ORLANDO, Fla. -- To get from Orlando to Tampa, high-speed rail is supposed to run right down the middle of I-4, but there are obvious obstacles standing in the way. WFTV asked state planners how they expect to get around all the overpasses. The high-speed trains that will zip through Central Florida will hit a top speed of 168 miles per hour.
Drivers like Paula Chase say they're happy to hear survey work has already begun, mapping out the path of the train from Orlando International Airport to downtown Tampa. Much of that route is a straight shot down the median of I-4, but a view of the route from Skywitness 9 shows a problem: overpass after overpass, with giant pillars stand in the way.
WFTV took a closer look and counted nearly 50 potential obstructions. But overpasses are not the only challenge. FDOT planners say they need 44 feet to fit the trains in the median of I-4. WFTV measured a section and it came to 36 feet. That could mean they'll have to go outside of the guard rails.
Those same planners admit there are some pinched areas. They couldn't estimate how much it'll cost to modify all of those bridges, but said it's included in the original price tag of more than $2.5 billion.
“Are you confident we can get this done on time and for the price that they've said?” WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked.
“Well, I had an update today on both projects,” Congressman John Mica said.
Congressman Mica, a big supporter of high-speed rail and SunRail, insists things are staying on track.
“I feel pretty confident you'll see some actual construction by the end of the year,” Mica said.
Planners told WFTV they'll figure out what to do with each of those overpasses on a case-by-case basis.
The entire Orlando-Tampa line is supposed to be up and running sometime in 2015. The total trip time will be less than one hour.
Copyright 2010 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
No comments:
Post a Comment