Economy gains speedwith high-speed rail

Editorial

In football, a back who churns straight ahead and is hard to stop is called a downhill runner. That's a good description, too, of the high-speed rail project from Tampa to Orlando. Suddenly, after years of stops, starts and reverses of field, it is now running straight down hill.

The recent federal award of another $800 million raises to over $2 billion the amount available for the train. The project has strong bipartisan support, and even more money is likely to be sent here next year.

One fear was that the Obama administration would spread the money so thin that no state could afford to build anything. Instead, the money was wisely concentrated. Most of the latest allocations went to Florida and California. Florida is farther along in the planning and has right of way ready to go in the I-4 median. Serious questions are being raised about California's plans, but it's hard to see what could stop the well-designed Florida project.

Despite its long history, many people still confuse the high-speed, cross-state train with a proposed light-rail system from USF to downtown to Tampa International Airport. The lighter, slower train is a local project that can be built only if voters approve an increase in the county sales tax, which will also buy more buses, roads and sidewalks. Voter approval of the local transportation referendum next week will provide an important local rail connection to the high-speed line, which will end in downtown Tampa. But it is not true, as we have heard several people say, that the federal government is sending enough money to Florida to solve Tampa's transportation problems.

Having a 168-mph train to Orlando won't help most of us get to work, to the university or to the airport. The local project is what will move local people.

Those who are fundamentally suspicious of any big government project should consider what Republican Sen. George LeMieux of Florida said of the high-speed rail: "These projects are vital to Florida's growth and our economy and it is the right use of the taxpayer's transportation dollars. Florida's size, population growth, and number of major metropolitan areas demand better transportation solutions. I look forward to the day when people can travel to and from the major city and university centers in Florida in an hour or two."

Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor, who has lobbied hard for the high-speed rail, points out that business leaders are solidly behind it. One reason is that it will be good for tourism and property values. Building it will also create jobs for many local businesses.

In the Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando urban areas, the latest estimates show 339,200 people are unemployed - 26,000 more than a year ago.

The rapid-rail system and local train are not magic solutions, but they will improve the economic climate. It is vital that both be built.