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>> WITH AN ANTICIPATED
COMPLETION DATE IN 2015, FLORIDA
WILL SOON BE HOME TO THE FIRST
PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED
PASSENGER RAIL IN THE
UNITED STATES.
HOW WILL THAT CHANGE OUR STATE'S
TRANSPORTATION LANDSCAPE?
I'LL ASK DONALD ROBINSON,
PRESIDENT OF ALL ABOARD FLORIDA,
NEXT ON "METRO CENTER OUTLOOK."
>> Announcer: THIS PROGRAM IS
MADE POSSIBLE BY FUNDING FROM
THE UCF METRO CENTER, WHERE
GOVERNMENT LEADERS, BUSINESS
EXECUTIVES, AND ACADEMIC EXPERTS
COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS MAJOR
ISSUES FACING THE STATE OF
FLORIDA.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO
"METRO CENTER OUTLOOK."
I'M DIANE TREES, DIRECTOR OF
THE UCF METRO CENTER AND YOUR
HOST FOR "METRO CENTER OUTLOOK."
A NEW RAIL UNDER CONSTRUCTION
IN FLORIDA WILL TAKE PASSENGERS
TO AND FROM ORLANDO AND MIAMI
IN JUST OVER THREE HOURS.
AMONG THOSE PAVING THE WAY FOR
THIS AMBITIOUS $1.5-BILLION
PROJECT IS DONALD ROBINSON,
THE PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR
ALL ABOARD FLORIDA.
HE JOINS ME TODAY TO DISCUSS WHY
BETTER LINKING CENTRAL AND SOUTH
FLORIDA IS CRUCIAL TO THE
STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
DON, THANK YOU FOR BEING ON
THE SHOW.
>> OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
INVITING ME.
PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> FLORIDA IS SPREAD OUT.
OUR CITIES ARE ALL OVER.
WHY DO YOU WANT THAT LINK WITH
ORLANDO AND MIAMI?
WHY CONCENTRATE ON THAT FIRST?
>> WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU TAKE
A LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF
ORLANDO AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS
OF MIAMI, THEY'RE VERY
COMPLEMENTARY.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST
TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE
WORLD WITH ORLANDO, BUT YOU ALSO
HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST
INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS
IN MIAMI.
SO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO
CONNECT TWO VERY LARGE
METROPOLITAN AREAS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S WELL OVER
50 MILLION PASSENGERS THAT GO
BACK AND FORTH ON ROADS AND
AIRLINES, SO WE BELIEVE THAT BY
CREATING ANOTHER METHOD OF
TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE TWO
CITIES, IT'S COST-EFFECTIVE,
VERY FAST, WE'LL ALLEVIATE A LOT
OF THE CONGESTION, BUT WE CREATE
A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR
OURSELVES, BUT ALSO ANOTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT FOR
THE STATE.
>> NOW, YOU WORKED FOR DISNEY
FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS, AND YOU
WORKED ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
HOW DOES THAT EXPERIENCE
TRANSLATE INTO WHAT YOU'RE DOING
WITH THE RAIL INDUSTRY NOW?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S
INTERESTING, BECAUSE NOT ONLY
HAVE I WORKED AROUND THE WORLD,
BUT YOU'VE WORKED IN
ATTRACTIONS, YOU'VE WORKED IN
HOSPITALITY, AND THE WAY I THINK
ABOUT THE TRAIN, IT'S A
THREE-HOUR ATTRACTION.
WE HAVE PASSENGERS, WE HAVE
A THREE-HOUR EXPERIENCE, WE'LL
HAVE THE AMENITIES AND THINGS
LIKE THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO SELL,
AND WE HAVE TO DO GREAT GUEST
SERVICE, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE THE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT
THE TRAIN IS A GREAT AMENITY
FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THEIR
BUSINESS LIVES OR TOURISTS,
AND SO I THINK A LOT OF THE
PASSENGERS THAT WE'LL HAVE WILL
BE EXPERIENCING FLORIDA FOR
THE FIRST TIME, AND SO WE WANT
TO TREAT THEM WITH OUR RAIL
SYSTEM AS GREAT HOSTS IN
THE STATE.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK WE NEED
RAIL TRANSIT?
>> I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE GROWTH
IN THE STATE, YOU CAN'T KEEP
RELYING ON BUILDING NEW ROADS.
THE CRITICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN
ABOUT 300 MILES MAKES IT MORE
EFFECTIVE FOR RAIL.
SO IT'S A LITTLE TOO LONG TO
DRIVE, A LITTLE TOO SHORT TO
FLY, SO RAIL KIND OF FITS RIGHT
IN THAT NICE LITTLE NICHE, AND
THEN YOU CAN RELAX, AND YOU'RE
NOT STRESSED BY THE DRIVE AND
CONGESTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> HOW DOES THIS PROJECT DIFFER
IN CONCEPT FROM THE HIGH-SPEED
RAIL THAT GOVERNOR SCOTT HAD
VETOED?
>> THIS IS PRIVATELY FUNDED AND
PRIVATELY MANAGED.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS IS
WE'RE LEVERAGING AN EXISTING
RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT HENRY FLAGLER
STARTED 100 YEARS AGO, AND WE'RE
JUST LEVERAGING THE EXACT SAME
RAIL SYSTEM THAT HE HAD DONE.
WE'RE JUST ADDING PASSENGER
SERVICE TO IT THAT WAS
ORIGINALLY PART OF THE STATE
OF FLORIDA'S HISTORY, ANYWAY,
SO...
>> WHAT ABOUT THE SPEED?
IS THE PROJECTED SPEED, IS IT
DIFFERENT THAN THE HIGH-SPEED
RAIL WOULD HAVE BEEN?
>> YEAH, AT THE TOP SPEED,
YOU'LL GET TO ABOUT 120 MILES AN
HOUR, SO IT'S SLIGHTLY LESS THAN
WHAT WAS BEING ENVISIONED IN
THE PAST, BUT IT'S STILL PRETTY
FAST, SO BETWEEN MIAMI AND
ORLANDO, IT'S JUST ABOUT THREE
HOURS.
>> YOU MENTIONED SOME OF
THE AMENITIES.
WHAT WILL PASSENGERS BE ABLE
TO LOOK FORWARD TO?
>> WELL, I THINK GREAT GUEST
SERVICE.
YOU'RE GONNA FEEL WARM AND
WELCOME.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE GREAT,
LUXURIOUS SEATS, WiFi, FOOD AND
BEVERAGE.
YOU'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO
CONNECT FROM A BUSINESS
TRAVELER'S PERSPECTIVE IF YOU
HAVE TO DO WORK ON THE TRAIN,
BUSINESS CENTERS, THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS, SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SIT
DOWN AND RELAX AND ENJOY THE
TRIP.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE
A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, THEN,
FOR THE PASSENGERS,
BUSINESS-WISE OR PLEASURE.
>> YES, IT WILL.
WE'VE ALL DRIVEN BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN MIAMI AND ORLANDO, AND
WE KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE.
>> IT'S A LONG DRIVE.
>> IT'S A LONG DRIVE, AND IT'S
CONGESTED, AND THE
UNPREDICTABILITY OF TIMING AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'LL BE RUNNING A TRAIN EVERY
HOUR ON THE HOUR, SO IF YOU
HAPPEN TO BE IN A MEETING, AND
YOU RUN A LITTLE LATE, YOU CAN
HOP ON THE NEXT TRAIN.
>> THAT'S A LOT OF TRAINS BACK
AND FORTH.
THAT'S A LOT OF NUMBER OF
TRIPS.
>> YEAH, IT'S ABOUT 13 TRIPS
FROM EACH SIDE.
WE WON'T BE RUNNING 24 HOURS,
BUT WE'LL RUN FROM ABOUT
6:00 A.M. TO ABOUT 10:00 P.M.
BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DISPATCH
OUT OF ORLANDO AND DISPATCH
OUT OF MIAMI, SO...
>> NOW, WHEN THIS IS UP AND
RUNNING, IT'S GOING TO BE THE
FIRST PRIVATELY OWNED AND
OPERATED PASSENGER RAIL IN
THE UNITED STATES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> NOW, IT'S A HUGE PROJECT.
DRAWBACKS, THOUGH, WITH NOT
HAVING STATE OR FEDERAL
SUBSIDIES -- HOW ARE YOU WORKING
THIS?
>> WELL, WE'VE HAD TO DO A LOT
OF EARLY WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS IS FINANCIALLY VIABLE FOR
US OR PEOPLE WON'T INVEST WITH
US.
WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
WE'RE LEVERAGING EXISTING
RIGHT-OF-WAYS.
IF YOU HAD TO START THIS FROM
SCRATCH AND JUST ACQUIRE THE
LAND FOR THE WHOLE 200 MILES,
THAT WOULD BE A VERY
INSURMOUNTABLE TASK.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, WHICH
MAKES IT MORE FINANCIALLY
VIABLE.
OUR PRIVATE INVESTORS FEEL THAT
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK AS THE STATE GROWS AND
THE AMOUNT OF VISITORS THAT COME
INTO BOTH ORLANDO AND MIAMI,
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF DEMOGRAPHICS
THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO PENETRATE
SMALL PERCENTAGES OF, AND YOU'LL
HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
OPERATION.
>> WE'RE SEEING THE SPACE
INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW TRANSITION
FROM A GOVERNMENT ENTITY TO
MORE PRIVATE COMMERCIAL VENDORS.
DO YOU THINK THAT OTHER
INDUSTRIES LIKE THE
TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY WILL BE
MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT
SOLUTION WORKS FOR ALL
INDUSTRIES, BUT I THINK IT DOES
WORK FOR TRANSPORTATION.
THERE ARE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PRIVATELY FUNDED
OPPORTUNITIES, LIKE OUR CASE.
THAT'S THIS NICHE BETWEEN --
OF ABOUT 300 MILES.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PROVIDE
SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE STATE.
THAT'S WHERE YOU WILL PROBABLY
START TO LOSE MONEY.
YOU HAVE TO PICK THE
OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN THE TWO
DIFFERENT CITY CENTERS THAT MAKE
SENSE FOR YOU.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR
COMPANY RECENTLY APPLIED FOR
A FEDERAL LOAN.
>> RIGHT.
>> HOW MIGHT THAT MAKE THIS
PROJECT EVEN MORE VIABLE?
>> WELL, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIFFERENT
LOANS.
A FEDERAL LOAN IS SOMETHING
THAT'S OUT THERE.
IT'S ENCOURAGING TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENT BY THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, AND SO IT'S JUST ONE
OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT TO BE ABLE TO FINANCE
THE PROJECT, AND, OBVIOUSLY, IT
IS A LOAN.
WE HAVE TO PAY IT BACK.
SO IT'S NOT A GRANT.
>> IT'S NOT A SUBSIDY.
>> IT'S NOT A SUBSIDY.
>> THAT'S A CAREFUL DISTINCTION,
YES.
>> IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO
PAY BACK, SO WE'RE VERY
CAREFULLY LOOKING AT ALL THE
DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT
THIS IS JUST ONE THAT WE'RE
EXAMINING.
>> HOW LONG WHEN YOU TAKE A LOAN
LIKE THAT, WHAT'S THE PAYBACK?
>> USUALLY THAT LOAN IS ROUGHLY
30 YEARS.
SO YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO PAY
IT BACK WITHIN 30 YEARS, AND SO
A LOT OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING
IS SHOWING THE OPERATIONAL
PRO FORMAS AND HOW WE WOULD PAY
THAT BACK, AND SO EVERYBODY HAS
TO BE COMFORTABLE THAT THE
BUSINESS IS VIABLE AND THAT
THE LOAN WILL BE REPAID TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
>> BUT IT DOES GIVE YOU A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET THE
BUSINESS GROUNDED AND STARTED.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO IT'S NOT A FIVE-YEAR
PAYBACK PLAN OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT.
>> AND IT'S VERY GOOD FOR
THE COUNTRY IN THAT YOU'RE
LOANING MONEY TO START A NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, WHERE
MOST INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
ARE NOW GRANTS, AND SO THIS IS
RARE THAT YOU'VE GOT AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE
A LOAN AND HAVE A LOAN PAID
BACK, SO IT'S A HELPING START.
>> WELL, WITH OUR ECONOMY
CHANGED, TOO, I'M SURE DYNAMICS
HAVE CHANGED WITH THE WAY LOANS
AND GRANTS ARE DONE, AS WELL.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> NOW, HOW WILL YOU KEEP COSTS
DOWN -- UP FRONT, NOW, YOU'RE
TELLING ME THAT YOU HAVE THE
TRACKS ALREADY IN PLACE, AND
THAT'S BEEN A GOOD WAY TO KEEP
THE UP-FRONT COSTS DOWN.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT ARE YOU STRATEGICALLY
PLANNING FOR THE LONG RUN TO
KEEP COSTS DOWN?
>> WELL, WE'VE GOT TO RUN
EFFICIENTLY, WE'VE GOT TO
PROVIDE THE SERVICE.
THIS -- BECAUSE OF THE HIGH
FIXED COST OF THE STATIONS AND
OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE WOULD CALL
THE ROLLING STOCK -- THE TRAINS
AND THE CARS -- YOU'VE GOT TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE RUNNING
THIS EFFECTIVELY, AND SO OUR
BEST MODEL FOR THIS IS JUST MAKE
SURE THAT WE GET THE PASSENGER
LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE NEED
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO COVER ALL
THESE FIXED COSTS.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF VARIABLE
COSTS HERE, SO...
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT IT'S
POPULAR, THAT THE SERVICE IS
GREAT, THAT THE SCHEDULES ARE
ADJUSTED TO HOW PEOPLE WANT TO
GO, AND THEN WE WILL PRICE THAT
ACCORDINGLY, AND I THINK THAT
WILL CREATE THE VIABLE BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE DONE
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STUDIES.
WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK ARE YOU
GETTING FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE
TRAIN, ABOUT HOW OFTEN IT'S
GONNA RUN?
>> THE STUDIES, WE'VE --
>> ARE THE PEOPLE EXCITED?
>> VERY EXCITED.
I HAVE NOT RUN INTO ANYBODY --
FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE TO LISTEN
TO 30 MINUTES OF HOW THEY GREW
UP WITH TRAINS, AND IT'S A
ROMANTIC PROPOSITION OF RIDING
ON A TRAIN IN A LOT OF CASES,
BUT THEN THERE'S THE PRACTICAL
REALITY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME OUT OF
THE NORTHEAST AND WERE FAMILIAR
WITH TRAINS UP THERE, BUT THE
OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN MIAMI AND
ORLANDO, I THINK, IS HUGE.
MOST PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE
HORROR STORIES OF COMMUTING
BACK AND FORTH NOW, AND THE FACT
THAT WiFi, RELAXED, GOOD
PASSENGER SERVICE, THEY HAVE THE
ABILITY JUST TO WORK OR PLAY AND
JUST RELAX AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK THE VIABILITY'S VERY,
VERY GOOD.
PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED.
THEY ALL WANT TO GET ON IT, AND
THEY WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO
RIDE IT, SO...
>> SO YOU ALREADY HAVE A LOT
OF GOOD FEEDBACK FROM IT ALONG
THE WAY.
>> YEAH.
COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF IT BECAUSE IT DOES
CREATE AN ECONOMIC VIABILITY
TO A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
WITH A STATION IN
FORT LAUDERDALE, A STATION IN
WEST PALM, AND A NEW STATION
IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI, IT STARTS TO
CREATE KIND OF ECONOMIC HUBS.
>> A RIPPLE EFFECT ALONG THE WAY
WITH TRANSPORTATION.
NOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF UNIQUE
ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCERNS IN OUR STATE.
ARE THERE ADVANTAGES FOR RAIL
TRANSIT IN TERMS OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WE HAVE?
>> YEAH, I THINK THERE ARE.
YOU TAKE A LOT OF CARS OFF
THE ROAD.
YOU TAKE A LOT OF USING
THE EXISTING CORRIDOR.
YOU'VE ALREADY SOLVED MOST
OF YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
BECAUSE EXISTING RAIL SYSTEMS.
THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF A
LOCOMOTIVE WITH 400 PASSENGERS
VERSUS POTENTIALLY 400 CARS,
IT'S A PRETTY COMPELLING
ENVIRONMENTAL CASE TO GO WITH
RAIL.
>> SO YOU'RE SAYING THEN THAT
TAKING THE CARS OFF THE ROAD,
ALSO ECONOMICALLY, THEN YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE AS MUCH WEAR AND
TEAR ON THE ROAD.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO, AGAIN, THE RIPPLE EFFECT
DOWN THE WAY.
>> WELL, EVEN WITH THE GROWTH,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD ROADS
AT THE PACE YOU WOULD NORMALLY
ADD ROADS.
SO YOU TAKE THE VEHICLES OFF,
BUT THEN YOUR CAPITAL
CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, IF YOU
START TO RELY MORE ON TRAINS,
THEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE ANOTHER METHOD OF
TRANSPORTATION ON A CORRIDOR
THAT ALREADY EXITS.
>> I WAS SURPRISED WHEN YOU SAID
THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAD ALREADY
RIDDEN TRAINS.
I DIDN'T GROW UP WITH THAT.
I'M ANXIOUS TO DO SO, BUT I'M
SURPRISED THAT SO MANY PEOPLE
SEEM TO BE GIVING YOU THE
FEEDBACK THAT THEY'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO WANTING TO RIDE
AGAIN.
>> YEAH, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
TRAVELED IN EUROPE, A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE TRAVELED UP IN
THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR, AND THEY
ALL TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH FUN THEY
HAD WITH TRAINS, AND IN A LOT OF
CASES, THEY MISS NOT HAVING THAT
OPPORTUNITY HERE IN FLORIDA.
SO, TO ME, THERE'S A PENT-UP
DEMAND OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT
TO USE IT.
IT'S JUST NOT A VIABLE OPTION
NOW, SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO THIS WILL
BE THE METHOD THAT THEY TRAVEL.
>> WE'VE NEVER HAD A CHOICE
BEFORE.
NOW, ALL ABOARD FLORIDA IS
SCHEDULED TO BE UP AND RUNNING
IN 2015, BUT WHAT'S GOING ON NOW
BEHIND THE SCENES THAT'S GONNA
MAKE THAT TIMEFRAME WORK?
>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS
GOING ON.
WE'RE DOING ALL THE DESIGNS FOR
THE STATIONS 'CAUSE THERE'S
A COUPLE OF CRITICAL PATHS
THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO HIT
TIMELINES LIKE THAT.
THE STATIONS HAVE TO BE
OPERATIONAL AND UP AND RUNNING.
>> NOW, STATIONS WHERE?
>> THERE'S A STATION IN MIAMI.
IT'S VERY LARGE -- DOWNTOWN
MIAMI.
INTERESTING ENOUGH, IT'S IN THE
SITE WHERE THE EXISTING
HENRY FLAGLER RAIL STATION WAS.
>> OH, SO THE HISTORIC ASPECT OF
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
>> THAT WAS DISCONTINUED IN
ROUGHLY THE '60s, BUT WE'RE
REBUILDING THE STATION ON THE
SAME SITE.
THEN THERE'S A NEW STATION IN
FORT LAUDERDALE, A NEW STATION
IN WEST PALM, AND THEN WE'LL
COME INTO ORLANDO INTO THE
AIRPORT.
SO THOSE FACILITIES HAVE TO BE
READY, SO THAT'S ONE, GETTING
ALL THE DESIGNS DONE.
THERE IS CERTAIN UPGRADES TO
THE TRACK BECAUSE OF THE SPEED
OF THE TRAIN, AND THEN -- SORRY.
>> SO YOUR PASSENGER RAIL WILL
MOVE AT A DIFFERENT SPEED THAN
YOUR FREIGHT TRAINS GO.
>> CORRECT, CORRECT.
THIS WILL BE RUNNING ABOUT
120 MILES AN HOUR.
SO THERE ARE CERTAIN PARTS OF
THE TRACK THAT HAVE TO BE
UPGRADED TO HANDLE THOSE TYPES
OF SPEEDS, SO WE'LL DO THAT,
AND THEN WE HAVE TO ORDER AND
PROCURE AND DESIGN THE TRAINS
AND THE CARS THEMSELVES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH
ABOUT WHAT'S THE SEATING
CONFIGURATION OF A CAR?
WHEN YOU HAVE BUSINESS PEOPLE
AND YOU HAVE FAMILIES, HOW DO
THEY CO-EXIST FOR THREE HOURS?
SO SOLVING THOSE TYPES OF
PROBLEMS --
>> NOT WELL.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
HOPEFULLY THEY WILL ON THE
TRAIN, SO...
THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US BECAUSE
PEOPLE WITH KIDS OBVIOUSLY WANT
TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND HAVE
THE FREEDOM OF THEIR KIDS TO
ENJOY THE TRAIN AND RIDE, AS
WELL, BUT YOU'LL BE ALONGSIDE
SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS TO WORK WITH
THE WiFi AND THE COMPUTER AND
POTENTIALLY PRINTING AND THOSE
TYPES OF THINGS, SO YOU WANT TO
MAKE SURE THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS
CAN CO-EXIST ON THE TRAIN.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
NOW, YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE A
LOT OF CROSSINGS ALONG THE WAY.
WILL THOSE HAVE TO BE ALTERED
IN ANY WAY FOR A PASSENGER TRAIN
VERSUS A FREIGHT TRAIN?
>> SOME OF THEM HAVE TO BE
UPGRADED BECAUSE, AGAIN,
THE SPEED OF THE TRAIN.
SO THAT'S ALL PART OF THE
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT
THESE ARE ONLY 9 OR 10 CARS, SO
GOING THROUGH A CROSSING IS
PRETTY QUICK, BUT THERE ARE
SOME THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE
UPGRADED 'CAUSE OF PASSENGER
SERVICE AND ALSO BECAUSE OF
THE SPEED OF THE TRAINS.
>> NOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT
A ONE-WAY TRIP IS JUST ABOUT
THREE HOURS.
>> CORRECT.
>> WITH THAT, YOU'VE GOT I DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY CROSSINGS ALONG
THE WAY, AND YOU HAVE A COUPLE
OF STOPS.
HOW CRITICAL, THEN, IS IT THAT
THAT TRAIN BE RUN PRETTY
EFFICIENTLY?
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE
THINGS WE'RE SELLING IS REGULAR
ON-TIME HOURLY SERVICE, SO THE
COMPUTER MODELING SHOWS IT'S
FINE.
WE CAN MAKE IT.
WE HAVE SOME ALTERATIONS TO
THE TRACKS TO MAKE, SO YOU HAVE
SIDINGS THAT WILL ALLOW A TRAIN
TO CROSS ANOTHER TRAIN WHEN THEY
BOTH HIT THE SAME SPOT.
THAT'S ALL PART OF THE
CONSTRUCTION SIDE.
WE HAVE CAPACITY TO ADD MORE
TRAINS IF WE HAVE TO, SO A LOT
OF THE MODELING IS WHAT IS
THE CAPACITY BOTH WITH FREIGHT
AND WITH THE PASSENGER SERVICE,
AND I THINK WE'RE VERY
COMFORTABLE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE
TO GO THROUGH.
NOW, THERE MAY BE UNFORESEEN
THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO SLOW IT
DOWN, BUT -- AND THAT'S ONE
REASON THE TRAINS WILL HAVE TWO
LOCOMOTIVES, SO IN CASE YOU HAVE
ONE LOCOMOTIVE THAT HAS A
MAINTENANCE ISSUE, THERE'S
A SECOND LOCOMOTIVE THAT
GUARANTEES THAT THAT TRAIN GOES
ON TIME.
>> SO YOU REALLY ARE COVERING
ALL THE BASES.
YOU ALSO MENTIONED TO ME THAT
BECAUSE THERE'S LESS CARS FOR
A PASSENGER TRAIN THAN A
FREIGHT, THAT YOUR ACTUAL
PASSAGE THROUGH A CROSSING
IS SO BRIEF.
>> RIGHT.
>> HOW MANY SECONDS?
>> IF I REMEMBER THE MODELING
CORRECTLY, IT'S ABOUT 52 SECONDS
THAT A TRAIN WILL GO THROUGH
A CROSSING.
SO A LOT OF US HAVE SAT TROUGH
FREIGHT TRAINS, AND YOU MAY BE
15, 20 MINUTES.
WITH A FREIGHT RAIL, THESE
ARE JUST QUICK.
>> WHAT ABOUT PRICING?
HAVE YOU GOTTEN TO THAT POINT
YET?
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT
TICKETS ARE GONNA BE?
>> WE'VE GOT RANGES --
>> OH, SO YOU WILL HAVE TIERS?
>> YEAH, WE'LL HAVE DIFFERENT
RANGES.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'LL BE A
FIRST-CLASS CAR, AN ECONOMY CAR.
THERE'LL BE SOME DIFFERENT
PRICING PROBABLY BY DAY OF WEEK
AND TIME OF DAY, BUT IT WILL BE
CERTAINLY CHEAPER THAN AIRFARE.
IT'D PROBABLY BE COMPARABLE OR
SLIGHTLY MORE THAN DRIVING, BUT
IT WILL BE, LIKE I SAID, FAST
AND EFFICIENT, AND YOU DON'T
HAVE THE STRESS, AND YOU CAN
HOP IN EVERY HOUR, SO THE
CONVENIENCE.
YOU'RE NOT SO WEATHER-DEPENDENT
AS YOU WOULD BE WITH AIR, SO THE
PRICING, I THINK, IS GONNA BE
VERY, VERY ATTRACTIVE FOR PEOPLE
TO TAKE IT.
>> NOW, YOU MENTIONED YOU'LL
HAVE SOME BUSINESS PASSENGERS
AS WELL AS FAMILIES AND THAT,
SO WILL YOU HAVE TICKET TIERS
FOR THAT OR ARE YOU LOOKING MORE
TO DESIGNATE PLACES IN THE TRAIN
TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY?
>> THE PRICING PROBABLY WON'T BE
BY MARKET SEGMENT.
IT PROBABLY WOULD BE MORE
ABOUT WHERE YOU WANT TO SIT IN
THE TRAIN.
SO IT'S MORE ABOUT DO YOU WANT
A MORE QUIET, LUXURIOUS AREA?
THEN YOU CAN HAVE THAT.
IF YOU WANT -- AND SOME OF THE
THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH
FLEXIBLE SEATING IS FAMILIES
BEING ABLE TO SIT TOGETHER.
>> AND YOU'RE HAVING SOME FOOD
SERVICES, AS WELL.
>> RIGHT, WE'LL HAVE FOOD AND
BEVERAGE SERVICE, AS WELL.
SO THE PRICING MODELS ARE STILL
BEING WORKED OUT, BUT IT'S GONNA
BE PRETTY COMPETITIVE, AND I
THINK PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED
AT JUST HOW AFFORDABLE THE TRAIN
WILL BE.
>> SO, YOUR RIDERSHIP STUDIES
ARE SHOWING PASSENGERS FOR
BUSINESS AND FOR TOURISTS,
FOR BOTH.
>> RIGHT.
>> DO YOU HAVE MORE LEANING
IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER?
WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING?
>> WELL, FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO TELL, WE'RE GONNA BE
ABOUT 40% BUSINESS AND 60%
LEISURE, AND THAT'S SOLO
AND GROUP ON BOTH SIDES.
SO YOU MAY HAVE A FAMILY THAT'S
TRAVELING OR YOU MAY HAVE JUST
AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON JUST COMING
UP TO JOIN THEIR BUDDIES TO PLAY
GOLF, BUT ON THE BUSINESS SIDE,
YOU MAY HAVE THREE OR FOUR
PEOPLE GOING TO A MEETING OUT
OF MIAMI INTO ORLANDO, AND THEY
WANT TO SIT TOGETHER AND WORK
TOGETHER WHILE THEY'VE GOT THE
THREE HOURS, OR YOU MAY JUST
HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS
TRAVELER THAT'S COMING UP TO
HAVE A MEETING AND WANTS TO HEAD
BACK THAT NIGHT.
>> NOW, DO YOU THINK FLORIDIANS
ARE REALLY READY FOR THIS KIND
OF INNOVATIVE TRANSIT, OR DO
YOU THINK THE FIRST WAVE OF
PASSENGERS MIGHT BE MORE THE
TOURISTS WHO ARE MORE USED TO
RAIL IN THEIR COUNTRIES?
>> I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
BOTH.
>> I THINK IT'S VERY
INTERESTING.
I'M VERY CURIOUS TO FIND THIS
OUT.
>> I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
PEOPLE WHO ARE USED TO TRAIN
OBVIOUSLY FROM WHERE THEY
TRAVEL, BUT I THINK THERE'S
A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE STATE.
THEY'RE GONNA EXPERIMENT IT,
THEY'RE GONNA LOVE IT, THEY'RE
GONNA REALIZE THE BENEFITS OF
RAIL, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE
CONVERTED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUT
OF THEIR CARS, AND THE TRAIN'S
GONNA BE THE WAY TO GO.
>> I'M VERY CURIOUS ABOUT IT
MYSELF, YES.
NOW, DURING CONSTRUCTION, THE
PHASE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S
6,000 JOBS FOR FLORIDIANS BEING
CREATED FOR THAT.
>> RIGHT, IN THE RANGE.
>> WHEN THE TRAIN IS UP AND
RUNNING, WHAT ARE YOUR
PROJECTIONS FOR JOB CREATION
THEN?
>> BETWEEN DIRECT JOBS AND
INDIRECT, BECAUSE OF ALL THE
STATIONS AND ALL THE --
>> AGAIN, THE RIPPLE EFFECT.
>> YEAH, THE RIPPLE.
SO YOU'LL BE INTO TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS BETWEEN DIRECT
AND INDIRECT JOBS, BOTH ON THE
RAILWAY ITSELF, BUT ALSO THE
STATIONS THAT WE'RE BUILDING.
>> WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT
TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
ARE YOU EXPECTING COMMERCIAL
AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDUPS AROUND
THE TRAIN STOPS?
>> YEAH, I THINK ESPECIALLY IN
MIAMI FIRST BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT
DOWNTOWN, SO THERE'S A LOT OF
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS SURROUNDING
THE STATION.
THERE'S GONNA BE OPPORTUNITY
WITHIN OUR STATION TO HAVE A LOT
OF RETAIL RESTAURANTS, BUT THEN,
BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF
POPULATION THAT WE'RE MOVING AND
THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE IN
THOSE AREAS, YOU'RE CERTAINLY
GOING TO HAVE GREAT BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS
WHO WANT TO COME IN AND SAY,
"THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE."
>> NOW, YOU WERE MENTIONING
THE FLAGLER STATION IN MIAMI,
SO THAT'S ALREADY BUILDING UP
WITH SOME OF THIS
TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S BEING PLANNED.
>> RIGHT.
AND IT'S ALSO BEING ABLE TO JOIN
UP WITH TRI-RAIL AND THE
DIFFERENT SYSTEMS THAT CURRENTLY
EXIST.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HOP ON ONE
RAIL SYSTEM, COME INTO THE HUB,
AND HOP ON OUR RAIL SYSTEM.
SO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO
LEVERAGE ALL THE DIFFERENT
MASS TRANSITS DOWN THERE,
AS WELL.
>> SO YOU'VE ALREADY COVERED
THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUES WITH
THE TRAIN TO OTHER ELEMENTS.
>> CORRECT, RIGHT.
>> WHAT IS THE ROLE THAT YOU SEE
FOR ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT, AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE TO CONNECT THE TRAIN AND
THE AIRPORT?
>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
THEM QUITE CLOSELY.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING
A SOUTHERN TERMINAL AREA, WHICH
WILL BE THE HUB FOR A LOT OF
TRANSPORTATION, SO I THINK UP
HERE THE SunRail.
OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD JOIN.
SO YOU CAN JOIN THE NEW
COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEM HERE,
AND YOU THEN CAN HOP ON TO
THE ALL ABOARD FLORIDA ALL AT
THE SAME TRAIN STATION THAT
WOULD BE LOCATED AT THE AIRPORT.
SO IF YOU'RE SOMEBODY WHO'S
A GUEST COMING INTO THE STATE
THAT CAME OUT OF, LET'S SAY,
LATIN AMERICA THAT WANTED TO GO
TO SOUTH BEACH FOR A COUPLE
DAYS, THEN THEY WANT TO TAKE
THEIR FAMILY UP HERE TO THE
ATTRACTIONS, THEY CAN DO THAT,
AND THEN THEY CAN RETURN OR THEY
CAN JUST TAKE A FLIGHT BACK HOME
FROM HERE, SO IT CONNECTS THE
DOTS ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.
>> SO IT GIVES PEOPLE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR WHATEVER
FITS BEST WITH THEIR PARTICULAR
SCHEDULE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT
CONGRESSMAN MICA RECENTLY
ENDORSED AN IDEA THAT MIGHT MAKE
O.I.A. A NEW TRANSIT HUB.
>> MM-HMM.
>> HOW WOULD THAT BENEFIT, THEN?
THAT WOULD BE A GREAT ADVANTAGE,
I WOULD THINK, TO YOUR
ALL ABOARD FLORIDA.
>> I THINK IT BENEFITS
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
CERTAINLY WE'LL BE ONE OF THE
BENEFICIARIES OF THAT, BUT TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE ONE CENTRAL HUB
WHERE YOU CAN -- 'CAUSE ONE OF
THE THINGS YOU KNOW, IT'S FROM
DOOR TO DOOR.
SO THE RAIL IN THE SYSTEM HAS
A COMPONENT OF THAT, BUT THE
THINGS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO SOLVE
IS HOW YOU GET FROM ONE --
THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR DOOR TO
THE NEW DOOR, AND SO HAVING
THESE COMMUTER RAILS AND THEN
HOPPING INTO OUR INTERCITY RAIL,
IT CONNECTS THE DOTS FOR A LOT
OF THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND
MAKE THEM ALL MORE VALUABLE.
>> DON, I THINK IT'S
INTERESTING.
IN METRO ORLANDO AREA, WE'VE
COURTED RAIL FOR DECADES
UNSUCCESSFULLY.
NOW WE HAVE SunRail COMING
ALONG, ALL ABOARD FLORIDA.
>> RIGHT.
>> THERE'S TALK FROM
AMERICAN MAGLEV
THE ORANGE BLOSSOM EXPRESS.
WHY THIS INTEREST NOW IN RAIL?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE
TECHNOLOGY'S THERE, THE SHEER
VOLUME OF GROWTH, PEOPLE'S
INTEREST IN MASS TRANSIT HAS
GOTTEN -- CERTAINLY PEAKED WITH
RAIL, AND IT'S A SOLUTION THAT
WAS SOLVED HUNDREDS OF YEARS
AGO, AND NOW IT'S COMING BACK
TO AGE, AND SO PEOPLE REALIZE
YOU JUST CAN'T KEEP BUILDING
ROADS AND HAVING MORE AND MORE
CARS.
PRETTY SOON IT'S ALL GONNA BE
TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION, AND
THERE HAS TO BE ALTERNATIVES,
AND SHORT DISTANCES DON'T WORK
FOR AIRLINES, AND SO THE ONLY
VIABLE OPTION YOU HAVE NOW IS
RAIL TO TAKE THIS CONGESTION
OUT OF CARS.
>> NOW, IT'S SCHEDULED TO BE UP
AND RUNNING IN 2015.
>> RIGHT.
>> CROSS FINGERS THAT ALL GOES
WELL WITH THAT.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION, THOUGH,
FOR 5 OR 10 YEARS DOWN THE LINE
FOR ALL ABOARD FLORIDA?
>> WELL, I THINK HAVING THIS
RAIL SERVICE WORKING AND
EVERYBODY LOVING IT.
I THINK THE WAY I LOOK AT IT,
IS 10 YEARS FROM NOW, I'D LIKE
TO HAVE FLORIDIANS LOOK BACK
AND CANNOT IMAGINE A TIME WHEN
THERE WASN'T A RAIL SERVICE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE ABILITY
THROUGH OUR EXISTING RAIL TO
CONNECT INTO JACKSONVILLE,
'CAUSE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT WE
HAVE GOES UP TO JACKSONVILLE,
POTENTIALLY INTO TAMPA, AND THEN
MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY
LATER ON WHERE OTHER COMMUNITIES
AND OTHER STATES, WHERE THEY
HAVE THESE 300-MILE ROUGH
SEGMENTS BETWEEN METROPOLITAN
AREAS, MAYBE THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS AGAIN
WITH OTHER STATES.
SO IT'S EXCITING.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.
>> YES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I CAN'T WAIT TO RIDE THE TRAIN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HOSTING ME.
>> I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
FLORIDA'S NEW PASSENGER RAIL
WITH ALL ABOARD FLORIDA
PRESIDENT DONALD ROBINSON.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO
"METRO CENTER OUTLOOK."
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
I'M DIANE TREES.
>> Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS
MADE POSSIBLE BY FUNDING FROM
THE UCF METRO CENTER, WHERE
GOVERNMENT LEADERS, BUSINESS
EXECUTIVES, AND ACADEMIC EXPERTS
COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS MAJOR
ISSUES FACING THE STATE OF
FLORIDA.