 |
It's a 'Burgh
|
 |
|
| Send FReepmail if yunz want on/off BPT list, 'n'at | |
| Learn Pittsburghese! Free Streaming 'Burgh Radio |
|
| The List of Ping Lists | |
Posted on 06/26/2009 8:37:00 AM PDT by Willie Green
Debated for years, finally here
For those of us Pittsburghers with a half decent memory, the word “Maglev” can stir recollections of politically inspired empty promises and immensely fast bullet trains stoppable only by government funding quagmires fueled by a conservative citizenry understanding that mass transit, while sustainable, does not hold mass appeal.
With President Obama now in the Whitehouse, it looks as though Pittsburgh will finally receive its own high-speed rail connector. The Pittsburgh connecter represents one of two points in the Keystone Corridor, which is one of eleven transportation corridors identified by the congressional Transportation and Infrastructure committee as being of significance to commuters.
The keystone Corridor connects Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and will utilize high speed Maglev train technology conveying passengers at speeds of 300mph and more. At this rate commuters would be able to reach Philadelphia from Pittsburgh or Pittsburgh to Philadelphia in an hour or less.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 designated $8 billion to be utilized for high-speed rail development, the President has proposed an additional $5 billion in his most recent budget, and in addition, Jim Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released the full text of the Transportation Authorization Act of 2009. The 775-page document released last week calls for an additional $50 billion over six years for high-speed intercity passenger rail development in the designated corridors.
Placing Pittsburgh back on the map
One Transportation and Infrastructure committee member, Pittsburgher and US House Representative Jason Altmire (D-McCandless), in a hearing held today by the House Subcommittee on Railroads said that he will push to have a Pittsburgh-to-Cleveland line added to a national list of high-speed rail corridors.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
It's hard to believe I finally have something to smile about.
But as long as we're going trillions more in debt, at least this time we'll get something tangible to show for it.
That's exactly what they've seen in France- their super-fast train service has eliminated the need for a lot of short-range flights.
I ride the Acela on a somewhat regular basis between DC and NY. It's incredibly convenient to be able to take the subway (in both cities) to and from the train station and not have to deal with the hassle of going through security, checking luggage etc. If we could get a train in the NE corridor that approached the speed of what they have in Europe or Japan, you'd see a massive shift in how people travelled in the region.
...so ACORN thugs from Philly can show up in my Pittsburgh neighborhood in an hour?
In cities like NY, DC, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, London, Tokyo and dozens of others, pretty much everyone takes the subway. Here in DC, the Pentagon stop is the busiest station on the system.
No public money should ever be spent on public transportation, they do nothing but cost money to support their losing operations.
How about money for road construction? I don't see the difference between subsidizing road construction and subsidizing public transit. Public transit isn't meant to be profitable- it's meant to reduce other infrastructure costs to taxpayers. Some cities couldn't function without public transit (NY and London, for example).
“How about money for road construction? “
If they didn’t steal the gas taxes for your damn public transportation there wouldn’t be any public money spent on roads!
Have they actually looked into the number of people who travel from Pittsburgh to Philly? Who in heck wants to go to Philly?
Maybe during hockey, baseball and football seasons.. That is about it.. I don’t think that Pittsburgh has an NBA team..
Who would ever get on public transportation except a welfare case or an illegal alien?
Probably the same folks who travel on airlines because they can't afford their own private Lear jet.
Forget baseball. I wouldn’t cross the street to see the Pirates. :)
I don’t think that Pittsburgh has an NBA team..
No NBA in the 'Burgh,
but the Pittburgh Pipers won the championship of the fabled ABA's first season!
|
It's a 'Burgh
|
| |
|
| Send FReepmail if yunz want on/off BPT list, 'n'at | |
| Learn Pittsburghese! Free Streaming 'Burgh Radio |
|
| The List of Ping Lists | |
I thought I heard that the maglev or similar trains were to be built in McKeesport.
Using some of the vacant steel mills along the riverfront.
I thought I heard that the maglev or similar trains were to be built in McKeesport.
Using some of the vacant steel mills along the riverfront.
Yes, part of the reason that Pittsburgh was selected was, not only is Pittsburgh's hilly terrain and seasonal climate particularly suitable to demonstrating Maglev's capabilities in difficult conditions, but also to take advantage of the industrial infrastructure that still remains in the region that's required to construct such a system. I would expect this location to perform much of the manufacturing for Maglevs constructed in other regions of our nation as well.
Timeline
The Company Today:
MagLev: What the carbon footprint on that? The electrical requirements ain’t cheap!
If it provide good service and is on time, at a price point just below air travel; then yes people will ride it. I took the bullet train in Japan, and it was excellent. Clean, great service, on time, at half the cost of a plane ticket.
No, what the conservative citizenry understands is that it's "sustainable" by a constant infusion of tax dollars to subsidize its nonsensical existence.
This is just a fancy way of picking the taxpayers' pockets to fund a socialist wet dream.
Given your enthusiasm for this, I assume you have a business case in hand, that illustrates that it will turn a profit?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
