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 more than paid for by the people who actually use the raods.
I don't see the difference between subsidizing road construction and subsidizing public transit.
See above. Pubic transit, on the other hand, takes major bucks from everybody to susidize the rides of a a very few.
Public transit isn't meant to be profitable- it's meant to reduce other infrastructure costs to taxpayers.
It's NOT profitable ANYWHERE in the US. And it fails dismally at any supposed reduction of "other infrastructure costs". It's a socialist's wet dream.
Some cities couldn't function without public transit (NY and London, for example).
Gee, how about if transit users paid private companies for their rides. Jitneys, for example, are much more cost effective and practical.
The story of pubic transit is the same everywhere. Private companies develop a good business providing transportation to the public. The goobermint steps in, puts them out of business and takes over. Costs skyrocket and taxpayers get shafted.
Pubic transit SUCKS !
I'm not happy with the "green fascism" aspects of the bill. But in the current climate, we're going to get stuck with those anyway.
I would've much preferred that Maglev been built 8 years ago under different circumstances. But the previous administration preferred to finance a housing and financial credit bubble, and crush our manufacturing industries and drive them offshore.
So what the heck can you do?
At least with the green fascists, we get a Maglev.
It beats borrowing trillions and getting Zip, except for $4 gas.
The previous administration had many spending sins, but this one is owned by the Democrats 100%.
Frankly, I place the blame for the financial fiasco squarely at 50/50.
But if the GOP can't recognize the dismal failure of global Bushonomics, then I fear they'll never drive the marxists out of power.
Sorry projects like the Maglev and others are just dumb dumb make work projects.. I don’t like my money being spent on crap like this... Oh by the way, Bush had nothing to do with this downfall...
Sorry projects like the Maglev and others are just dumb dumb make work projects.. I don’t like my money being spent on crap like this... Oh by the way, Bush had nothing to do with this downfall...
Sorry projects like the Maglev and others are just dumb dumb make work projects.. I don’t like my money being spent on crap like this... Oh by the way, Bush had nothing to do with this downfall...
That's OK, Kevin, your legal guardian or custodian probably has more urgent priorities for your money anyway.
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