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Floating out of our traffic mess
Fort Worth Star Telegram ^ | Wed, Sep. 08, 2004 | Kevin C. Coates

Posted on 09/09/2004 11:02:46 AM PDT by Willie Green

During rush hour recently in Shanghai, China, I traveled 19 miles in 7½ minutes. I wasn't flying, exactly. I was aboard a high-speed magnetic-levitation transportation system.

Now I can't help but ponder more efficient ways of moving people into, between, within and around our cities -- especially when I'm stuck in traffic.

Let's face it: American transportation problems result from our love of private automobile ownership and the government policies that enable our oil addiction. Driving cars in cities is like using a pair of pliers to bang a nail into a wall -- the wrong tool for the job. It is analogous to entering the lobby of a high-rise and waiting for an elevator that only one person at a time can ride because everyone wants his or her private space.

Subways and light-rail systems, typical U.S. alternatives, are basically 19th-century technologies. As wheels meet tracks over years of use, these systems wear out. They are slow, bouncy, expensive to maintain and prone to frequent breakdowns. Mostly manually operated, they require high labor costs.

Maglevs float -- propelled and supported by electromagnetic waves. They're not free of maintenance, but logic dictates that by eliminating sources of friction from traditional propulsion and braking, much higher system reliability and fewer repairs will result.

(Excerpt) Read more at dfw.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: boxcarwillie; choochoocharlie; energyefficiency; infrastructure; maglev; masstransportation; speed; trafficcongestion; trains; transportation
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To: southernnorthcarolina

"That's essentially how the taxpayers of my hometown of Charlotte, a wanna-be "World Class City" if there ever was one, got duped into approving light rail."


As a former resident of Rock Hill, SC now living 50 miles NW of Atlanta, I was always amazed and puzzled why Charlotte wanted so badly to be like Atlanta in so many ways, most of which were the ways in which ATL sucks.


21 posted on 09/09/2004 11:47:11 AM PDT by Blzbba (John F'in Kerry - Dawn of a New Error.)
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To: discostu

In Dallas, many of the large corporations are along the major freeways, and then of course there is downtown.

Light rail has already started on the eastern half of the Dallas area and is used quite frequently. The couple of times I used it, I drove a short distance to the train station, and then hopped the train for $1.

I work downtown, and would use the train everyday if it was on the west side of Dallas.


22 posted on 09/09/2004 12:18:17 PM PDT by Lunatic Fringe (http://www.drunkenbuffoonery.com/mboards/)
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To: Willie Green
American transportation problems result from our love of private automobile ownership and the government policies that enable our oil addiction

The problem is ours as a free gift from socialistic city planners and zoners of the 20s and 30s. Put the residential over here, put the stores over there, put the schools someplace else, and put the factories way the heck out of town. Beauty.

23 posted on 09/09/2004 12:23:48 PM PDT by RightWhale (Withdraw from the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty and establish property rights)
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To: RightWhale
The problem is ours as a free gift from socialistic city planners and zoners of the 20s and 30s.

Yes, as I recall, it WAS part of FDR's New Deal that forced privately held electric utilities to divest themselves of the electric trolley systems. Part of FDR's plan to build highways, ya know.

24 posted on 09/09/2004 12:31:17 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Alan Go!!!)
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To: Willie Green
Let's face it: American transportation problems result from our love of private automobile ownership and the government policies that enable our oil addiction.

Nice try, Kevin, but it's a lie. The mass transit system that used to exist all across the country in major metropolitan areas were purchased and driven out of business by a cooperative agreement between ARCO and GM. ARCO wanted a way to sell more gas and GM wanted a way to sell more cars. With mass transit systems adequately serving most metropolitan areas at the time, both knew that the dream was unreachable. So, the solution became to destroy the mass transit systems.

As metropolitan areas try to re-introduce mass transit today, the cost is staggering, the routes limited and most people have become so accustomed to the convenience of their cars that they are unwilling to rely on the mass transit system unless absolutely necessary.

MagLevs are a great technology, but exceptionally expensive. As high as the price tag is for light rail, MagLevs cost even more and require massive amounts of electricity to operate.
25 posted on 09/09/2004 12:32:43 PM PDT by DustyMoment (Repeal CFR NOW!!)
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To: Willie Green
Your hometown has a very high national ranking: Charlotte ranks 19th in traffic congestion

Because everyone from the Burgh has moved down here, it sometimes seems. Until last year, when the Panthers had a good season, TVs in sports bars would be just as likely to be tuned to the Steelers game as to the Panthers.

But seriously, rail transit, particularly of the "toy" variety being implemented in Charlotte ("light" rail, grade crossings, and cute little stations which will only be able to handle trains two cars long) will only move us up the list, so we can join the other cities which have rail transit. Higher density development will be encouraged along the transit routes, but rather than ride the silly little train, people will continue to drive.

26 posted on 09/09/2004 1:14:57 PM PDT by southernnorthcarolina (I used to be schizophrenic, but we're fine now.)
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To: DustyMoment
The mass transit system that used to exist all across the country in major metropolitan areas were purchased and driven out of business by a cooperative agreement between ARCO and GM.

Don't forget that corrupt, stinkin' socialist FDR.
If he hadn't forced the private electric utilities to divest themselves of the efficient trolleys, GM would never have been able to buy them dirt cheap.

27 posted on 09/09/2004 1:15:19 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Alan Go!!!)
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To: Lunatic Fringe

I hear you! If Dart ever makes it up to my area of Collin county I'd use it. It makes more sense than a 45 minute drive to go 18 miles.

Semper Fi


28 posted on 09/09/2004 1:16:07 PM PDT by dd5339 (A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path.)
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To: Willie Green

I like to fart, smoke, drink beer, eat, talk on the phone, scratch, groom, and read while driving a different route daily. Will this train allow me to do those things?


29 posted on 09/09/2004 1:19:57 PM PDT by devane617
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To: southernnorthcarolina

Well if the "cute" little system is inadequate, you better get your butt in gear and start advocating a more robust mass transit system before your roads become as clogged as LA. Adding lanes to existing roads and highways doesn't work. All that does is funnel more traffic into the gridlock.


30 posted on 09/09/2004 1:20:00 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Alan Go!!!)
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To: devane617

With any luck, the transit police will ban you from riding as a public health hazard.


31 posted on 09/09/2004 1:21:31 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Alan Go!!!)
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To: dd5339

Dart is in Collin County. The rail system runs into Plano every few minutes.


32 posted on 09/09/2004 1:21:47 PM PDT by devane617
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To: Willie Green
Don't forget that corrupt, stinkin' socialist FDR. If he hadn't forced the private electric utilities to divest themselves of the efficient trolleys, GM would never have been able to buy them dirt cheap.

Good point. I'd forgotten about that.
33 posted on 09/09/2004 1:33:55 PM PDT by DustyMoment (Repeal CFR NOW!!)
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To: Willie Green

Problem with a transfer is then you have to catch some other part of the mass transit system, who knows how long that will take. It's the big problem with mass transit, no single system is point to point unless those points are in primary target zones. So to do some big commute like you describe you've got to take a local system to get to the maglev station, then the maglev to your distant destination, then the local system there.

Why it wouldn't be is you probably don't have a maglev station at the grocery store, or at home. So you've got all these transfers and waits in between. Those waits add up and make the whole system a lot more time consuming that cars. In densely populated areas it can work and work well, in the rest of the world mass transit sucks.


34 posted on 09/09/2004 1:36:32 PM PDT by discostu (That which does not make me stronger kills me)
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To: Lunatic Fringe

In spread out cities getting downtown or to the malls is about all mass transit is good for. If I were unfortunate enough to work downtown I probably would use the bus, but I'd be looking for another job because I hate downtown, hate the crowds, and the idea of scheduling my departure time around the transit system rather than just hopping in my car when I decide it's time to leave just annoys me.


35 posted on 09/09/2004 1:41:34 PM PDT by discostu (That which does not make me stronger kills me)
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To: Willie Green

If you can get it to run for profit without public tax money... go for it. If not, why bleed the rest of us dry for your red ink feel good project?


36 posted on 09/09/2004 1:48:02 PM PDT by Dead Corpse (For an Evil Super Genius, you aren't too bright are you?)
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To: RockinRight
No offense but he has a point, sorta. I live near Atlanta. We have the "fifth worse" congestion in the nation. Despite that, the city is fairly car-friendly. Plenty of places to park, relatively sane drivers, etc. I avoid rush hour and have few problems driving there. Light rail, maglev, etc., for Atlanta is a total waste of time. (That doesn't stop our politicians from trying to waste money on it, though...)

Last year, I visited New York City. It is not a matter of I wouldn't drive in that city, I couldn't drive there! The drivers are insane! There were 5 lanes of traffic on a 4 lane road, and some truly bizarre rules of right-of-way. Courtesy is nonexistent. There was no place to park except on the street or in (expensive) garages. If I tried to drive there I would cause an accident, no doubt about it. We got there by rail, and walked, or used taxis - the taxi drivers seem to understand the rules, thank goodness!

For some cities this stuff may make sense.
37 posted on 09/09/2004 1:50:01 PM PDT by Little Ray (John Ffing sKerry: Just a gigolo!)
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To: devane617

I'm hoping it will come up to McKinney.

Semper Fi


38 posted on 09/09/2004 1:52:05 PM PDT by dd5339 (A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path.)
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To: Dead Corpse
why bleed the rest of us dry for your red ink feel good project?

I'm all for private operation of such systems to assure efficiency.
However, to be competitive with other modes of transportation (roads, highways, airports, etc.), the original construction costs must be similarly subsidized.

It's how transportation infrastructure has always been developed in our nation. It is a legitimate function of government, and you'd be hard pressed to name any major transportation system that hasn't required major government involvement: roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, canals, locks & dams on our inland waterways, airports and the air traffic control system, the original railroads, etc. etc. etc.

Private sector purists are merely obstructionist idiots.

39 posted on 09/09/2004 2:08:50 PM PDT by Willie Green (Go Alan Go!!!)
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To: Willie Green
I take it you are a government contractor for construction projects?

Private sector would probably get things built cheaper, better, without the Union due or built in graft for inferior product. It'd also do away with politicians taking our taxes for build the roads, then putting toll boothes on them despite immense public outcry like they are doing here in Austin.

If the private sector can build huge skyscrapers and sports stadiums, mixing tar and dirt for roads should be a snap. Just because "that is the way it has always been done" does not mean that other ways cannot produce better results.

40 posted on 09/09/2004 2:42:55 PM PDT by Dead Corpse (For an Evil Super Genius, you aren't too bright are you?)
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