Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment

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Central Florida Commuter

Rail

A case study in Ecological Economics

B. Salmons, Fall 2006


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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?


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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.


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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


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The Plan

Why commuter rail?: reduce congestion!

on I-4 (Orlandos main artery)

on north/south arterial roads


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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)


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The Benefits

Reduced congestion

Reduced sprawl

Pave the way for other mass transit options

Local economic development

Reduced CO2 emissions Sustainability Multiplier Effect


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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


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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.


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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.


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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).


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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


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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).


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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).


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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


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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.


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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).


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The Linkages to Theory

How does the Central Florida Commuter

Rail project demonstrate the principles of

Ecological Economics?


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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).


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Three goals of Ecological Economics:

Sustainability

Just distribution (concurrently and inter-

generationally)

Economic efficiency


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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.


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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.


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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)


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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)


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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.


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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.


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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)


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Central Florida Commuter Rail

Thinking globally, acting locally

Central Florida Commuter Rail assessment

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