central florida commuter rail assessment
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
1/28
Central Florida Commuter
Rail
A case study in Ecological Economics
B. Salmons, Fall 2006
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
2/28
Overview
Plans for a commuter rail system for Central
Florida were agreed upon in August 2006.
Commuter rail offers several benefits to CentralFlorida and has the potential to be a sustainable,
equitable and economically efficient development
strategy for the region.
How does commuter rail exemplify the conceptsof Ecological Economics?
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
3/28
The Plan
1992: the first project feasibility report forcommuter rail was generated.
August 2006: FDOT and CSX reveal anagreement in principle about the use of existingfreight lines for a new commuter rail system.
2006-2008: details ironed-out and construction
begins. Late 2009: Phase I becomes operational.
2013: Phase II becomes operational.
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
4/28
www.cfrail.com
61-miles of track, north/south direction,paralleling Interstate-4.
Strings together a four-county metropolitan regionwith Orlando at the center.
Inter-modal transportation hubs.
parkingbus service
Service mainly during rush hours hencecommuter rail.
The Plan
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
5/28
The Plan
Why commuter rail?: reduce congestion!
on I-4 (Orlandos main artery)
on north/south arterial roads
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
6/28
The Evidence
Cities with commuter rail systems experience: increasing popularity of rail
increased quality of life egalitarian quality to transportation choices
potential for economic growth, development along railcorridors, increase in property values
Tri-Rail (South Florida): Trinity Rail Express (Dallas-Ft. Worth):
Metra (Chicago and suburbs)
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
7/28
The Benefits
Reduced congestion
Reduced sprawl
Pave the way for other mass transit options
Local economic development
Reduced CO2 emissions Sustainability Multiplier Effect
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
8/28
The Benefits
Reduced Congestion
Growth in Central Florida is inevitable
Build more roads, widen roads: more drivers will usethem, more congestion
Solution: channel commuters into alternate modes of
transportation:
Lessen congestion on existing roads Slow down expansion of roads
Accommodates growth in population in an ecologically-
friendly way
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
9/28
The Benefits
Reduced Congestion Commuter rail transit is less polluting than automobile
traffic
DMU Diesel Multiple Unit (self-propelled commuter railcar)
decreases fuel consumption by a factor of 4 compared toconventional locomotives (GreenCarCongress.com, accessed 3December 2006)
During peak hours, commuter rail in Central Florida is
projected to carry as many commuters as 1 lane of I-4does
I-4 is currently from six to eight lanes in the proposedcommuter rail area so commuter rail will carry from 12-17%of rush hour traffic.
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
10/28
The Benefits
Reduce sprawl
Need for diverse services at rail stations will
arise: transit oriented developments (TODs)
Mixed-use (residential/commercial/office)
development, denser living space: lessens pressure
for outward expansion into suburbs & new
subdivisions.
More opportunities to walk to stores, restaurants, the
doctor, and even to work less automobile traffic.
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
11/28
The Benefits
Reduce sprawl
Debate over whether the market should determine
where people chose to live, or should local
governments encourage TODs along rail corridor. Importance of TODs lies beyond consumer preference they
are a more sustainable type of development than is urban
sprawl market may not account for this social benefit.
Some towns on the corridor have already begun plans for
TODs (e.g. Longwood), combining government lead withprivate sector interest (cfrail.com, accessed 3 December 2006).
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
12/28
The Benefits
Pave the way for other mass transit:
In the past, Central Florida has failed to
implement mass-transit rail systems: High Speed Rail Amendment (to State constitution,
mandating the building of a high-speed rail system)
was passed and then repealed a few years later.
Viewed as too costly and a waste of money People too attached to their cars, would not take the
train, loss of freedom
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
13/28
The Benefits
Pave the way for other mass transit: Commuter rail transit is the foot in the door for other
forms of mass transit:
LYNX (the Central Florida bus system) expansion andimprovement of service
more routes/stops and denser scheduling.
interface with commuter rail may remove stigma associated withriding the bus, as more professionals begin to use it.
Bus rapid transit (BRT)
expansion of Lymmo service a no-fare circulator bus operatedby LYNX.
The 10 low floor Lymmo vehicles use compressed natural gasas fuel and are capable of controlling traffic signals to minimizestops. (American Public Transportation Association website,accessed 3 December 2006).
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
14/28
The Benefits
Pave the way for other mass transit: light rail transit (LRT)
Electrically-powered vehicles, almost no emissions
Proposed 22-mile stretch linking the core communities ofmetropolitan Orlando (Altamonte Springs to south OrangeCounty).
Complements commuter rail: ideal for linking residentialcommunities with downtown areas or other urbanactivity/employment centers (cfrail.com, accessed 3 December
2006). Revival of interest in high-speed rail as commuter rail
catches on?? No action has been taken since 2005. (FloridaHighSpeedRail.org,
accessed 3 December 2006).
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
15/28
The Benefits
Local economic development
TODs will provide opportunities for local
entrepreneurship (mom-n-pops).
Local businesses are more oriented towards
their community, invest money back into
community multiplier effects
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
16/28
The Benefits
Main benefit of commuter rail: reduction in CO2 Reduced congestion means fewer automobile
emissions.
Reduced sprawl means fewer automobiles and morepeople walking or biking.
Better and more varied mass transit means fewerautomobile emissions and use of sustainable
technologies in mass transit vehicles (e.g. CNG inBRT, electric LRT)
Local economic development means more mom-n-popbusinesses who care what externalities their operationsproduce.
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
17/28
The Benefits
Sustainability multiplier effect
CRT encourages TOD
TOD encourages LRT, bus and BRT
LRT, bus and BRT increase accessibility of
CRT, which makes TOD more viableetc.
e.g. Sheridan Station Side VillageTOD at Hollywood, FL station of Tri-Rail
(FloridaTransportationMonthly.com, accessed 3 December 2006).
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
18/28
The Linkages to Theory
How does the Central Florida Commuter
Rail project demonstrate the principles of
Ecological Economics?
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
19/28
The Linkages to Theory
Basis of EE:
The economy is a subset of the ecosystem.
Laws of Thermodynamics are inescapable
Matter/energy is neither created nor destroyed
Flow of matter/energy is linear, irreversible
Less growth, more development (in aqualitative sense).
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
20/28
The Linkages to Theory
Three goals of Ecological Economics:
Sustainability
Just distribution (concurrently and inter-
generationally)
Economic efficiency
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
21/28
The Linkages to Theory
Sustainability
Commuter rail is less energy intensive than are
automobiles. Barring a cessation of in-migration, the only
solution is to slow growth and redirect commuter
traffic into other forms of transit.
Growth in commuter rail ridership is moresustainable than growth in automobile traffic.
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
22/28
The Linkages to Theory
Sustainability
TODs are conducive to walking, sometimes
unwelcoming to automobile traffic this isgood for reducing car-dependence.
LRT, bus and BRT are overall more fuel
efficient than cars, less polluting.
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
23/28
The Linkages to Theory
Just distribution (concurrently) CRT will initially benefit commuters who live near, or
can drive to, the stations.
When sustainability multiplier effects start to happen,benefits will spread:
Bus service will improve service for low-income personsgets better.
Stigma of riding the bus will lessen when new customers (e.g.professionals) begin using it.
Increased connectivity between diff. forms of mass transitimproves mobility of low-income persons (including seniors)
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
24/28
The Linkages to Theory
Just distribution (concurrently)
Egalitarian quality to transportation choices
All income levels ride
Status of car ownership less important, the need to
buy a car decreases (beneficial to low-income
persons)
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
25/28
The Linkages to Theory
Just distribution (inter-generationally)
Resources for powering automobiles are used
less intensively, leaving more resources andless waste for future generations.
Land use is less intense smart growth
leaving more room for preservation of natural
and cultural resources to be enjoyed by present
and future generations.
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
26/28
The Linkages to Theory Economic efficiency
Profitable TODs: local businesses, local investment
Greater connectivity throughout the region attracts investment
from the outside Scripps Florida in Palm Beach County access to Tri-Rail (24
January 2004, PalmBeachPost.com, accessed 4 December 2006)
CUNA Mutual Groups new location in Fort Worth access toTrinity Rail Express (16 May 2006, Business Journal of Milwaukee,accessed 4 December 2006)
Contrary evidence Some studies say alternate forms of transportation are not cost
effective for various reasons (e.g. most rail commuters are bustransplants, thus no reduction in cars on road)
This is why efficiency is not first priority in Ecological
Economics: social & environmental costs are more important.
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
27/28
The Linkages to Theory
Commuter rail is a local/regional example
of how to work towards global
sustainability:less dependence on non-renewable resources
(oil for cars)
less emphasis on growth, more development(smart growth)
-
8/14/2019 Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment
28/28
Central Florida Commuter Rail
Thinking globally, acting locally