The problem isn’t high speed rail, or even how much it costs. The problem is the current system that we’re trying to do it in. As long as we rely on contractors to get things done for us no large scale projects will ever be done cost effectively again. We need a William Pitt in the White House, not a Donald Trump.
It’s an embarrassment that the US has no efficient passenger rail system.
No one seems to complain that the US spends about $10 billion a month to chase ghosts across the deserts of Asia, or wants to spend billions on a useless border wall, but next to nothing on viable local and interstate public transportation.
The section that is being worked on now will cost $10.6 billion, which is still far less than Trump says a non-functional wall will cost. $64 billion that will add to California’s economy while eliminating horrible traffic problems and reducing emissions is a reasonable investment. The numbers given for a wall that will NOT work (most illegals come to US on a plane, much of the border is water or terrain that can’t support a wall), will cause environmental and animal migration problems, and parts of the existing wall have US areas on the Mexico border so expect more US citizens to be on the Mexico side of the border wall.
.Most importantly, if you look at the costs for rail being more than what has been said before, imagine how the costs of a useless wall will expand.
superposition over 6 years ago
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-train-cost-overrun-20180116-story.html
Durak Premium Member over 6 years ago
The problem isn’t high speed rail, or even how much it costs. The problem is the current system that we’re trying to do it in. As long as we rely on contractors to get things done for us no large scale projects will ever be done cost effectively again. We need a William Pitt in the White House, not a Donald Trump.
gigagrouch over 6 years ago
It’s an embarrassment that the US has no efficient passenger rail system.
No one seems to complain that the US spends about $10 billion a month to chase ghosts across the deserts of Asia, or wants to spend billions on a useless border wall, but next to nothing on viable local and interstate public transportation.
Nantucket Premium Member over 6 years ago
The section that is being worked on now will cost $10.6 billion, which is still far less than Trump says a non-functional wall will cost. $64 billion that will add to California’s economy while eliminating horrible traffic problems and reducing emissions is a reasonable investment. The numbers given for a wall that will NOT work (most illegals come to US on a plane, much of the border is water or terrain that can’t support a wall), will cause environmental and animal migration problems, and parts of the existing wall have US areas on the Mexico border so expect more US citizens to be on the Mexico side of the border wall.
.Most importantly, if you look at the costs for rail being more than what has been said before, imagine how the costs of a useless wall will expand.
Thomas Thieme over 6 years ago
Steve apparently prefers more cars on the roads. So do the automobile and oil Industry.
Radish the wordsmith over 6 years ago
I rode high speed rail in France and Britain in 1984, it was great.
As I recall that Ayn Rand book was about making a high speed rail, Republicans hate that idea.
Radish the wordsmith over 6 years ago
Republicans don’t want high speed mass transit to be paid for by public funds.
They want to give rich people tax dollar welfare.