a long-term goal:
 |
| Click to enlarge -- Conceptual Map |
Ironically, within hours of Secretary Prasad's SunRail announcement, a severe crash blocked traffic in both directions on I-4 in Polk County--a reminder of how placing all your transportation eggs in one basket is unwise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)