Not to rain on anyone's parade but I'd like to offer a few corrections and reality checks...
1) This is a refinement of standard Amtrak service, not high speed rail. According to the United States Federal Railroad Administration's (extremely lenient) definition, trains must operate above 90 MPH to be classified as high speed rail. **Compare this with the European Union's standard of 125+ MPH!**
Its actually the start of what could grow into a corridor service. The money going to pay to increase track capacity is also something Jacksonville could possibly piggyback, in regards to JTA's commuter rail plans. According to this application, Tri-Rail intends to do the same thing to gain access to the FEC corridor in South Florida.
2) Many times these projects are more to make a political statement than to offer a true high speed transportation option. A perfect example is the current "high speed rail" project in New York state. The state and federal government is currently in negotiations with CSX to operate its Amtrak trains up to 110 MPH along CSX right-of-way. Sounds great, but the catch is that Amtrak already operates its trains at 110 MPH along much of that line. Even though the entire budget of the NY project will be spent on upgrading existing right-of-way, the government is advertising it as "new high speed rail service." Not a bad project at all, but it is by no means an extension of Acela as federal officials want people to believe.
I believe our focus on true HSR is overrated. Even the HSR Tampa/Orlando link is anticipated to only average 86 mph. What we really need is to improve track to bring the areas of low speed up to a respectable level to increase average travel times along routes.
3) Purchasing of new equipment is not part of this plan. This new route involves simply routing trains over a new line, not buying new locomotives and passenger cars.
The application suggests that new and refurbished rolling stock is a part of the request.
4) I cannot see Amtrak stopping in San Marco when the main Jacksonville station is located only several miles away. A stop midway between St. Augustine and Jacksonville (Avenues or Nocatee) is more realistic, but I doubt the demand exists to justify a station. Amtrak is not pushing this project to give Jacksonville a shot at commuter rail. This plan is for statewide travel along the east coast, period.
Amtrak may not be pushing to give Jax the best shot at commuter rail. However, Jax does have the opportunity to use Amtrak as a stepping stone to getting their plans off the ground. An example of this would be Amtrak increasing track capacity on the FEC. That's something we would have to pay locally for commuter rail. Having Amtrak come in first and share in the costs, reduces the capital costs of everything we'll have to fund to implement commuter rail. A second thing we should look at is moving the Amshack station back downtown. This not only benefits us, it will benefit Amtrak to have a higher profile location that has the ability to draw additional riders to their intercity and future corridor services. In any event, we should not expect Amtrak to plan these things for us, our city must step up and make a case.
As for a stop midway between Jax and St. Augustine, it is something that should be studied. If Polk County can support two Amtrak stations, a place twice the size should be able to as well. The population of the Southside/Northern St. Johns County is already higher than that of Palm Coast's, Stuart's and a couple of other places that will have new stations. We might be surprised to see what we can support if we can work it into the updated study process.
5) I'd like to point out that in the proposal, it is specifically mentioned that Jacksonville will be the division point between Amtrak service via CSX to the north and the proposed FEC line service to the south. Being a division point, Jacksonville is the natural location for crew changes, the servicing of equipment, and therefore layovers for passengers. Do we want layover passengers to wander the rundown, crime-ridden streets of the Northside, or fuel the economic growth of our downtown... In other words, the city needs to get on the ball and relocate the station to the "proposed" downtown transportation center (which we haven't heard anything about for months now!).
Great points. These should be used by Jacksonville to convince others that this plan should include returning Jacksonville's station downtown.
Again, I'm not trying to be negative at all. This is a great opportunity for Jacksonville and the state, but it should by no means be viewed as true high speed rail or "The Acela of Florida."
Its definitely not Acela or true HSR. We should view this for what it is. An opportunity for better rail connectivity and mobility between Jacksonville, St. Augustine and other communities. As well as a stepping stone to moving forward on our own commuter rail plans.
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