Florida sure could use high speed rail couldn't they?

[shraby]

[cyclonefence]

1. We go to the Keys a couple of times a year

and never stop thinking about how awful it would be to be on Rte. 1, which is two lanes most of the way with no shoulder, during any kind of emergency. It's this one long highway stretching from Key Largo to Key West, and you're sort of trapped on it for the whole distance (although I guess locals know ways around parts of it). Terrifying to me.

I hope the only property sustaining damage is Mar-A-Lago, and I hope it's utterly wiped out.

I read the posts about why some Floridians kind of have to stay put, and I understand; I hope you all are safe. You'll be in my thoughts throughout this awful time.

But I do want Mar-A-Lago wiped off the face of the map. And his insurance lapsed for nonpayment of premiums.

[JoeStuckInOH]

2. Just Fly into key West. It was like a $350 round trip ticket a couple months ago.

Beats the hell out of driving though florida and then down highway 1. The keys are all pretty small, Uber and taxis and scooters work very nicely down there.

[cyclonefence]

4. We take Amtrak out of Trenton

in a bedroom (we don't take our car) to Miami (about 25 hours), then rent a convertible at the airport and drive to the Keys. We've been staying lately in Key Largo because of the State Park with coral reef for snorkeling just across the road from our hotel. It's the train trip that's the real fun for us. We tried Key West once, and it was exactly like New Hope PA on a Saturday in summer. Total traffic mess, no place to park, just unpleasant. If we ever go back to KW, it'll be on a boat.

And we take the train back home.

About flying: I have been ruined by flying one time first class. I won't fly now unless it's first class, which means I don't fly!

[JoeStuckInOH]

8. Flying sucks. The key is to get drunk before takeoff.

You're allowed to bring the mini-liquor bottles through security if they're in a 1 quart ziplock bag. Thye're usually like $2 at the liquor stores. Fill it with Bailey's and Titos and Jack Daniels mini bottles. When you get into the terminal buy an appropriate mixer drink from a vendor (coffee, OJ, cranberry juice, Coke, etc.) and drink half of it. Pour in the appropriate mini-bottles and then start drinking at the gate while you wait an hour or so for your boarding.

Please, don't do this if you're a belligerent asshole drunk. I'm a happy/sleepy drunk... so I'm lights out before takeoff and the landing usually wakes me up.

[cyclonefence]

9. That is *awesome* advice

That quart-size ziplock bag is the key, isn't it?

[ExciteBike66]

3. Not sure why Amtrak can't serve in its place.

What would HSR gain us in this instance?

[shraby]

7. They could add cars and evacuate people in record time. Have one going into Florida and one

coming out. That would lighten the load on the roads, and ease the gas situation at the same time.

[vicman]

5. I'm pretty sure the OP was referring to this!

Greed and ignorance...

http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2014/oct/21/charlie-crist/charlie-crist-rick-scott-rejected-high-speed-rail-/

[BigmanPigman]

6. I have relatives in FL and always hated driving there because of that

2 lane road. So many people down there drive very slowly and they never let you pass them. They drive BELOW the speed limit...FRUSTRATING!

[mitch96]

10. I got it a few years ago

$$$$
High speed train or Hyperloop would kill the trucking and airline business..

I always thought a high speed transport from Miami to Orlando mouse land would be a great draw. Come into Miami or Orlando, do your thing there, take the high speed transport to the other location, spend more money. Return a few days later. No other stops, just Miami airport and Orlando airport.. The only way to do that now is to rent a car and do the Fla Turnpike shuffle and piss away two days of your vacation driving... uggh.

Hell they could put the high speed shuttle in the median between the North/South lanes of the turnpike... It's only about 200 miles as the crow flies...
m