“Amtrak’s decision not to move to a station adjacent to Miami International airport was based on estimates that relocating its existing station at Hialeah would generate an additional 20,000 riders and $2 million in yearly revenue but would cost $5 million annually to execute, according to information it released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.”
I guess my biggest question is: why not attempt to secure additional funding? State and local dollars, not to mention the airport authority, could make it possible to fill that gap.
Because that’s not the issue.
The issue is the platform will cost $5M to run a year while only generating $2M a year. They would effectively be $3M in the reed each year.
I get it, that’s obvious, but it’s a public service… and there’s public money available. Tons of tax payer money goes into unprofitable endeavors that still serve a public good and are needed public services (for example: the overwhelming majority of libraries turn no profit, but they are seen as a public good and are funded). An airport-rail connection (especially one enhancing the existing connection of an airport to a metropolitan downtown) is most definitely a public good… why not fight to make it happen? Makes no sense.
The Dade County, the City of Miami, and the Miami International Airport are majority tax payer funded organizations… so is Amtrak. Why not look at the public good this stop would do and fight to get the public monies to make it happen? Just still makes no sense.
Amtrak has always had a limited budget, and has to prioritize. They can’t afford to lose this kind of money. Your argument should be directed at those who limit its budget.
I believe amtrak has to break even on operating costs but get funding for capital improvements, or something like that. Or maybe that’s past tense now.
Florida is too red for that kind of “public good” conversation.
Flying is also still a kind of luxury transportation so this would (to my guess) mostly serve upper middle class vacationers subsidized by locals.
Miami isn’t as red as the rest of the state… they already have a half cent sales tax for the Metromover downtown and that system is not only free to use it’s getting an expansion. A type of SPLOST (Special Penny Local Option Sales Tax) could bring in the monies needed.