From Councilmember Tom Berg
Here is an American made product, a rail system financed completely by the private sector, that makes no noise, can make sharp turns to avoid iwi burials and historic property, has a much smaller footprint on the landscape, cleaner and greener, and is truly 21st century technology - and can be completed at less than half the price to build compared to our boondoggle steel rail con job. Your elected officials here in Honolulu have lied to you that such a rail system being proposed for Orlando cannot be built in Honolulu . . . yet, China, Korea, Germany, Japan, and 20 other nations are advancing this type of rail that Orlando wants- but for us here in Honolulu, we are getting an obsolete, noisy, archaic, out of date rust bomb - that happens to be the most expensive rail ever built in America to date. Read below to get the gist for yourself (since rail is coming and we cannot stop it, we should at the very least get the best rail system to date - and sadly enough, we are getting the worst rail product to date.):
MetroPlan approves float-on-air train for south Orange
American Maglev has proposed running a train like this one in south Orange County.
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
MetroPlan Orlando approves maglev project
In Orlando, Fla., American Maglev Technology (AMT) has proposed to build, operate and maintain a privately financed fully automatic train system powered by magnetic levitation.
The MetroPlan Orlando Board approved the AMT project to proceed if conditions in a MetroPlan Orlando staff report are addressed. This process is expected to take several months. After the issues are resolved and funding and lease agreements are in place, construction will begin on Phase 1.
Plans call for three project phases, with a total cost of $800 million. Only Phase 1, estimated to cost $315 million, is being considered at this time. No taxpayer money will be used for construction, operation or maintenance and AMT is requesting to lease existing public rights-of-way. Phase 1 includes 14.9 miles of track, with stops at Orange County Convention Center, Florida Mall, the Sand Lake Road SunRail station and Orlando International Airport. The system is expected to be operating two years after a final lease agreement is in place.
MetroPlan Orlando approves maglev project
In Orlando, Fla., American Maglev Technology (AMT) has proposed to build, operate and maintain a privately financed fully automatic train system powered by magnetic levitation.
The MetroPlan Orlando Board approved the AMT project to proceed if conditions in a MetroPlan Orlando staff report are addressed. This process is expected to take several months. After the issues are resolved and funding and lease agreements are in place, construction will begin on Phase 1.
Plans call for three project phases, with a total cost of $800 million. Only Phase 1, estimated to cost $315 million, is being considered at this time. No taxpayer money will be used for construction, operation or maintenance and AMT is requesting to lease existing public rights-of-way. Phase 1 includes 14.9 miles of track, with stops at Orange County Convention Center, Florida Mall, the Sand Lake Road SunRail station and Orlando International Airport. The system is expected to be operating two years after a final lease agreement is in place.
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Privately-funded $315.2M Maglev system to create 60 high-wage jobs
American Maglev Moving Ahead with MetroPlan Orlando Board Approval