The Sunshine State, like California, copes with agribusiness,
tourists and a growing population. But they have a lesson for us.
From Jacksonville to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, along the congested
I-95 Corridor, you’ll find Florida East Coast Railroad intermodal
facilities. Shippers and receivers can utilize rail options to save
money with truck-competitive service.
The Sunshine State, like California, copes with agribusiness, tourists and a growing population. But they have a lesson for us. From Jacksonville to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, along the congested I-95 Corridor, you’ll find Florida East Coast Railroad intermodal facilities. Shippers and receivers can utilize rail options to save money with truck-competitive service.
If we learned from them, we could have the benefits that they get from intermodal service. Without raising a tax or burdening the next generation with another bond, without laying an inch of new highway, using existing technology, we could improve conditions on local highways.
If instead of going over-the-road the tonnage to and from the Central California Coast (Salinas Valley and Santa Clara Valley) moved via rail, then we would reduce demand on over-burdened highways like 25 and 156. We could make local ag more competitive with San Joaquin Valley ag, where they have both UP’s Lathrop, and BN-ATSF’s Stockton, intermodal facilities.
We need to reinstate the Salad Bowl Express, not build new freeways in this region. Since we get back only 11 cents per dollar that we send to Sacramento, a $30 million highway expenditure costs us 8.9 times more ($267 million), and a new $300 million freeway (3 in 1) would run us $2.670 billion.
So, what is the best solution? Ask Florida – they know the answer.
Caveat Viator!
Joseph P. Thompson,
Tres Pinos
