Thoughts on All Aboard Florida

[aridon]

When I looked at it the cost to ride was expensive and I'd still need transportation when I got to my destination.

What exactly is this supposed to do again? This isn't the NY subway or the boston T.

[Ave07]

Originally Posted by aridon

When I looked at it the cost to ride was expensive and I'd still need transportation when I got to my destination.

What exactly is this supposed to do again? This isn't the NY subway or the boston T.

To ease congestion on 95.

[071402]

If it isn't cost effective, no one will take the train. ie. Amtrak: it's too expensive and is incredibly slow.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by 071402

If it isn't cost effective, no one will take the train. ie. Amtrak: it's too expensive and is incredibly slow.

I think it makes sense for tourists and business travelers. I'm sure they will find ways to make it cost efficient, specials, etc.

The other week it took me TWO hours to get from West Palm Beach to Ft. Lauderdale. That cost my client money, and they still had to pay me my 0.55/mile reimbursement for mileage.

It would have been far more efficient to take the train to downtown Ft. Lauderdale, and then take the trolley/street car (yes there is one) to my destination, or a short uber ride to where I needed to be.

Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm and Miami are expanding their public transport options. There's even talk - FINALLY - of connecting Miami Beach with the mainland via a light rail. That would be amazing for tourists. Hell, I'd use it for a leisure trip to Miami just to avoid having to drive in Miami-Dade county!



I figure, if it doesn't work out, oh well. But people need to stop thinking they know better than the business analysts and company itself investing a billion dollars into the project. If they fail, oh well, they fail. At least we get upgraded rail infrastructure (which is still going to be used for freight from now until eternity) and quiet zones!

[071402]

Going to be hard to cross AIA from stores/shopping and whatnot with increased trains passing through. So do they estimate X number of trains per day? (not late evening, 2 am) back/forth - because that's a lottttttt of waiting for that TRAIN in Palm Beach gardens.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by 071402

Going to be hard to cross AIA from stores/shopping and whatnot with increased trains passing through. So do they estimate X number of trains per day? (not late evening, 2 am) back/forth - because that's a lottttttt of waiting for that TRAIN in Palm Beach gardens.

Well, if we consider that the average passenger train causes about 90 seconds of delay (as compared to a freight train which can take many minutes), that's actually less than a traffic light.

They run tri-rail much, much more frequently across some busy intersections in WPB and points south. It can be a hassle to catch a train, but I'm stymied more often by traffic signals. If they can figure out how to coordinate lights and train signalization it would work out well.

[FromCTtoFL]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

I think it makes sense for tourists and business travelers. I'm sure they will find ways to make it cost efficient, specials, etc.

The other week it took me TWO hours to get from West Palm Beach to Ft. Lauderdale. That cost my client money, and they still had to pay me my 0.55/mile reimbursement for mileage.

It would have been far more efficient to take the train to downtown Ft. Lauderdale, and then take the trolley/street car (yes there is one) to my destination, or a short uber ride to where I needed to be.

Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm and Miami are expanding their public transport options. There's even talk - FINALLY - of connecting Miami Beach with the mainland via a light rail. That would be amazing for tourists. Hell, I'd use it for a leisure trip to Miami just to avoid having to drive in Miami-Dade county!



I figure, if it doesn't work out, oh well. But people need to stop thinking they know better than the business analysts and company itself investing a billion dollars into the project. If they fail, oh well, they fail. At least we get upgraded rail infrastructure (which is still going to be used for freight from now until eternity) and quiet zones!

Holy cow! 2 hours to get from West Palm Beach to Ft Lauderdale - uggh! I agree with you, I would take a train into Miami for a leisure trip vs driving. When I lived in CT, everyone took the train into NYC rather than drive. Traffic was crazy - what was easily a 2 hour drive was only 45 mins on the train, plus you could drink in the bar car, nap, read, work or just relax on the ride.

[Nolefan34]

Forgive me, but what is the difference between this train and Tri-Rail? Just faster with fewer stops? Unless you live and work right off of one of the 3 stations, you will still need additional transportation at both ends. This is the problem with Tri-Rail. The new train will be just as useless for commuting until they build additional east-west lines that connect with business districts and neighborhoods. This will do nothing to alleviate 95 congestion.

This train is more useful as a long distance commuter to Orlando. But how often to people go to Orlando? Once a year at most? Then what do you do when you get off of the train? Walk 30 miles to Disney? Will they have car rental centers next to the station? Driving isn't that expensive or time consuming. I really don't see the great benefit here.

I am all for expanding the train system in South FL, but they really need to focus on the commuting aspect by building east-west, not a 1-line train like we already have in Tri-Rail.

[071402]

Seems there is a great need to get people from south florida to central florida and off the highways. In Orlando, I assume one is possibly picked up at that train by a bus, a rental car, uber or taxi. ?

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by Nolefan34

Forgive me, but what is the difference between this train and Tri-Rail? Just faster with fewer stops? Unless you live and work right off of one of the 3 stations, you will still need additional transportation at both ends. This is the problem with Tri-Rail. The new train will be just as useless for commuting until they build additional east-west lines that connect with business districts and neighborhoods. This will do nothing to alleviate 95 congestion.

This train is more useful as a long distance commuter to Orlando. But how often to people go to Orlando? Once a year at most? Then what do you do when you get off of the train? Walk 30 miles to Disney? Will they have car rental centers next to the station? Driving isn't that expensive or time consuming. I really don't see the great benefit here.

I am all for expanding the train system in South FL, but they really need to focus on the commuting aspect by building east-west, not a 1-line train like we already have in Tri-Rail.

Tri-Rail is inconvenient because it passes west of the downtown cores.


The eastern link is what most people advocate for. Indeed, many see it as the first step to including inter-city rail (in other words, tri-rail on the eastern tracks) in addition to AAF, which would just stop at the major downtown centers.


East-West links in South Florida would be infinitely more expensive than this project, which is expensive as it is.... and a PRIVATE enterprise, not a government run thing.