Restarting passenger train service down Florida’s East Coast

[JeffreyS]

The application says the JRTC is being developed by "others". Wasn't that a Nichol Kidman movie?  The application does include a resolution from the JTA page 234 on the pdf that "redevelops historic downtowns built around train stations, including the historic Jacksonville Terminal and the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC)".

[thelakelander]

I believe page 7 did mention commuter rail.

[thelakelander]

Developed by others is another word for "we aren't paying for it."  Imo, its in Jax's best interest to get Amtrak back DT, even if the city has to fund it themselves.

[JeffreyS]

Agreed and I believe the city will have to fund it.  I wish it had mentioned possible Street car also but no such luck.

[Ocklawaha]

Agreed and I believe the city will have to fund it.  I wish it had mentioned possible Street car also but no such luck.

That's what I saw too, NOTHING but the SOS from our Transportation AUTHORITY! God help us.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

I think FDOT has applied for JRTC funding through the TIGER grant program (another stimulus fund)...we'll have to see if they get any $

[Charles Hunter]

I think it was JTA that applied for the TIGER grant for the JRTC ...

[tufsu1]

correct...my mistake....the grant applications were endorsed by the NFTPO and FDOT

[JeffreyS]

So if we have applied for the Amtrak upgrades and the JRTC facilities the next step seems to be to prioritize Streetcar, commuter rail and BRT projects.  The I am a fan of the streetcars but I believe the commuter rail has moved further down the path studies, projections and such.  I believe we should use the Jacksonville Terminal as our station whether the convention center is there or moves.

[thelakelander]

Commuter rail is further down the path but it would be easier to implement a streetcar system.  You would not have to negotiate with railroad companies, it could be built on existing public ROW and from an entity other than JTA, if desired.

[JeffreyS]

The JTA would be our best bet at streetcar using the BJP money for transit. (If the money is still around.) I guess if someone else implemented streetcar the JTA would have the money for commuter rail. Who else would we be talking about?

[fsujax]

JTA also endoresed the FEC jax to miami project. For some reason it didn't make into the application. I know the Board passed a resolution of support at the August 2009 meeting. Don't fret too much of no mention of streetcar in the application. Remember FDOT put the application together not JTA, the City or the NEFRC.

[JeffreyS]

The JTA's resolution is on the pdf's page 234. So it is in there kudos to JTA.
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/economicstimulus/rail/Amtrak-FEC-application.pdf

[Ocklawaha]

JTA also endoresed the FEC jax to miami project. For some reason it didn't make into the application. I know the Board passed a resolution of support at the August 2009 meeting. Don't fret too much of no mention of streetcar in the application. Remember FDOT put the application together not JTA, the City or the NEFRC.

The JTA's resolution is on the pdf's page 234. So it is in there kudos to JTA.

Well, well, well, who would have guessed Johnny WAS up to something after all...?? Daddy has probably explained "How the cow eats the cabbage!" Because when the man pile was unstacked, guess who I found at the bottom?

December 5, 2000, Jacksonville Business Journal: *(Just two years from the first $80 Million dollar + deal with the State of Florida and Amtrak... The one Bush squashed)

St. Augustine-based Florida East Coast Industries (NYSE: FLA) made some changes to its leadership team.

Gate Petroleum founder Herb Peyton was elected a director at the company's Dec. 1 board meeting. He also is a director of The St. Joe Co. (NYSE: JOE) and is a trustee of the duPont Trust,

"Herb has first-hand experience at developing those strategies for a company with a diversified portfolio like FECI," said Robert Anestis, chairman and CEO of FECI. "He will bring a wealthy of knowledge and experience to FECI as well as seasoned business judgment."

Peyton's position on The St. Joe board forges a closer relationship with Florida East Coast. The two companies have enjoyed a long history together, but separated two months ago when St. Joe spun off its majority interest the company.

Florida East Coast also named Robert MacSwain vice chairman of the company. MacSwain had been executive vice president of special projects for Florida East Coast and president of Flagler Development, Florida East Coast's commercial real estate development subsidiary.

John Carey, formerly chief operating officer of Flagler, was named president of the division.

Florida East Coast owns four subsidiaries including Flagler, Florida East Coast Railway Co., logistics firm International Transit and Orlando-based carrier company EPIK Communications.

I realize he long since retired from the Board, but this speaks volumes, libraries and God knows what about the wheeling dealing child mayor of Jacksonville. Think maybe his lack of motivation for rail could have anything to do with the family business now? Knowing the official line of the industry is "Amtrak is in the way of profitable freight trains." The new battle cry is more like, "Amtrak a huge operations liability, is a great way to milk Uncle Sam for dollars to add capacity." Add to this a family fortune based in automobile travel, gasoline, and oil, as well as concrete highways. I think we are now seeing the light, and just like I suspected, it IS the headlight of an oncoming train! (This is the part where MJ readers, rail activists, new urbanest, and general travelers from around the nation, do our best deer in the headlight imitations.)

OCKLAWAHA

[JeffreyS]

I believe the FEC has been purchased since Herb's time and is now operated by Rail America.  is this correct?