SE Florida Tri-Rail Commuter News

[electricron]

Originally Posted by bobdreamz

Fair question.

So what do you consider what the Florida Legislature did knowing that all funding is in place to have a Commuter Rail system like Tri-Rail (which is 27 years old) to be able to build into a new train station platform by a privately funded train system like All Aboard Florida's BrightLine's into downtown Miami project and not act on it?

It's basically killing a transportation infrastructure by non-action.

Knowing that to get an amendment onto a transportation bill that would clarify who would be liable when a passenger train crashes on railway shared by public and private trains. But the bill passed without the amendment, which they had said was critical, since their link requires using the Florida East Coast Railway, a private line.

They did the same thing to SunRail with CSX when SunRail was being established except they had time whereas Tri-Rail was being pressured to have this "Insurance indemnification" issue resolved since without it's resolution they would have missed the opportunity to have two platforms in downtown Miami @ Miami's Central Station.

We have a Governor who is anti-Rail hence his rejection of HSR funds from Obama and a Republican legislature who also feels the same way.

Thankfully Tri-Rail managed to find a solution to this problem so forgive me if I feel our state Government is not responsive to Urban public transport in it's major metro in the state.

Local transit agencies should never assume a law will be changed to fund anything. Priorities at the State and Federal level for funding may not be the same as at the local level. And as it turned out, the project wasn't killed without that State funding and changes to the law after all.

[eleven=11]

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/2016/0...fic-ballgames/
aerial Tram linking new downtown miami station with Marlins ballpark

[electricron]

Originally Posted by eleven=11

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/2016/0...fic-ballgames/
aerial Tram linking new downtown miami station with Marlins ballpark

A feasibility study is neither an environmental study nor an agreement to fund and build it. All the study concluded was that the best place to use an aerial tram in Miami was between Miami Central and the Marlin ballpark.
A federal environmental impact study required to be completed before receiving FTA funding might conclude to build something else.

Of course, Miami could decide to fund this aerial tram itself. Examples of other aerial tram construction costs in America:

Portland Aerial Tram cost $57 million to build in 2006, four times the original estimate. The tram travels a horizontal distance of 3,300 feet (1,000 m) and a vertical distance of 500 feet (150 m) in a ride that lasts three minutes, averaging 22 mph. The tram cars each weigh approximately 12 tons, with cabin dimensions of 25 feet by 11 feet (7.5 m by 3.3 m). Each car has a capacity of over 13 tons and there is sufficient room in the cabin for 78 passengers and one operator. The tram is propelled by three independent drive systems. The primary drive is a 450 kilowatt (600 hp) variable-frequency electric motor. Two hydrostatic diesel engines are also part of the design: one is a standby drive, permitting operation during a power outage; the other is an emergency evacuation drive. The tram's operating costs are also higher than expected. Originally, it was expected to cost $915,000 annually, but is now expected to be $1,700,000. As a result, the fare—originally estimated at $1.70—is set at $4.50, about the same as an all day ticket on Tri-Met ($5.00).

The distance between Marlin's ballpark and Miami Center is at least 6,780 feet, about twice that of the Portland Aerial Tram. Should we expect twice the construction costs?
I'm sure a mostly single track streetcar line 6,780 feet long could be built for less than $50 million, and a double track streetcar line could be built for less than $100 million.
What would be interesting is comparing the operating expenses, I'm not sure which would be cheaper? But I'm sure the fares for a streetcar trip just over a mile long would be less than $4.50, even in Miami.

[eleven=11]

http://wavestreetcar.com/project-status/
this should connect to tri-rail?
what is the status?

[N830MH]

We have a problems at Tri-Rail Miami Airport station. Because the platform is too short, but they didn't have to extended the platforms for Amtrak.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/traf...129451899.html

The train is late out of the station. That’s because the station and the train have a size problem.

Plans to open the new Amtrak station near Miami International Airport are behind schedule, Florida transportation officials say. Source of the problem: an engineering error in the construction of the train platform , according to the state Department of Transportation.

The station won’t be ready to open until the end of the year at the Miami Intermodal Center, said Ivette Ruiz-Paz, an FDOT spokeswoman in Miami.

“FDOT is in the process of finalizing an operations and maintenance agreement with Amtrak to provide their passenger service at the MIC Central Station,” Ruiz-Paz said in an email. “The department anticipates to open Amtrak service by the winter of 2017.”

This must be very disappointed the news at MIA Airport station.

[bobdreamz]

^ Well they knew about this issue in 2013 when Tri-Rail opened and faced the same problem. I'm not sure why this would delay the opening.

[N830MH]

Originally Posted by bobdreamz

^ Well they knew about this issue in 2013 when Tri-Rail opened and faced the same problem. I'm not sure why this would delay the opening.

I don't know either. That's why they didn't constructed extending the platform. That's a problem. They always too many problems. I think Amtrak is complaining about platform at new Miami Airport station.

[N830MH]

Tri-Rail will extended to Palm Beach Gardens station.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/lo...NJUV0d70NRsGI/

PALM BEACH GARDENS

Palm Beach Gardens has snagged a $120,000 grant to plan a new Tri-Rail station that will extend the commuter rail north and eventually allow thousands who commute to work along PGA Boulevard an alternative to slogging through highway traffic snarls.

They haven't extended service in a long time.

[BrownTown]

Is the platform being too short really the end of the world? A lot of NJT stations have short platforms and you just have to walk up if you're in the back of the train.

[chris08876]

^^^^

Indeed. I have seen many people miss their stops because they don't listen to the intercom. And then they have the nerve to get pissed when they miss it. Hey, the conductor did say the first two cars only many times.

I use to ride NJT religiously back when I was in University and I despise folks that don't follow the quiet car rule. Worse is when they bring their 5 kids that scream all the time.

NJT riders will get this. And it really irks the Westfield commuters.

[N830MH]

Originally Posted by chris08876

^^^^

Indeed. I have seen many people miss their stops because they don't listen to the intercom. And then they have the nerve to get pissed when they miss it. Hey, the conductor did say the first two cars only many times.

I use to ride NJT religiously back when I was in University and I despise folks that don't follow the quiet car rule. Worse is when they bring their 5 kids that scream all the time.

NJT riders will get this. And it really irks the Westfield commuters.

Originally Posted by BrownTown

Is the platform being too short really the end of the world? A lot of NJT stations have short platforms and you just have to walk up if you're in the back of the train.

You two! You got wrong thread! You should be on NYJ Transit thread, not on South Florida Tri-Rail forums.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by BrownTown

Is the platform being too short really the end of the world? A lot of NJT stations have short platforms and you just have to walk up if you're in the back of the train.

Does NJT have short platforms at their end-of-line terminating stations, where the train actually blocks traffic for hours?

[N830MH]

“The Department’s Tri-Rail Coastal Link Project is on hold waiting for an access agreement” for the Brightline tracks, said Barbara Kelleher, a state transportation spokeswoman. “Miami-Dade County is leading the negotiations … and our understanding is discussions have been postponed until All Aboard Florida begins running passenger rail service between Miami and West Palm Beach.”

Don't halted the project!

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/loca...170116992.html

[N830MH]

https://www.thenextmiami.com/fdot-ha...gquegQ9A3mgY_4

The demonstration station is to be located at 36th Street, between Midtown Miami and the Design District. Tri-Rail will offer connections from downtown Miami’s MiamiCentral through Palm Beach County. City trolleys will also stop at the Midtown station.

[bobdreamz]

First Look: Downtown Miami’s First Ever Tri-Rail Station Is Nearly Complete.
By TNM Staff on January 28, 2019

For the first time ever, Tri-Rail will have a downtown Miami station – and it is now nearly complete, new photos show.

Opening won’t take place until at least late 2019 however, due to installation of a safety system on the tracks.

The safety system is a new federal requirement known as Positive Train Control. Inspection and approval of the new system by the Federal Railroad Administration means that opening will be pushed into at least late 2019.

When it does open, around 2,000 passengers per day are forecast to use the station, Tri-Rail told Miami Today last year. That includes 1,000 first time passengers.

The new station is being built as part of the MiamiCentral complex, which includes a food hall and multiple levels of retail, along with office, residential and a Brightline station. There is also direct access to Metrorail and Metromover.









https://www.thenextmiami.com/first-l...4cXEjbgXVtOrjY

[plutonicpanda]

That is a beautiful station! Good stuff.

[Altoic]

https://www.thenextmiami.com/tri-rai...for-next-week/

Tri-Rail has finally obtained approval to test a trainset running into MiamiCentral, according to WLRN’s Danny Rivero.

David Dech, the executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority which operates Tri-Rail, said he was now looking at late 2023 or early 2024 for the start of service, while citing progress on getting it moving.
An agreement has been signed allowing 26 daily Tri-Rail trains on FEC tracks into downtown Miami, Dech said.

[bobdreamz]

It's unbelievable that the Tri-Rail station downtown was finished 4 years ago and service still hasn't begun.

[N830MH]

Originally Posted by bobdreamz

It's unbelievable that the Tri-Rail station downtown was finished 4 years ago and service still hasn't begun.

I know!! They haven’t starting yet! Hope they start soon. We’ll see how it goes. It’s been so long!