Comments on: The Misuse of Stimulus Funds http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/11/the-misuse-of-stimulus-funds/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:43:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Norman Brown http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/11/the-misuse-of-stimulus-funds/#comment-367 Norman Brown Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:55:50 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-367 I'm not against you getting all the money you need to cement tie and electrify whatever. However, these services in set to run in corridors where it is not remotely possible that they can achieve that Farebox Operating Ratio any time in my children's life times (24-27). There are a lot of unanswered questions here and pumping up these corridors simply because there is a plan ready now is not a good way to shoe-horn HSR into the existing rail network. Though why worry about that stuff when the only issue at stake is how fast it goes. One reason it can go so fast is it is basically going through open space. It is hard to fill the seats through open space. Meanwhile, existing systems, working quite well are starved of both capital and operating money. I’m not against you getting all the money you need to cement tie and electrify whatever. However, these services in set to run in corridors where it is not remotely possible that they can achieve that Farebox Operating Ratio any time in my children’s life times (24-27). There are a lot of unanswered questions here and pumping up these corridors simply because there is a plan ready now is not a good way to shoe-horn HSR into the existing rail network. Though why worry about that stuff when the only issue at stake is how fast it goes. One reason it can go so fast is it is basically going through open space. It is hard to fill the seats through open space. Meanwhile, existing systems, working quite well are starved of both capital and operating money.

]]> By: Obama-Mamas.com http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/11/the-misuse-of-stimulus-funds/#comment-366 Obama-Mamas.com Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:16:05 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-366 Senator Kerry is one of my favorites, but I have to agree with you. We need to put money into true high speed rail projects that are ready to go. We have a rail project ready in the northwest, I think California has one ready to go too. I'm sure there are some projects in the northeast, I think there's one ready in Dallas too. There is high speed rail in South America. We better get with it. Senator Kerry is one of my favorites, but I have to agree with you. We need to put money into true high speed rail projects that are ready to go. We have a rail project ready in the northwest, I think California has one ready to go too. I’m sure there are some projects in the northeast, I think there’s one ready in Dallas too. There is high speed rail in South America. We better get with it.

]]> By: Norman Brown http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/11/the-misuse-of-stimulus-funds/#comment-365 Norman Brown Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:45:24 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=1191#comment-365 You describe the legislation as I expect it to be written and while I believe you are correct in your analysis I think it shows the character of the high speed advocacy. Since speed, top speed, is the standard that determines whether the money will be granted or not the character of the market to be served carries a certain exurban pedigree. And, I think that same character makes it a very hard sell politically. Since those markets are also the home of the SUV and luxury pick up truck, very dispersed populations they are not something that those constituencies are pushing their politicians to fight for. These are the constituencies that fight fuel taxes to the death. And, there are no successful HSR systems anywhere in the world that do not also have very high energy taxes supporting them and increasing demand from the travellers. There is simply not enough money to be had for HSR construction and operation or demand for the service in the hinterlands you intend to serve given low fuel prices. While you may not like Sen. Kerry's position on this corridor it is a great potential commuter corridor with pretty good track. Some technical improvements you could run over 100-120MPH for some stretches. However the same thing that gives this alignment good potential also means you will be stopping those trains pretty frequently as well. I think most HSR advocates are thinking a couple hundred miles between stops. I like fast trains but there will never be enough money for everything we need. These sort of suburban areas are exactly where lie the next frontier of rail commuter. Coincidentally they are where the political center of gravity, the swing constituency, reside. These are the services where expansion should next occur. Building HSR from Timbuktwo to TImbukthree does not have the political juice right now. You describe the legislation as I expect it to be written and while I believe you are correct in your analysis I think it shows the character of the high speed advocacy. Since speed, top speed, is the standard that determines whether the money will be granted or not the character of the market to be served carries a certain exurban pedigree. And, I think that same character makes it a very hard sell politically.

Since those markets are also the home of the SUV and luxury pick up truck, very dispersed populations they are not something that those constituencies are pushing their politicians to fight for. These are the constituencies that fight fuel taxes to the death. And, there are no successful HSR systems anywhere in the world that do not also have very high energy taxes supporting them and increasing demand from the travellers. There is simply not enough money to be had for HSR construction and operation or demand for the service in the hinterlands you intend to serve given low fuel prices.

While you may not like Sen. Kerry’s position on this corridor it is a great potential commuter corridor with pretty good track. Some technical improvements you could run over 100-120MPH for some stretches. However the same thing that gives this alignment good potential also means you will be stopping those trains pretty frequently as well. I think most HSR advocates are thinking a couple hundred miles between stops.

I like fast trains but there will never be enough money for everything we need. These sort of suburban areas are exactly where lie the next frontier of rail commuter. Coincidentally they are where the political center of gravity, the swing constituency, reside. These are the services where expansion should next occur. Building HSR from Timbuktwo to TImbukthree does not have the political juice right now.

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