High-speed rail; no turning back on American jobs, economic opportunities, mobility gains

With his vigorous support for high-speed rail, President Obama is thinking about a better future. And so is the Department of Transportation. We're moving America forward for all Americans.

The bottom line is that high-speed rail will deliver a more efficient downtown-to-downtown mobility; it will spur economic development; it will bring manufacturing jobs to the US; and it will move us to a cleaner, greener way of getting around.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out even more grants to help write the next chapter in American innovation.

We're talking about nothing short of transforming transportation much the same way the interstate highway system did under President Eisenhower. Can you imagine if Ohio or Wisconsin or any other state had said, "No, thanks--we don't think that highway thing is going anywhere?"

The fact is that--as with much of the Recovery Act--I keep hearing objections being expressed in the media while at the same time my office phone is ringing off the hook with calls from elected officials of both parties competing feverishly for a rail corridor in their state! I've never heard from anyone saying, "Don't put my constituents to work."

Look, the people vowing to send this train back to the station are missing the boat, so to speak. High speed rail will offer states' incredible economic opportunities. It means jobs for workers, it means manufacturing opportunities and it means economic development corridors.

If you think the United States can afford not to compete with the European and Asian nations who have embraced high-speed rail and other innovative infrastructure, I urge you to read "Investing in our Economic Future," by Dr. T. Peter Ruane, or "Well Within Reach: America's New Transportation Agenda," by the David R. Goode National Transportation Policy Conference. Both of these reports tell the same story: We cannot delay mustering the courage to build a 21st century foundation for our 21st century economy.

Neither President Obama nor I will be content to sit around and watch other countries maintain a transportation advantage over us.

We know there are dozens of companies that want to build plants and hire American workers. We have already received commitments from over 30 companies in the rail business to create or expand US rail manufacturing should they be awarded contracts for portions of this money. These companies know high-speed rail, and they are ready to become partners to the states or regions awarded rail grants.

Will we say, "No," to the future--to jobs and growth?

Just like the interstate highway system, the wired telephone has been a fantastic springboard to American economic strength. But that didn't stop the communications companies from embracing the innovation offered by wireless. And look at what that investment has made possible.

We will always use our roadways; they continue to serve us well, and DOT is not about to turn our backs on them. But now is the time to invest in the next technological wave in transportation and leverage it toward a better future for all of us.

Comments

[natalie]

to oboma, hi its me natalie dowel,
I think its agreat idea weve always said that somithing like this would be very benificial to our roads.ansd to our cummuinity and to our cities lets due this.
natalie dowell

[Atkins Dieter]

I think this is a great plan.

[Chris]

Much like everything this disastrous, arrogant administration has rammed down the people's throats, high speed rail will be another wasteful boondoggle. It must be stopped here in Wisconsin. Mr. LaHood, doing his best impression of a Soviet-era central planner, has decreed that he knows what is best for my state. Well, Ray, you don't. It's disgusting that you used to be a Republican. After Scott Walker is elected governor of Wisconsin, this train fantasy will be dead.

[Nick Aster]

Thans for the encouraging words! It's a shame that some politicians have chosen High Speed Rail (of all things) as an example of wasteful government spending when it happens to be among the most responsible of ways to spend taxpayer money. I encourage you to reach out to voters and candidates - especially Republicans - to demonstrate the future value of this investment to our economy, businesses, cities, and indeed, the planet.

[Michael E. Bailey]

High Speed Rail will be a great benefit to the national economy in so many ways. I'm glad to see it moving forward. I know there are a few politicians trying to win election this year on a platform of "Don't Build High Speed Rail". They seem mostly in some of the Great Lakes States. Those few don't want a 21st Century transportation system. We will find out in a few weeks how well their arguments played with electorates in the several states but I suspect voters who take a close look will be supporting high speed rail this election. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Benjamin M Wharton]

Dear Secretary LaHood, October 12, 2010

As designed, the NJT plan and the CA High Speed Rail Plan are boondoggle projects. This document addresses the NJT Plan.
The following article is from Wyblog:

“Sunday, 12 September 2010
The Tunnel to Nowhere is over budget and on hold.
The $8.7 billion boondoggle NJ Transit rail tunnel to the bowels of midtown Manhattan is over budget. At least a billion dollars over budget. But in what has to be an unprecedented move on the part of pork-barrelling politicans, the project is now on hold while officials determine how to rein in the cost overruns.
New Jersey is temporarily shutting down all new work and suspending additional contract bids on an $8.7 billion railway tunnel to New York because federal officials say the project may go as much as a billion dollars over budget - money New Jersey doesn't have.
Hot damn! The Chris Christie fiscal responsibility bandwagon is picking up speed! Let's hope it derails this train wreck once and for all. From the beginning the tunnel was a dumb idea. Sure it's going to Midtown, but it won't connect to any other train lines. Not Amtrak. Not Metro North. Not the LIRR. Not the New York City Subway. Nothing. It's a dead-end, hundreds of feet below Penn Station.
Why? Because every railroad is its own fiefdom and they don't want to play together. NJ Transit and Amtrak currently share the only two tunnels under the Hudson River. NJ Transit wants to build this new tunnel for its exclusive use. And Amtrak is happy to see them go their own way. Metro North and the LIRR use Grand Central, not Penn Station. There isn't even so much as a subway connector between the two stations either.
Five transit agencies. Zero cooperation. If that's not stupidity, I don't know what is.
I won't dispute the necessity for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson. But let's hope all the players involved here use this temporary hiatus as an opportunity to revisit its path and ultimate destination. Connect it to the existing tracks at Penn Station! And extend it to Grand Central! For $8.7 billion we ought to get a transit project which actually makes it easier for people to use mass transit.“

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called a 30-day moratorium to new contracts and real estate acquisitions on the project, as reported in the Newark Star-Ledger on Sunday, September 12th, in response to discussions between NJT and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) over risks involved with the project, and whether those risks require an increase in the anticipated cost of the project. Advocates for rail riders, both in the New Jersey-New York area and outside the region, have expressed concern that the project is unaffordable. They have also expressed concern for the project itself which they believe to be deeply flawed. To quote D:F publisher Jim RePass, this is “an era when no one in Europe or Asia is even CONSIDERING dead-end train terminals in major cities, for the obvious reason that they are deeply stupid.”

Advocates strongly prefer the Moynihan/Penn Station First alternative, which would bring new tracks and the tunnels which would house them, into an enhanced rail hub that would use the existing Penn Station and the historic Farley Post Office building across the street from it. The proposed station would provide capacity for Amtrak, the Long Island Rail Road, all NJT trains that go to New York and possible future Metro-North service. The plan could also be extended to the East Side in the future. NJT has already determined that an extension of the line to Grand Central Terminal can be constructed at a reasonable cost.

The preferred ARC plan would cost less!

The improved performance that the Moynihan/Penn Station First alternative would deliver would also bring a saving of $3 billion in cost, compared to the NJT plan.

Finally, please read the editorial:
A Solution To The ARC Fiasco
By James P. RePass
Publisher, Destinaton:Frededom

It can be found in the Sept 27th edition at www.nationalcorridors.org.

Although it may seem I am against passenger rail projects, I AM NOT! I am, however, against billion dollar boondoggle projects like the NJT plan. The Moynihan/Penn Station First plan appears to be a much better solution, and at a less expensive cost.

The term “Tunnel To Nowhere” is appropriate! Please read the pros & cons regarding this project and the alternative plans; hopefully you will then insist on The Moynihan/Penn Station First plan.

Sincerely,
Benjamin M Wharton
movalmike1@live.com

[University Online]

The bottom line is that high-speed rail will deliver a more efficient downtown-to-downtown mobility; it will spur economic development; it will bring manufacturing jobs to the US; and it will move us to a cleaner, greener way of getting around.

[Bob Carlson]

If you like bigger traffic jams, vote against it.

[Nick D.]

I have no idea why there would be opponents to a high speed rail line. it would have a positive impact on the economy in so many ways from the initial jobs it will create to the jobs creates through more efficient mobility between areas.

[Grundfos]

How are the cost of such a ride compare to a flight?

[Dream Town Realty]

Will there be a train like this in Chicago? I read that Chicago was supposed to build one. Haven't heard anything since then, though.

[torrent download]

If you like bigger traffic jams, vote against it.

[custom essay writing services]

Hope it will really be as good and useful as it's described. I don't know why but it's a bit hard to believe that just one change in transportation can cause such significant changes

[Coachmen]

Fantastic news! GO USA!

[computer science project]

that train is really beautiful

[reverse phone lookup]

More jobs is always better