Posted on 08/29/2012 11:37:02 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Opponents of high-speed rail contend that it's a boondoggle because of its $68 billion pricetag. But a recent UC Berkeley study provides evidence that a California bullet train might be a good investment, particularly when it comes to reducing greenhouse gases and fighting climate change.
The study, published recently in the journal Environmental Research Letters, was the result of two years of research by UC Berkeley civil and environmental engineering professor Arpad Horvath and Mikhail Chester, professor at Arizona State University's School of Sustainable Engineering and The Built Environment. The study analyzed the environmental sustainability of a high-speed rail network compared to flying and driving. The authors concluded that the high-speed rail system, when it's completed, will consume less energy and emit fewer greenhouse gases and less pollution than autos or planes, even after accounting for future improvements in auto and airplane fuel efficiency and cleaner, greener technology.
"We're not only looking at greenhouse gases, we're also considering things like the potential for smog formation as well as human health respiratory effects," Chester said in an interview. "What we've found is that high-speed rail would be a cleaner mode."
According to the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, California's population will exceed 50 million people by 2040. ..
In 2008, voters approved $10 billion in bonds to pay for the start-up costs of high-speed rail. Since then, the proposed project has had numerous setbacks that have threatened to derail it. The price tag also has ballooned to at least $68 billion. Republican state Senator Doug LaMalfa, .. "Costs for high-speed rail will continue to rise even as public support plummets," LaMalfa said in a statement. "California doesn't have the money for this project."
(Excerpt) Read more at eastbayexpress.com ...
well, dang, I would have expected a Professor from the Arizona State University’s School of Sustainable Engineering to come out in support of coal powered SUV’s. /sarc
Just another tainted study by academia to uphold their preconceived outcome. I wonder how much money (above the table and especially under the table)changed hands on this one.
Green is the color of the mold growing on the tracks.
Fixed it...
I'm a railfan, but HSR won't work in the US!!
I'd rather spend the HSR money and improve AMTRAK Service...CA Amtrak trains are good!!
It's of no use right now, but once they clear the center of the country of human inhabitants and force them into high-rise containment facilities on both coasts it will connect all the containment facilities very efficiently.
It’s too bad that California didn’t accept the French offer to build HSR on their own dime but the Democrats who lobbied to make sure that HSR crosses their land opposed the idea as they each stand to make millions from the deal.
If government would simply stand aside private firms would build this thing, just as they wanted to do in Texas until Southwest Airlines lobbied to kill it.
That said, there are two arguments against HSR that make whoever use them look retarded and ignorant:
1. “Boondoggle”. Really? Is this the best you got? Then please STFU because you sound like my stodgy old grandfather who thought that everything he didn’t understand was a ‘boondoggle’. Seriously, LIBERALS phrase their arguments with pathetic names when they can’t come up with anything else, be better than that.
2. “The train to nowhere”. Unless you can come up with a way to build the entire system ALL AT ONCE then again, please STFU because you sound like an ignoramus and you make conservatives sound stupid by their association with you.
Unless conservatives can come up with cogent arguments against HSR then just let it go. Argue about the cost, argue that it should be privately built, argue that we can’t afford it, but at least make an intelligent argument, not just run around saying “BOONDOGGLE!!!” like a stupid wind-up-toy.
[/rant]
“But a recent UC Berkeley study provides evidence that...”
...studies that come from berkeley are worthless, politically biased nonsense.
My goodness. How about, 1)We are broke and can't afford it. 2) We don't need it. 3)The people of California don't want it. 4) contrary to your wishful thinking there are no "private firms" ready to cough up 70 or 100 billion to build a train no one cares to ride. If there is I'd sure like to hear about it--so I could short their stock.
If it were a good investment, somebody in the private sector would build it.
>>>contrary to your wishful thinking there are no “private firms” ready to cough up 70 or 100 billion to build a train no one cares to ride. If there is I’d sure like to hear about it—so I could short their stock.<<<
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rail-advice-20120709,0,4539140.story
Anmd it looks like a private consortium is again trying to bulid the Texas HSR project despite the previous interference from Southwest Airlines.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/05/09/3949397/group-aims-to-raise-10-billion.html
“If it were a good investment, somebody in the private sector would build it.”
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/05/09/3949397/group-aims-to-raise-10-billion.html
Just another government waste project whose true cost is unknown. Try $100 Billion Plus.
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