Public Works Project Idea - Railroads

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2008
Public Works Project Idea - Railroads
20
Fri, 11-21-2008 - 12:41pm

What do you guys think about the idea of letting the big 3 file for bankruptcy and using the taxpayer money that could have gone towards a bailout to fund a huge public works project like building modern, high speed, green railroad lines from coast to coast and modernizing the lines that currently exist? The way I see it, this could accomplish a couple of different things.

Number one, a lot of the same technology and skill sets that are involved in manufacturing cars could be transferred into the railway construction project so that many laid off workers from the automobile plants could find jobs. Secondly, the taxpayers would actually get something for their money - a decent and hopefully cheaper alternative to air travel. Thirdly, if this project is done correctly, we could use the railways to reduce air and automobile traffic (a boon in itself) and could reduce emissions.

There are probably a myriad of reasons why this would not work, especially since I am NO expert in business, manufacturing, or the cost that would go into such a project. But I, for one, would love to see the US get a functional rail system that would rival Europe's. If you've ever traveled through Europe then perhaps you share my impression of the ease, comfort, and cost-efficiency of rail travel as compared to air travel. It may take a little longer to get where you are going, but if high speed limited stop rail trips are available and offered for less than 1/3 of the price of air travel - I think it's a reasonable trade off.

Think about how the interstate highway public works project has fundamentally changed the fabric of America. Now think about how the railways could do the same. Here are some quotations I found about the interstate highway project - and they really got me thinking about the power of human ingenuity and drive. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/quotable.htm If we could come together to make something as unique and powerful as the interstate highway system - why not do the same for rail travel?

What do you guys think? I am truly interested to hear any opinions of this idea.





~Ashley~




pregnancy week by week




~Ashley~

Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
Fri, 11-21-2008 - 1:31pm

I'm certainly not an expert either, but I really like this concept. I think that bankruptcy and restructuring is the route the big 3 should go, but

Chrissy
mom to Aidan 8/21/03
Grayson Blaine 12/30/07

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2008
Fri, 11-21-2008 - 2:32pm
Thanks for the suggestion! I just essentially cut-and-pasted my post in the little box and pressed submit. Will anyone read it - doubtful - but hey, I tried. :-)




~Ashley~




pregnancy week by week




~Ashley~

Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
Fri, 11-21-2008 - 2:49pm

You never know. They post some of the ideas and comments on their blog at change.gov so apparently someone's reading them! :-)


Chrissy
mom to Aidan 8/21/03
Grayson Blaine 12/30/07

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Fri, 11-21-2008 - 6:20pm

I agree that we should let the Big 3 file chapter 11.


I strongly disagree that we should funnel the money into rail service.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2008
Fri, 11-21-2008 - 7:07pm
I really enjoy your posts. They show a lot of knowledge and insight. Do you know of other debate boards of a political or economic nature where one might find others with your level of knowledge and experience if not more? If so please share them with me either here or via my profile.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2008
Sat, 11-22-2008 - 9:06am
I agree that almost no one is going to use trains to get from California to New York, but for cities that are 2-3 hours apart, a train is a viable alternitive.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 11-22-2008 - 9:27am

Amtrak Boston/NY/DC has it's problems for sure, but it does get passengers.

 


 


I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Sat, 11-22-2008 - 2:10pm

You've put your finger on one of the issues though - the # of major cities that are 2-3 hours apart.


Once you get out of the Northeast, the number of places that works drops dramatically.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2008
Sat, 11-22-2008 - 3:49pm

Yeah, it isn't going to work everywhere.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Sat, 11-22-2008 - 5:39pm

Why would we want to adopt the notion of setting the taxes so much higher?


Remember, in Europe the car was always much more of a luxury than in the US - it's that distance/population density

Pages