Could intercity public transit finally be getting some support from Congress? 7

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1. 

   apsmith Posted 3:58 am
   01 Nov 2007

   Yup!I'm very happy to see this passed, and hopeful the House will follow up with matching legislation sooner rather than later.
   My analysis of S.294 (the bill just passed) and some related House legislation from earlier this year is here:
   http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/1/223530/8311
   -- Arthur

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2. 

   amc89 Posted 5:15 am
   01 Nov 2007

   Great newsAs someone who uses Amtrak several times a year rather than flying or driving, I am delighted that more money may be coming their way. Taking the train should cheaper than flying. I keep on taking the train instead of flying because I think it's the right thing to do (and I hate getting airsick and waiting in security) but it sure would be nice if Amtrak prices came down a bit and the system became more efficient and reliable.

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3. 

   Delay And Deny Posted 5:24 am
   01 Nov 2007

   The Lib Train Keeps A-Rollin'
   
   Yet another expensive choo-choo train.
   Talk about subsidies, the cost per annum per ride on the Sound Transit "Sounder" is $65,000.
   Talk about unfairness to the Wal-Mart worker who drives from his suburban apartment to the mall -- and has to pay for some "city planner" to rail to work.
   Sheesh.
   Grist, set your priorities straight.
   
   
   
   John Bailo
   
   
   Sutext:

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4. 

   chip Posted 6:12 am
   01 Nov 2007

   Subsidies - Sheesh Not This Ol' Song and Dance.Talk about unfairness to the walmart worker who drives to work in their SUV's. If you REALLY want to hear about corporate welfare.
   
   
   15 Billion (yes a "B") bailout given to the airline industry. now that would buy a lot of rail, might even keep a "city planner" busy for a week or two.
   8 Billion (yes a "B" again) in Federal subsidy's to run the FAA every year.
   The Essential Air Services program, provides about $110 million a year to subsidize scheduled air service to small communities that the profit minded airlines could not care to server.
   Federal airline security takes about $3 billion a year in general funds.  The TSA spends about $5 billion (out of its $6.4 billion budget) on aviation, of which general funds cover about $2.3 billion, and passenger and airline fees the remaining $2.7 billion.  The Federal Air Marshal Service's budget is $722 million.
   Aviation receives subsidies from the Highway Trust Fund and general funds in the form of highway and transit projects at airports, projects are local access road or bus projects. The Dulles Access Road, a 14-mile freeway exclusively for highway access to the airport in Northern Virginia, and the proposed $5 billion WMATA rail extension to Dulles. (credit to NARP).
   
   
   So to sum this up Amtrak needs this...and more :)

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5. 

   chemrat Posted 10:13 am
   01 Nov 2007

   Trains!Trains are great.  We don't use them enough in the US.  That is because roads get all the Federal subsidies.  This is not good for the environment, dependence on foreign oil, etc.
   Good to see something is being done to help Amtrack.
   
   Jim Bashkin aka chemrat aka nearlynothingbutnovels
   
   http://greenchemistry.wordpress.com
   
   http://nearlynothingbutnovels.blogspot.com/

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6. 

   margaret1776 Posted 10:46 am
   01 Nov 2007

   amtrakI take amtrak 3-4 times a year to visit my dad, not out of socio-political beliefs, but because it's a good option.  It takes the same time on the train as driving (including the time it takes me to get from home to the station), but I can spend the time doing something pleasant instead of worrying about getting smushed by 18-wheelers. As dad gets older, it's nice to know he has the option of taking the train to see me instead of driving.  We're lucky that we live on a high traffic line that is not under threat of cuts. If trains were more available and more reliable, more people would take the option.  
   
   Margaret1776

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7. 

   gmayer Posted 7:21 am
   02 Nov 2007

   TRAIN SERVICEKudos for somebody finally getting serious about AMTRAK.
   We have a train system here that would embarrass some Eastern European Nations. I live in California, and the main rail line between San Diego amd Seattle is a largely single rail unelectrified line, with slow diesel powered passenger trains running maybe 4-5 times a day.
   Hello? Is this Bulgaria? Last time I checked we were still thinking of ourselves as an intelligent, technically first rate country. How can we so consistently and completely ignore trains? They are as necessary a part of the transporation system as are bicycles, buses, light rail, subways, inter city trains, and airplanes; and cars.
   We have been so obsessed with cars that we all have fogotten how well trains can serve a community. Commuting on a train can be a joy rather than sitting in a car in a traffic jam, because first of all, train arrivals are predictable and can be largely depended on, and second - you can do stuff on trains, like work, read, watch movies, listen to music, be drunk occasionally... and chat up your fellow train riders. There is a social scene on trains that is just not know to us here.
   Hmmm.....
   
   Gerhard W. Mayer
   
   The Conceptual Motion Company
   
   an urban repair enterprise

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