That’s the message presenters from the Southern Rail Commission, Transportation for America, Amtrak, and the Rail Passengers Association brought to an informational meeting in Mobile on July 12.
The proposed morning and evening service on the 160-mile corridor recently won a $33 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant. While many civic leaders are proponents of the economic development and tourism aspects of the proposed service, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has expressed reservations of committing her state to the required matching money that both Louisiana and Mississippi have already pledged. Concerns about interference with the port, and Mobile’s cruise-ship terminal, have been prominent.
The presentation outlines exactly what is being proposed, including schedules (slide 29) and equipment (slide 75). It also details specific Alabama capital improvements required based on a route evaluation overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Amtrak and CSX Transportation still have to negotiate specifics, but many of the host railroad’s previous cost estimates were based on bridge-opening assumptions that have since been discounted by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Alabama’s match is $2.2 million for infrastructure and $3.04 million for operating support, yet the presentation outlines how that investment purports to generate more than $40 million in economic benefits from the new service.
The presenters emphasized passenger rail success stories on comparable corridors in other parts of the country for an audience largely unfamiliar with how Maine’s Downeaster, Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawathas, or Virginia’s trains’ fares are priced.
Plans for push-pull operation, a 600-foot platform Mobile station, and a 1,325-foot layover track off of the CSX main line were also revealed.
“Since Katrina, all of the Gulf Coast cities from New Orleans to Mobile have invested in their downtowns – and Mobile’s is especially vibrant,” Southern Rail Commission Vice Chairman Knox Ross tells Trains News Wire. “All they really need is for people to come and take advantage of it – and this is the way to do it.”
Alabama has the money, just like Indiana has the money. It’s a political decision all the way.
Haven’t you heard, the recently cancelled Hoosier because Indiana didn’t have the money?
Indiana just finished the fiscal year with its largest ever budget surplus. What did the Gov do?
He doled it out for different infrastructure projects around the state.
The people supporting this new service aren’t rubbing the right bank accounts (re-election campaigns).
Note how they always bring their ONE dome on these inspection trips. Talk about false advertising……
Re: economnic ebenfits calculated?
Generally by economists. Econ 101 teaches: If you pull an assumption out of you “posterior” it follows that _________________________. (Insert desired conclusion on line).
I would definitely take the train to get some of the good food in New Orleans!
Charles, Sometimes,from humble beginnings,fantastic things do happen.
How is the $40 Million in economnic ebenfits calculated?
ROGER – Yes you’re correct, I do support the Hiawatha. It’s an established higher-speed route with multipe frequencies. I just don’t see this happening in Mobile.
CHRIS – Good post. Opposing the train for the wrong reasons is just plain stupid.
Great news and hope that the government officials who are holding this opportunity for us all to benefit from, are giving their citizens another option for travel. All the naysayers can figure up their numbers and holler about the cost, we’re just fortunate that they aren’t government officials who have the final choice. Two round trips daily can offer so many opportunities for people in the area and the cruise passengers, to travel another route to the Big Easy, Mobile or many of the nice casinos on the beach in Ms.. I say GO TEAM to the Southern Rail Commission for continuing their effort to utilize this part of Amtrak that has already been upgraded from government funding. We improved CSX tracks for them, now, let’s get some use and enjoyment out of this great opportunity.
Charles, Why are you so much against a new corridor train starting up from Mobile to New Orleans? I believe that I remember you expressing support for the Hiawathas in your area (correct me if I am wrong);so why not give New Orleans-Mobile a chance? Could it be that it happens to be a train in the South?
I live in Mobile county and Governor Ivey is a lockstep Republican as are most of our state representatives. She’s not going to fund Amtrak into Mobile because she’s a backwards thinking embarrassment to our state. She’s throwing out all kinds of crazy propaganda of how the train will interrupt operations at the cruise terminal and the State Docks. Anyone with even a slight knowledge of either of these operations will no that’s bull@#%. Unfortunately I’m pretty sure she’ll get her way and the great state of Alabama will once again take a pass on something that could be very good for its citizens for relatively little cost.
GERALD _ You say these economic models “don’t usually lie”. Okay, stick with your West Coast viewpoint. As a Midwesterner grounded in reality, I know better. Even if the number comes out right (like a stopped clock, tells the time twice a day) these models are based on a long series of assumptions while ignoring the opportunity costs of spending the money elsewhere for possibly better results.
I’m not saying the train won’t benefit some people. Surely it will. So would spending the money on something else per the will of the voters of Alabama.
Alabama is a big state. Mobile (birthplace of Hank Aaron and also my best friend, both in 1934) is said to be a wonderful city but it isn’t the whole state.
John Privara,
If you knew anything about economics(which it appears you don’t), there is actually a formula that is used to create those economic benefit numbers, and they don’t usually lie. Besides the fact that 40 million dollars in economic benefit to Mobile is most likely a conservative amount…I would expect it to be much more than that.