RSS
Home
USDOT delays HSR grants
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The Federal Railroad Administration pushed back the timeline for announcing recipients of $8 billion in U.S. high-speed rail grants to winter because it’s coping with a surge of state applications, Bloomberg News reported October 6.
The agency, which had planned to make the announcement by this month, has received 45 requests totaling about $50 billion from 24 states, said FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo.
In a related action, according to the Orlando Sentinel of October 11, C.C. "Doc" Dockery, the retired Lakeland insurance magnate who has championed high-speed rail in Florida for decades, was ecstatic when he learned Walt Disney World was offering free land for a station if the train gets the go-ahead.
"What a marvelous opportunity," said Dockery, who added that the marketing muscle of Disney could bring countless riders to the system that also would link Orlando International Airport with International Drive, Lakeland and Tampa.
But whether Disney will do anything to get its millions of customers to actually ride the train is unclear.
Disney officials are mum about their intentions, telling the newspaper only that "it's premature to speculate on the details surrounding high-speed rail" because no one knows whether it will be built.
Florida DOT, which is overseeing the high-speed-rail effort, is far from sure what Disney will do.
"We haven't had a serious dialogue with them. We haven't gotten that far," said DOT Assistant Secretary Kevin Thibault.
Industry analysts say it is unlikely Disney would steer guests toward the train because it could conflict with its shuttle and luggage service at Orlando International Airport known as Disney's Magical Express. The complimentary program, available to guests staying in Disney World hotels, ferries more than 2.2 million people a year between the airport and the resort.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority said on Wednesday that Kernan Boulevard will be closed in both north and south bound directions just north …
The Association of American Railroads yesterday reported that freight rail traffic was down for the Thanksgiving holiday week ended Nov. 28. …
