The ancient Romans had amazing aqueducts. The first was begun in 312 BC and by the 3rd century AD there were a dozen or so.
Put a sprinkler on that bridge and grow some almond trees in the desert.
Posted on 02/13/2019 7:16:09 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
President Barack Obama secured $8 billion in his 2009 economic stimulus package to start building toward the dream of true high-speed trains whisking passengers between major American cities. It was a paltry amount compared to the hundreds of billions it would actually take to fulfill that dream, but it was considered a serious down payment.
At the time, Obama’s transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, said, “I’m not a historian, but I know this: One of the legacies for this administration, for the president and the vice president, will be high-speed rail. That will be their transportation legacy.”
A decade later, little progress has been made on getting the country any closer to having the type of modernized train system popular in Europe and Asia.
On Tuesday the dream got its harshest blow yet: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced he was scaling back plans for high-speed rail between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
"Abandoning high-speed rail entirely means we will have wasted billions and billions of dollars with nothing but broken promises, partially filled commitments and lawsuits to show for it,” Newsom said.
So what about what LaHood said about it being Obama’s legacy?
“It can’t be his legacy if it doesn’t get carried out,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Amtrak, much like the post office and other federal agencies, is nothing more than an employment agency for minorities.
Not a Dream! A scheme! A shovel ready scheme to shovel money to liberal provocateurs.
I don’t think the Post got this upset over the billions spent on the super collider in Texas that was skuttled. That had strategic value.
Now we go hat in hand to Sern (sp?) to get time on theirs, only to have discoveries be part of the public domane. I may be off base on that a little, but that’s the impression I get.
It seems we have had no direction as a nation. I am still hopeful Trump will turn it around, but with no party behind him, it will be next to impossible.
And where there is available public transportation on the other end. But lets look at the time involved. Assume it takes 30 mins to get to the terminal. You need to get there 30 mins early just to be safe. 15 mins to rent a car. 30 min drive to your destination. that is almost 2 hours added to each end of the trip. I drive Tulsa-Dallas. Yeah, it is a bit longer, but I am in control, don't have to be felt up by TSA, and don't have to worry about a flight being cancelled.
We have the transportation in the US that the people want.
I hope californians enjoy their new Stonehenge...cement elevated track supports sitting in the middle of nowhere forever. These are monuments to the LIB lunatics who support such idiocy.
Personally, I would like to have good options for train travel, rather than air travel.
I agree and the best place to locate them is over an existing right of way, such as an interstate highway. California was trying to buy a new right of way. These would be subject to terrorism very easily, not to mention earthquakes.
Why? It isn’t in Japan which probably has the best system going. Just put it in the interstate median.
I take it back - there are sections of Japan’s that are elevated (mainly closer to the cities), but not all of it. I could understand the need if what your referring to is merely for traffic control purposes.
THrowback to the 50s?? In the 50s, train and air travel were wonderful. Try the 70s! And as someone who traveled Penn Station for years, I know what I’m talking about.
The ancient Romans had amazing aqueducts. The first was begun in 312 BC and by the 3rd century AD there were a dozen or so.
Put a sprinkler on that bridge and grow some almond trees in the desert.
I am talking about the decor. It’s 1950s institutional decorating. Reminds me of Atlas Shrugged (depressing).
I heard they are going to try to complete a section of the project that is “mostly done”. Laughable. I have no idea what said section will ultimately be; but it probably amounts to 23 miles of track between/among 2-3 Central CA agricultural towns. The daily fare collection would possibly pay for the electric bill for running the trains. On a good day.
And he is walking it back today because he is under heavy assault from the AOC Green New Deal brigades.
Radicals have completely captured the Dem Party.
No, it is not. It is 1970s awful. Have you ever been to Penn Station??? Meanwhile, well-maintained Grand Central still looks the way it did in North by Northwest - elegant and majestic.
Yes, I have been to Penn Station. I had two of my children in DC and NY at the same time a few years ago and used trains to get between the 2 cities quite often. I think Penn Station is horrible. It’s confusing, dirty, full of people looking to fleece travelers in one way or another, etc. Grand Central, however, is elegant.
Trains are stupid other than commuting to work
What the hell fo you do when you get there ?
Flying is also expensive and stupid unless you’re going across the country
You want your vehicle in almost every case
I read an article awhile back saying no high-speed rail in the world is cash flow positive. I too prefer it to air travel these days, but it just isn’t cost effective.
I think that is likely because the Govt skims off the top.
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