Comments on: 83% of Americans Think More Money Should Go to High Speed Rail

By: Tara J

Tara J — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:13:02 +0000

I’d have to agree with those 88%, for me if we can build a high speed infrstructure it gives us so much more options to take polluting vehicles off the road and onto the more greener railroads. It seems pretty much a no brainer for me.

By: evan5069

evan5069 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:27:19 +0000

i just discovered your site. good article. how long have you been writing? this is really good stuff. are you a journalist aswell? anyway, thanks again. subscribing to the rss .

By: evan5069

evan5069 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:27:00 +0000

i just discovered your site. good article. how long have you been writing? this is really good stuff. are you a journalist aswell? anyway, thanks again. subscribing to the rss .

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:37:33 +0000

Some of you guys think that these systems are going to be built and no one will ride because they don’t connect to anything. You have to think 20, 50, 100 years down the road here. It’s not like the Florida line will never ever connect to anything ever. Its not the Milwaukee to Madison train is ONLY a train stopping at those two places. They will connect to more and more cities as these systems are built out. Business will be attracted to open near new stations. Better transit will also come as well. Will it replace the car? No. But it sure as hell will make it easier to get around. I travel a lot and would love to be able to take more trains to get work done, sleep and eat while on my way.

We spent 60 years building up our highways and 60 years tearing down our once world class rail system. Our passenger rail system use to be privately run companies that made a profit and paid taxes. Then we turn around the start subsidizing roads to the extant that these private for profit railroads were forced out of business because of government subsidy to another mode. Roads don’t pay taxes and have never made a profit. So who do you think is going to win?

It’s been proven on passenger lines all around the country now. Build it and they will come. Public transit ridership is the highest its ever been in 50 years. Amtrak ridership also saw a record quarter at the end of 2009.

Just like the interstate highway system took 40 years to build, this new system will also take just as long to build.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:37:00 +0000

Just like the interstate highway system took 40 years to build, this new system will also take just as long to build.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:42:31 +0000

Walt,

Things never change if you accept them as they are. It took a huge investment to transform our cities for cars. Unfortunately, it took a long time for people to realize the health, economic, time, and mental health effects that would create.

It will take a strong initial investment to make our cities more people friendly again, and HSR is a critical part of that in my view (and many others).

HSR could make a huge difference, transforming many aspects of our cities and regions.

Right now, SEVERAL times more tax payer money goes towards cars and roads. Change the ratio and people will ride trains, & it would improve many aspects of our society and people’s individual lives.

Think beyond now. That is what investment is about.

Zach

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:42:00 +0000

Walt,

It will take a strong initial investment to make our cities more people friendly again, and HSR is a critical part of that in my view (and many others).

HSR could make a huge difference, transforming many aspects of our cities and regions.

Think beyond now. That is what investment is about.

Zach

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:22:24 +0000

After coming back from Asia and rode their trains, I could careless about what American do/do not want high speed rail system anymore. I spend the last 20 years living in United States, I no longer believe American truly want to advance their country. You debate yourself to death, fighting wars you cannot afford, using fossil fuel without any regard to the future, while watching other countries chasing over you.

Good luck, Americans, hope you will have a slightly better “century of decline” compare to the British empire.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:22:00 +0000

Good luck, Americans, hope you will have a slightly better “century of decline” compare to the British empire.

By: Walt Brewer

Walt Brewer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:14:37 +0000

This in recent Wall Street Journal Letter sums it nicely.

“High-speed rail is a minus five on a one-to-10 priority scale. It exposes the neglected annual $70 billion-plus congestion-planning disaster that assumes productive auto travel can be replaced by long-discarded, century-old mass-transit concepts.

Except for the crowded East Coast, rail is a nostalgia fix. Let Disney take over Florida’s “HSR” so the grandkids can see what thrilled before computer games.”

Because of the enormous subsidy needed, do all those surveyed in favor realize the $ Billions all will be paying for decades through taxes, and the tiny number using HSR?

Urban transportation need lots of help to erase the $ 70+billion congestion is costing each year. HSR contribution isn’t even noticed.

May be ok in the very dense Northeast, but elsewhere just a slightly faster commuter train. Or at intermediate stops, needs a transfer or two, or rental car to get to the real destination.

USA isn’t old fashioned dense downtown cities like Europe or Japan. Most hope it will never be.