Comments on: Mass Transit in the Stimulus; Shanghai's Rail Boom http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2008/12/29/mass-transit-in-the-stimulus-shanghais-rail-boom/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:27:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: thetransportpolitic http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2008/12/29/mass-transit-in-the-stimulus-shanghais-rail-boom/#comment-104 thetransportpolitic Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:48:39 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=442#comment-104 There are two important points here: 1. While everyone wants, as Ray put it, Penn Station, ARC, etc, the stimulus plan being put together by the incoming Obama administration is meant to provide funding for projects that can be started within 90 days. We're not sure this is the best policy - does this mean that once the economy improves, we're not going to sponsor the longer-term improvements we need? This is a question for which we've yet to get an honest response. 2. Chinese planners have the "advantage" of not having to undertake expensive and onerous planning studies, which involve community opposition, environmental studies, and the like. Also, they have cheaper construction costs as a result of poor labor laws and fewer safety standards. One thing we shouldn't forget is that Western democracy, though it is slow, is far better at minimizing construction and environmental impacts than is Chinese totalitarianism. That said, we could attempt to speed it up a little bit... There are two important points here:

1. While everyone wants, as Ray put it, Penn Station, ARC, etc, the stimulus plan being put together by the incoming Obama administration is meant to provide funding for projects that can be started within 90 days. We’re not sure this is the best policy – does this mean that once the economy improves, we’re not going to sponsor the longer-term improvements we need? This is a question for which we’ve yet to get an honest response.

2. Chinese planners have the “advantage” of not having to undertake expensive and onerous planning studies, which involve community opposition, environmental studies, and the like. Also, they have cheaper construction costs as a result of poor labor laws and fewer safety standards. One thing we shouldn’t forget is that Western democracy, though it is slow, is far better at minimizing construction and environmental impacts than is Chinese totalitarianism. That said, we could attempt to speed it up a little bit…

]]> By: Ray http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2008/12/29/mass-transit-in-the-stimulus-shanghais-rail-boom/#comment-103 Ray Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:37:21 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=442#comment-103 I say lets dispense with the onerous planning phases for some of these projects long discussed and not mentioned. The Shanghai story suggests we are doing something wrong. Where on Schumer's list is Penn Station, ARC, HSR to Upstate, Tappan Zee Corridor or new HSR between Bos and Was. Why can't Second Ave Phases start sooner? BRT - is that all we can imagine? I say lets dispense with the onerous planning phases for some of these projects long discussed and not mentioned. The Shanghai story suggests we are doing something wrong. Where on Schumer’s list is Penn Station, ARC, HSR to Upstate, Tappan Zee Corridor or new HSR between Bos and Was. Why can’t Second Ave Phases start sooner? BRT – is that all we can imagine?

]]> By: Michael Perkins http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2008/12/29/mass-transit-in-the-stimulus-shanghais-rail-boom/#comment-102 Michael Perkins Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:55:51 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=442#comment-102 Re: Aluminum "tracks". These are probably aluminum third rails, as aluminum is a better conductor of electricity but is probably not strong, durable or fatigue-resistant enough for main support rail service. For the same physical size rail, heat-treated aluminum is only about half as strong as some of the better steel alloys. See <a href="http://mta.info/nyct/facts/ffenvironment.htm" rel="nofollow">this MTA link</a> Thanks for the blog, it's really interesting and informative. Re: Aluminum “tracks”. These are probably aluminum third rails, as aluminum is a better conductor of electricity but is probably not strong, durable or fatigue-resistant enough for main support rail service. For the same physical size rail, heat-treated aluminum is only about half as strong as some of the better steel alloys.

See this MTA link

Thanks for the blog, it’s really interesting and informative.

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