Central Florida Commuter Rail Assessment

Central Florida Commuter Rail

A case study in Ecological Economics B. Salmons, Fall 2006

Overview • Plans for a commuter rail system for Central Florida were agreed upon in August 2006. • Commuter rail offers several benefits to Central Florida and has the potential to be a sustainable, equitable and economically efficient development strategy for the region. • How does commuter rail exemplify the concepts of Ecological Economics?

The Plan • 1992: the first “project feasibility report” for commuter rail was generated. • August 2006: FDOT and CSX reveal an “agreement in principle” about the use of existing freight 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.

The Plan • www.cfrail.com • 61-miles of track, north/south direction, paralleling Interstate-4. • Strings together a four-county metropolitan region with Orlando at the center. • Inter-modal transportation hubs. – parking – bus service

• Service mainly during “rush hours” – hence “commuter” rail.

The Plan • Why commuter rail?: reduce congestion! – on I-4 (Orlando’s main artery) – on north/south arterial roads

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 rail corridors, increase in property values

• Tri-Rail (South Florida): • Trinity Rail Express (Dallas-Ft. Worth): • Metra (Chicago and suburbs)

The Benefits • • • •

Reduced congestion Reduced sprawl Pave the way for other mass transit options Local economic development • Reduced CO2 emissions • “Sustainability Multiplier Effect”

The Benefits • Reduced Congestion – Growth in Central Florida is inevitable – Build more roads, widen roads: more drivers will use them, 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 ecologicallyfriendly way

The Benefits • Reduced Congestion – Commuter rail transit is less polluting than automobile traffic • DMU – Diesel Multiple Unit (self-propelled commuter rail car) – “decreases fuel consumption by a factor of 4” compared to conventional locomotives (GreenCarCongress.com, accessed 3 December 2006)

– During peak hours, commuter rail in Central Florida is projected to carry as many commuters as 1 lane of I-4 does • I-4 is currently from six to eight lanes in the proposed commuter rail area – so commuter rail will carry from 12-17% of rush hour traffic.

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.

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 with private sector interest (cfrail.com, accessed 3 December 2006).

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”

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 and improvement of service – more routes/stops and denser scheduling. – interface with commuter rail may remove stigma associated with riding the bus, as more professionals begin to use it.

• “Bus rapid transit” (BRT) – expansion of Lymmo service – a no-fare circulator bus operated by LYNX. – “The 10 low floor Lymmo vehicles use compressed natural gas as fuel and are capable of controlling traffic signals to minimize stops.” (American Public Transportation Association website, accessed 3 December 2006).

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 of metropolitan Orlando (Altamonte Springs to south Orange County). • Complements commuter rail: “ideal for linking residential communities with downtown areas or other urban activity/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).

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”

The Benefits • Main benefit of commuter rail: reduction in CO2 – Reduced congestion means fewer automobile emissions. – Reduced sprawl means fewer automobiles and more people walking or biking. – Better and more varied mass transit means fewer automobile emissions and use of sustainable technologies in mass transit vehicles (e.g. CNG in BRT, electric LRT) – Local economic development means more mom-n-pop businesses who care what externalities their operations produce.

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 viable…etc.

• e.g. Sheridan Station Side Village – TOD at Hollywood, FL station of Tri-Rail (FloridaTransportationMonthly.com, accessed 3 December 2006).

The Linkages to Theory How does the Central Florida Commuter Rail project demonstrate the principles of Ecological Economics?

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 a qualitative sense).

The Linkages to Theory • Three goals of Ecological Economics: – Sustainability – Just distribution (concurrently and intergenerationally) – Economic efficiency

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 more sustainable than growth in automobile traffic.

The Linkages to Theory • Sustainability – TODs are conducive to walking, sometimes unwelcoming to automobile traffic – this is good for reducing car-dependence. – LRT, bus and BRT are overall more fuel efficient than cars, less polluting.

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 persons gets better. • Stigma of riding the bus will lessen when new customers (e.g. professionals) begin using it. • Increased connectivity between diff. forms of mass transit improves mobility of low-income persons (including seniors)

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)

The Linkages to Theory • Just distribution (inter-generationally) – Resources for powering automobiles are used less intensively, leaving more resources and less 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.

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 Group’s new location in Fort Worth – access to Trinity 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 bus transplants, thus no reduction in cars on road) • This is why efficiency is not first priority in Ecological Economics: social & environmental costs are more important.

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”)

Central Florida Commuter Rail “Thinking globally, acting locally”