Virginia set to compete for high-speed rail funds
TOM KAPSIDELIS
High-speed rail in Japan and other nations has leaped ahead of the U.S. One official says high-speed rail in the Richmond region would be “transformational.“
Virginia will take the first formal step tomorrow in seeking more than $1.5 billion in federal stimulus money to develop high-speed rail corridors.
Tomorrow is the deadline for a pre-application by the state for a share of the $8 billion available for high-speed rail development under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, adopted by Congress in February at President Barack Obama's urging.
"Anything that's not in the pre-application will not get funded, so it's a huge deadline," said Daniel L. Plaugher, executive director of Virginians for High Speed Rail in a breakfast presentation today to the Greater Richmond Chamber at Willow Oaks Country Club.
Virginia's proposed $1.51 billion plan includes $491 million improvements in a six-mile stretch around Richmond's Acca rail yard and a 13-mile link between the yard and Main Street Station in the city's downtown. The improvements are necessary to remove bottlenecks that limit rail service to the renovated station
Other parts of the proposal include:
- $185 million to add a third rail track between Richmond and Fredericksburg;
- $152 million to improve conventional rail service between Main Street Station and Petersburg; and
- $195 million to upgrade the rail corridor between Richmond and Washington, D.C., to allow high-speed trains that could cut the trip to 90 minutes on a reliable basis.
The state will submit the final proposal for developing the rail corridors on Oct. 2, and the federal government is expected to award money to the winners on Nov. 16.
Kim Scheeler, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Richmond Chamber, said his organization is working to build support for the state's proposal.
""It really is the kind of thing that can be transformational for this community," Scheeler said.
-- Michael Martz
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another subsidy to airlines is all the public employees working in airports. ATC’s, TSA screeners, police etc
Godfather stated: “(WWII - when we almost lost because we did not have any [carriers])“
“we did not have any” has a fairly common construal in the English language. It means “none.“ Zero, zip, nada. So I made a sarcastic comment, because on December 7, 1941 we had 8 commissioned aircraft carriers, plus 5 Essex class carriers under construction, plus the Langley. The Japanese imperial Navy had ten carriers. As everyone except Godfather knows, Yamamoto figured Japan had lost the war when he realized the 4 carriers stationed at Pearl were out to sea
“Your sarcasm is very poor. Do you know how many carriers we had in 1941 in the pacific? Do you know how many Japan had?“
The answer, obviously, is yes.
motleyfool nice data! that illustrates federal policy toward roads for the last 60 years. We spend upward of $90 billion on roads every year, half the costs hidden in federal funds so that drivers pay a very low user fee through gas taxes. There isn’t a road in America that turns a profit, so it doesn’t makes sense to hold passenger rail to that standard.
Read and weep. Godfather and Fred are wrong.
USA Today report on subsidized travel to rural areas: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/01/our-view-on-sub.html
“Athens (GA) qualifies for the subsidized flights under a 1978 law, passed when airlines were deregulated, to maintain “essential air service” to isolated and rural communities that can’t attract service.“
“Athens is one of 24 communities within 90 miles of a good-sized airport that benefit from $22 million a year in government-subsidized air service, USA TODAY’s Tom Frank reported last week.“
Here’s more so you don’t think I’m cherry picking:
http://www.trainweb.org/moksrail/advocacy/resources/subsidies/transport.htm
“Much is made of the $30 billion spent on Amtrak over the last 30 years, but in that same period the federal government spent $1.89 TRILLION on air and highway modes, according to the New York Times and Washington Post.“
I realize a rail weblink seems a bit biased so here is one from an air industry source:
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/QuestionsRaisedAboutFederalAirTravelSubsidies_196876-1.html
“If you’ve flown commercial lately, you know that spam-in-a-can feeling, but some travelers are finding themselves with room to stretch out aboard aircraft with vacancy rates of up to 89 percent—thanks to government subsidies that keep the routes profitable for regional airlines serving low-density areas. Lawmakers in Washington recently allocated $110 million to the Transportation Department to fund the program in 2008.“
Time to change your opinions since it’s not borne out by facts?
I’ve run into traffic going into DC at all hours. High speed rail would help alleviate that. Rail improvements would also help alleviate rush hour traffic as well. A win/win!
High speed rail is coming. Get used to it. I’ll be the guy beside you either watching a movie on my laptop or reading a book. Heck, I’ll buy you a hot dog in the snack car!
Motley Fool - “and Godfather..the government does subsidize all sorts of aspects of air travel. You saying it ain’t so isn’t going to change that. Post some data if you disagree as your opinion is worth as much as mine. Newsflash, both our opinions equal old GM stock. “
No it does not, but then all you have to do is show one instance where it does. I have to prove infinite cases where it does not. You cannot prove a negative. So you prove your assumption.
And yes, our opinions are worth a share of GM stock. But then everyone has a share, now dont they?
“Yes! I forgot the Japanese sunk all the aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor while the battleships were out to sea! You’re so very very learnéd.“
Your sarcasm is very poor. Do you know how many carriers we had in 1941 in the pacific? Do you know how many Japan had? Try thinking instead of assuming, and you might actually learn something.
Moteley Fool - “To say that roads are sufficient and therefore high speed rail is not necessary is not forward thinking.“
Until Gas is $10 a gallon, roads are. I dont like almost everything about Obama and his policies. But one area he got my respect from was during the campaign when he said “the high price of gas is hard on people, but necessary”.
YES! He was the first democrat that was being honest! For his policies, and those of Al Gore and the other voodoo climate zealots, that is what is going to eventually get us off of the car and hydrocarbons. I may not agree with any of them, but at least Obama got my respect for being honest about it.
While $10/gal gas is inevitable, it is not something that can be done over time. After all, it took about 30 years for gas to go from teh first shock (50 cents) to $2.50 and we sucked it up. if we wait another 30 years for it, America will just suck it up again.
I dont want $10 gas, but I can respect those with the agenda of global warming to advocate it as a necessary pain, because that is the only thing that is going to get rail to work, and cars off the road.
bdb09 - “As for gas being $10/gallon, it will be in the future, and I’d rather have the mass transit infrastructure already in place to allievate that than waiting until gas prices go through the roof to start, wouldn’t you?“
Between you me and the fence post, I agree with you. I WANT rail travel. As I said, I love trains. But I cannot take money from you for my passions, and that is where we disagree. The NE corridor works because of population denisity. But even LA and SF’s rail is in deep trouble - and heavily subsidized. Like it or not, Cars and America are 2 peas in a pod.
But I cannot force my wants on you, nor should I ever attempt to. And that is my sticking point.
MotelFool & bdb09…the vast majority or the studies you cite are heavily biased toward a positive outcome for mass transit, thus their worthlessnes in dealing with reality. One issue that has not been brought up is the fact that road systems in most metroplolitan areas are adequate for auto travel except during peak traffic times like morning and afternoon rush hour. If the citizens really wants to get more travel for our tax dollar, THIS IS THE ISSUE TO ADDRESS!!!! Oh, and as far as air travel is concerned, the airlines are NOT subsidized, however airports are.
To say that roads are sufficient and therefore high speed rail is not necessary is not forward thinking.
We will have more people in this area over time. Therefore, more people to move. If the only option is a car and the interstate we can predict much more traffic on the road between Richmond and DC. With transportation budgets already busted, re: VDOT closing rest stops because it’s so cash strapped, we need to find a way to get more bang for our transportation dollar.
I like the option of taking the train to DC or points that are close enough for train travel and inefficient to drive to. The inefficiency could be from horrific traffic to a destination that has limited or expensive parking. Those destinations include NYC and DC. It’s actually a very relaxing trip to take via train to either of those cities. The added benefit, no need to be hassled, scanned, and probed by the former Wal-mart workers now employed by the TSA.
Train travel is coming luddites. Get used to it.
..and Godfather..the government does subsidize all sorts of aspects of air travel. You saying it ain’t so isn’t going to change that. Post some data if you disagree as your opinion is worth as much as mine. Newsflash, both our opinions equal old GM stock.
Cya on the Amtrak!
“That is your opinion not born out by facts or history. You might want to tell that to your grandparents (WWII - when we almost lost because we did not have any - I guess we were the agressor then as well, yea right).“
Yes! I forgot the Japanese sunk all the aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor while the battleships were out to sea! You’re so very very learnéd.
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