CORAL GABLES, FLA. – People in Florida love their cars. In Miami- Dade County, the most populous county in the state, there are nearly 2 million registered vehicles. More than 90 percent of county commuters use their car to get to work, and. on average, spend roughly 37 hours a year stuck in traffic. That's nearly a full work week – just sitting in gridlock. Fanning fumes even more, traffic was up 21 percent last year from 2013.
Now imagine a state-of-the-art, higher-speed train that whisks commuters, visitors and residents from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale in 26 minutes, Ft. Lauderdale to West Palm Beach in 37 minutes, and West Palm Beach to Orlando in 111 minutes. Suddenly, that shopping trip, dinner out or basketball game is within easy reach, with maybe even a short nap or social-media break on the way.
“That's what All Aboard Florida is all about,” said Julie Edwards, All Aboard Florida's Chief Marketing Officer, “getting people where they need to go, like work, and where they want to go—to enjoy the good things in life with friends and family.”
Once All Aboard Florida is up and running in 2017, the intercity passenger-rail service will take an estimated 3 million cars off the road. It will also remove the noise, gas, pollution and stress that go with driving, and not moving in heavy traffic.
Traveling on time and on schedule between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando will be good for business throughout South and Central Florida, whether it's to visit the doctor or attend a business meeting. In a recent poll by the Miami Herald, 86 percent of those surveyed answered “yes” to the question, “Do you think traffic is hurting the economy of South Florida?” In another poll, by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, traffic was the number one complaint from both domestic and international tourists. With close to 100 million people visiting Florida a year, that's a lot of people pouring a lot of money into South Florida and the state that we don't want to turn elsewhere.
State-of-the-art, higher-speed rail service and integrated public transportation are critical to the economic and lifestyle success of South Florida and the entire state. All Aboard Florida is building on an existing rail line, is privately funded and will get people where they need to go in less time, on time and in a better state of mind. It's time to fast-track Florida and spend less time sitting in traffic.
About All Aboard Florida
All Aboard Florida is an intercity passenger-rail project being developed by Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. (FECI), owner of Florida's premier passenger-rail corridor. The service will connect Miami to Orlando with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in less than 3 hours. It will also provide Floridians and visitors with a viable transportation alternative to congested highways and
airports, and deliver a high-quality onboard experience to passengers. All Aboard Florida will be the only privately-owned-and-operated, passenger-rail system in the United States. For more information, visit www.AllAboardFlorida.com.