Comments on: High Speed Rail: A No-Brainer http://www.getreallist.com/high-speed-rail-a-no-brainer.html Deal With Reality or It Will Deal With You Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:09:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Monday Stories: Paying the Piper; Chinese Bank Time Bomb?; La Stress at The Brian Sullivan Blog http://www.getreallist.com/high-speed-rail-a-no-brainer.html/comment-page-1#comment-1513 Monday Stories: Paying the Piper; Chinese Bank Time Bomb?; La Stress at The Brian Sullivan Blog Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:15:21 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1328#comment-1513 [...] High speed rail a no-brainer [...] [...] High speed rail a no-brainer [...]

]]> By: Mark http://www.getreallist.com/high-speed-rail-a-no-brainer.html/comment-page-1#comment-1504 Mark Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:07:59 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1328#comment-1504 China's version of the high speed rail, a quite massive buildout - gosh, I feel so 2nd world country sometimes http://www.fundmymutualfund.com/2009/09/fortune-chinas-amazing-new-bullet-train.html China’s version of the high speed rail, a quite massive buildout – gosh, I feel so 2nd world country sometimes

http://www.fundmymutualfund.com/2009/09/fortune-chinas-amazing-new-bullet-train.html

]]> By: Thomas http://www.getreallist.com/high-speed-rail-a-no-brainer.html/comment-page-1#comment-1503 Thomas Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:57:46 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1328#comment-1503 I normally side with liberal issues, but this is one that I just can't agree with. Just because the Europeans have a lot of ridership doesn't mean that light rail is the MOST EFFECTIVE ANSWER TO OUR ENERGY PROBLEMS. To ignore the costs and mandate that a significant source of America's investment capital should be diverted to serve a small proportion of our population under a misguided master planning arrangement will be catastrophic to America's future productivity and national budget. For a sum that is much less than what would be required for Light Rail, we could dramatically improve the energy profile of our current automotive system; a system that allows people to dictate their own transportation solutions rather than be subject to the whimsy of governmental, bureaucratic system. As a resident of the Bay Area I've tried several times to use the mass-transit option available, but THEY FAIL MISERABLY. I have zero confidence that committees of politically-appointed lackeys can make intelligent planning decisions. I point to the Bay Area's own BART, Caltrains and Muni light rail systems as perfect examples of the reality of good intentions turning into significant, wasteful monetary burdens on our citizens. My wife tried to make BART a solution to commute into San Francisco. The faults and end-cost were so great that it actually made economic sense for her to drive and park in the city -- a city with some of the highest parking costs in the nation. But even beyond arguing the cost, which one could argue may come down with ridership; the rest of the experience was a disaster as well. I'm glad you brought up a pithy quote making a facile cost comparison from BART's director. Here are some links so that you can investigate the reality of BART's effectiveness: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/06/BAEF1A1833.DTL http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/13/BA6O19M1UM.DTL http://www.yelp.com/topic/san-francisco-bart-problem-again If I believed that opaque organizational structures could create efficient and effective transportation solutions that used precious tax-dollars in a prudent manner, I'd probably entertain the idea that light rail could be a solution. But history and reality shows us that it is not possible in today's American cronyistic society. As an Independent, I am disappointed by the increasing evidence that the Democrats leverage of special interests only creates a different type of disaster through governmental control. There is no way I want this group mandating the expenditure of hundreds of billions, if not trillions of tax dollars. Gregory Lent comments about California going broke and I'm not sure he gets that it is going broke because of paternalistic misguided projects such as light rail in the Bay Area. Yes light rail is fun. I took the high-speed AVE from Madrid to Sevilla and enjoyed it. Is the romance of their solution enough to make it right for America? No way. The solution is fund enough micro-changes in the current architecture of transportation in America (automotive) that drive significant changes in energy consumption nationally. It's already happening but more can be done. THIS IS WHERE OUR TAX MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT; ENCOURAGING CHANGES TO THE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION THAT AMERICANS HAVE CHOSEN THROUGH USE OVER DECADES. The reason why Americans use cars is because it enables freedom in transportation which in turn enables freedom to find personal solutions to issues of work, play and travel. I am not an energy or automotive employee; my paycheck doesn't come from anything close to those industries. I am a rational, thinking citizen that is terrified of the possibility that our country would waste significant, precious tax-dollars on an inefficient, restrictive an ineffective solution. Your loosely-coupled argument, while sounding nice is not sufficient to prove that light rail is a good choice. The reality that many people have encountered through actual experience is an effective counterweight to this feel-good argument. I normally side with liberal issues, but this is one that I just can’t agree with. Just because the Europeans have a lot of ridership doesn’t mean that light rail is the MOST EFFECTIVE ANSWER TO OUR ENERGY PROBLEMS. To ignore the costs and mandate that a significant source of America’s investment capital should be diverted to serve a small proportion of our population under a misguided master planning arrangement will be catastrophic to America’s future productivity and national budget. For a sum that is much less than what would be required for Light Rail, we could dramatically improve the energy profile of our current automotive system; a system that allows people to dictate their own transportation solutions rather than be subject to the whimsy of governmental, bureaucratic system. As a resident of the Bay Area I’ve tried several times to use the mass-transit option available, but THEY FAIL MISERABLY. I have zero confidence that committees of politically-appointed lackeys can make intelligent planning decisions. I point to the Bay Area’s own BART, Caltrains and Muni light rail systems as perfect examples of the reality of good intentions turning into significant, wasteful monetary burdens on our citizens. My wife tried to make BART a solution to commute into San Francisco. The faults and end-cost were so great that it actually made economic sense for her to drive and park in the city — a city with some of the highest parking costs in the nation. But even beyond arguing the cost, which one could argue may come down with ridership; the rest of the experience was a disaster as well.
I’m glad you brought up a pithy quote making a facile cost comparison from BART’s director. Here are some links so that you can investigate the reality of BART’s effectiveness:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/06/BAEF1A1833.DTL
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/13/BA6O19M1UM.DTL
http://www.yelp.com/topic/san-francisco-bart-problem-again
If I believed that opaque organizational structures could create efficient and effective transportation solutions that used precious tax-dollars in a prudent manner, I’d probably entertain the idea that light rail could be a solution. But history and reality shows us that it is not possible in today’s American cronyistic society. As an Independent, I am disappointed by the increasing evidence that the Democrats leverage of special interests only creates a different type of disaster through governmental control. There is no way I want this group mandating the expenditure of hundreds of billions, if not trillions of tax dollars. Gregory Lent comments about California going broke and I’m not sure he gets that it is going broke because of paternalistic misguided projects such as light rail in the Bay Area.
Yes light rail is fun. I took the high-speed AVE from Madrid to Sevilla and enjoyed it. Is the romance of their solution enough to make it right for America? No way.
The solution is fund enough micro-changes in the current architecture of transportation in America (automotive) that drive significant changes in energy consumption nationally. It’s already happening but more can be done. THIS IS WHERE OUR TAX MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT; ENCOURAGING CHANGES TO THE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION THAT AMERICANS HAVE CHOSEN THROUGH USE OVER DECADES. The reason why Americans use cars is because it enables freedom in transportation which in turn enables freedom to find personal solutions to issues of work, play and travel.
I am not an energy or automotive employee; my paycheck doesn’t come from anything close to those industries. I am a rational, thinking citizen that is terrified of the possibility that our country would waste significant, precious tax-dollars on an inefficient, restrictive an ineffective solution. Your loosely-coupled argument, while sounding nice is not sufficient to prove that light rail is a good choice. The reality that many people have encountered through actual experience is an effective counterweight to this feel-good argument.

]]> By: Readings: Tuesday 06 October 2009 GregorWeekly http://www.getreallist.com/high-speed-rail-a-no-brainer.html/comment-page-1#comment-1487 Readings: Tuesday 06 October 2009 GregorWeekly Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:06:42 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1328#comment-1487 [...] High Speed Rail: A No-Brainer: Chris Nelder, Get Realist. [...] [...] High Speed Rail: A No-Brainer: Chris Nelder, Get Realist. [...]

]]> By: Denis Du Bois, Editor, Energy Priorities Magazine http://www.getreallist.com/high-speed-rail-a-no-brainer.html/comment-page-1#comment-1486 Denis Du Bois, Editor, Energy Priorities Magazine Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:16:45 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1328#comment-1486 In the 1950s, Eisenhower's vision became America's reality: Interstate freeway systems enable carbon-spewing passenger car travel and truck freight that increase our dependence on foreign oil. Meanwhile, air and train routes become prohibitively expensive -- or go under. We still have time to get it right. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2009/04/fast_railroad_stimulus.php I would very much like to see someone research BART Board Director Tom Radulovich's stat: "the U.S. currently spends as much on parking as it does on national defense." It's a fascinating comparison. In the 1950s, Eisenhower’s vision became America’s reality: Interstate freeway systems enable carbon-spewing passenger car travel and truck freight that increase our dependence on foreign oil. Meanwhile, air and train routes become prohibitively expensive — or go under.

We still have time to get it right. http://energypriorities.com/entries/2009/04/fast_railroad_stimulus.php

I would very much like to see someone research BART Board Director Tom Radulovich’s stat: “the U.S. currently spends as much on parking as it does on national defense.” It’s a fascinating comparison.

]]> By: gregorylent http://www.getreallist.com/high-speed-rail-a-no-brainer.html/comment-page-1#comment-1485 gregorylent Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:24:39 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1328#comment-1485 opposition to rail, or ignorance in implementing it, has been from all parties and all brands of media and all energy and auto corporations and and and for at least thirty years ... and i don't see much changing ... america has to nearly die before the populace will wise up ... look at california, even being broke is changing nothing in the most progressive state in the union .. opposition to rail, or ignorance in implementing it, has been from all parties and all brands of media and all energy and auto corporations and and and for at least thirty years …

and i don’t see much changing … america has to nearly die before the populace will wise up … look at california, even being broke is changing nothing in the most progressive state in the union ..

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