Florida rejects Obama's choo-choo train money.

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Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,529
3
0
HSR in CA would mean that people living in Central CA would be able to commute daily to the Bay Area or the LA area for work. It makes a lot of sense there.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
47,993
37,165
136
All you have to do is derail it, and at high speed you've pretty much killed everyone on the train.

The very worst HSR disaster in history only killed 30% of the passengers. That also includes every bombing of an HSR train ever attempted.
 

Drako

Lifer
Jun 9, 2007
10,697
161
106
HSR in CA would mean that people living in Central CA would be able to commute daily to the Bay Area or the LA area for work. It makes a lot of sense there.

We don't want any of those San Joaquin Valley types of people in the Santa Clara Valley. You stay in your valley, I'll stay in mine :)
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,357
8,446
126
the shanghai maglev train on its slower timeframe hits a peak speed of 187, averaging 139 over the 19 miles it takes to go station to station. it takes 8:10. it can accelerate to 220 in 2 minutes. if the floriduh train could do similar and have both express and local routes then it could probably cut the travel time from downtown to downtown to under 40 minutes. but it needs to go downtown to downtown if it goes anywhere. not some station 5 miles from downtown.
 

Steeplerot

Lifer
Mar 29, 2004
13,051
6
81
the shanghai maglev train on its slower timeframe hits a peak speed of 187, averaging 139 over the 19 miles it takes to go station to station. it takes 8:10. it can accelerate to 220 in 2 minutes. if the floriduh train could do similar and have both express and local routes then it could probably cut the travel time from downtown to downtown to under 40 minutes. but it needs to go downtown to downtown if it goes anywhere. not some station 5 miles from downtown.

This has a way of working itself out, most US downtowns are wastelands currently thanks to freeway blight. Whenever we get a new station developers go nuts trying to fit everyone in new buildings closer the better to the stations.

People also like living downtown areas. Train stations bring all new life to crap areas as it's usually the trendy folks with money who are the "urban pioneers" of once desolate wastelands of America.

Living car free, green, walking to the store to do your shopping or getting stuff, parks/schools in walking distance for kids. And getting to and from work a few blocks from your house? A lot of people will leave their crap apts in the 'burbs and the debt/hassle of cars for this more modern (yet classic American) lifestyle.

Hopefully FL reconsiders this, as it shouldn't be that expensive as it is a very flat state and is the key to slowing down the unsustainable urban sprawl. We have only have the sprawl problem really since the 1950s. Not too late to stop the trend any further and start planning ahead for future generations.

Damn shame, FL is a beautiful state, minus the one story shitty cinderblock crackerboxes dotting the landscape. Hopefully this ends.
 
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alphatarget1

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2001
5,710
0
76
We don't want any of those San Joaquin Valley types of people in the Santa Clara Valley. You stay in your valley, I'll stay in mine :)

So elitist!!!!

Do you know if a lot of people use the Altamont Commuter Express to commute to the Silicon Valley?
 

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,866
1,515
126
People also like living downtown areas. Train stations bring all new life to crap areas as it's usually the trendy folks with money who are the "urban pioneers" of once desolate wastelands of America.

Living car free, green, walking to the store to do your shopping or getting stuff, parks/schools in walking distance for kids. And getting to and from work a few blocks from your house? A lot of people will leave their crap apts in the 'burbs and the debt/hassle of cars for this more modern (yet classic American) lifestyle.

What crack are you smoking if you think most americans will go car-free and live in this pipe dream world of yours??? will they get free unicorns also????
 

Steeplerot

Lifer
Mar 29, 2004
13,051
6
81
will they get free unicorns also????

Works fine here. And no, no unicorns. Sucks too, you know what I could get for those horns nowadays in the castro district once crushed up into lines during a all night dance party? =P
 
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spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,866
1,515
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Works fine here. And no, no unicorns. Sucks too, you know what those horns would go for nowadays in the castro district crushed up for snorting? =P

"here" (wherever that is) doesnt represent mainstream America. It is pretty hilarious that you can even type car-free and America in the same sentence.

This just goes to show you how out of touch with reality you are. Most Americans value their independence to do whatever they want whenever they want. Having a car allows this because you are not waiting to meet some train or bus schedule to take you somewhere that may or may not be close to your actual destination or waiting to have someone pick you up at someone else's leisure.. Why do you hate America?
 

Steeplerot

Lifer
Mar 29, 2004
13,051
6
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This just goes to show you how out of touch with reality you are.

With podunkville? I am sure you good 'ol boys will be ok without dat dere general lee if you got to git out and walk.

Americans are not all lazy fatasses in some hick town too spoiled to walk a block for another snackcake. That's not mainstream, its pathetic.

You sound like a crybaby who thinks he is entitled to roads from my taxmonies. Take the bus loser and build your own roads on your land or take some personal responsibility and move to civilization.

It is not your fellow Americans job to support you being able to pick your nose on the way to wal-mart.


Be hilarious to see you guys idea of the founding fathers:
"We all have the inaliable right to smell our own farts on the way to work while we pick our noses at lights. It makes us..AMERICAN!!"

No, it makes you a idiot in a box with wheels.
 
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spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,866
1,515
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With podunkville? I am sure you good 'ol boys will be ok without dat dere general lee if you got to git out and walk.

Americans are not all lazy fatasses in some hick town too lazy to walk a block for a snackcake. That's not mainstream, its pathetic.

I wonder how all of the soccer moms will take little Johnie and Jane to their karate tournaments and dance recitals after picking them up from school and then take them over to their friend's bounce house parties on the weekends in your little Utopia. Or what happens when Mr Smith gets laid off from his job and his next job isn't conveniently located by a train or bus station? Maybe making the in-laws take a $100 cab ride to and from the airport when they visit isn't such a bad idea after all. Or lugging hundreds of dollars worth groceries each month to feed a family of 4 on a train or bus won't be too difficult.

That is mainstream America...not sitting in some coffee house around the block from your downtown apartment typing on your ipad....
 

Steeplerot

Lifer
Mar 29, 2004
13,051
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Don't live in a poorly planned out area with shit infrastructure? Plenty of kids walk home from school.

Probably hell of a lot more fit then some sheltered kid being chauffeured everywhere by their obese mommy and daddy.
 
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spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,866
1,515
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Don't live in a poorly planned out area with shit infrastructure? Plenty of kids walk home from school.

Probably hell of a lot more fit then some sheltered kid being chauffeured everywhere by their obese mommy and daddy.

That's the problem with elitists...they don't understand (nor do they care) how the common folk lives and then to top it off, they have to ridicule them...

Every major city in this country has plenty of kids that have to ride the bus because the schools are not walking distance. That is not shit infrastructure. That is reality.

How often did you/are you doing drugs or other mind altering substances to get to this fantasy land of yours?
 

Steeplerot

Lifer
Mar 29, 2004
13,051
6
81
That's the problem with elitists...they don't understand (nor do they care) how the common folk lives and then to top it off, they have to ridicule them...

Suburban elitist hypocrisy overload. Yes, folks in podunktown are the real americans and are the "common folk".

lol I am getting a speech about what "real" America is. Real America is the whole of the USA. Many folks have never lived in some burb or even driven a automobile. Welcome to outside your "village" or whatever hole you crawled out of. (or drove -excuse me I forget being an American means you have a certain material possesion) What next? Do we need all need riding lawnmowers to be part of your douchey USA club too?
 
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davmat787

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2010
5,512
24
76
This has a way of working itself out, most US downtowns are wastelands currently thanks to freeway blight. Whenever we get a new station developers go nuts trying to fit everyone in new buildings closer the better to the stations.

People also like living downtown areas. Train stations bring all new life to crap areas as it's usually the trendy folks with money who are the "urban pioneers" of once desolate wastelands of America.

Living car free, green, walking to the store to do your shopping or getting stuff, parks/schools in walking distance for kids. And getting to and from work a few blocks from your house? A lot of people will leave their crap apts in the 'burbs and the debt/hassle of cars for this more modern (yet classic American) lifestyle.

Hopefully FL reconsiders this, as it shouldn't be that expensive as it is a very flat state and is the key to slowing down the unsustainable urban sprawl. We have only have the sprawl problem really since the 1950s. Not too late to stop the trend any further and start planning ahead for future generations.

Damn shame, FL is a beautiful state, minus the one story shitty cinderblock crackerboxes dotting the landscape. Hopefully this ends.


How could your typical middle class family afford to live in an area like this? A downtown area can only employ so many people.
 

Steeplerot

Lifer
Mar 29, 2004
13,051
6
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How could your typical middle class family afford to live in an area like this? A downtown area can only employ so many people.

In my neighborhood there are a lot more middle class families then your whole state possibly. More people = more of everything. Average house is 4-5 stories tall and yes, I survive here well and support a small business or two, work 40 hours block and a half commute. I get in a car every few years. Actually, I don't even know anyone with a car here or anyone who bothers with even getting their licence. Why bother?
 
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Fear No Evil

Diamond Member
Nov 14, 2008
5,922
0
0
the shanghai maglev train on its slower timeframe hits a peak speed of 187, averaging 139 over the 19 miles it takes to go station to station. it takes 8:10. it can accelerate to 220 in 2 minutes. if the floriduh train could do similar and have both express and local routes then it could probably cut the travel time from downtown to downtown to under 40 minutes. but it needs to go downtown to downtown if it goes anywhere. not some station 5 miles from downtown.

But very few people actually travel between downtown Orlando and downtown Tampa. You are trying to resolve a problem that does not exist in Florida.
 

davmat787

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2010
5,512
24
76
In my neighborhood there are a lot more middle class families then your whole state possibly. More people = more of everything. Average house is 4-5 stories tall and yes, I survive here well and support a small business or two, work 40 hours block and a half commute. I get in a car every few years. Actually, I don't even know anyone with a car here or anyone who bothers with even getting their licence. Why bother?

I guess not everyone is as fortunate as you are then. However, you seem to think that what works for you and those in your immediate area is how it should work for everyone else, and is how everyone else should live. I think 100 years from now megacities will be more in line with what you envision, but I don't think it is realistic with current technology. It is impossible to pack all of the businesses, food production, and manufacturing needed into a dense urban environment, there will always be some sprawl around a city.
 

Steeplerot

Lifer
Mar 29, 2004
13,051
6
81
I guess not everyone is as fortunate as you are then. However, you seem to think that what works for you and those in your immediate area is how it should work for everyone else.

No, but I think suburban sprawl is not viable long term as this country has no federal department that regulates developers for a big picture. Most Americans do not even realize this and make broad generalizations about things like transit they have no idea about in day to day life and assume their way is working (or the only way as you did) this is arrogant.

If I came off as dismissive of ones current environment it was not meant as such.
 

Siddhartha

Lifer
Oct 17, 1999
12,505
3
81
If I lived in Florida I would be pissed off that the Governor turned down an opportunity to improve the state's infrastructure because there is a Democrat in the White House.
 

SuperSix

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,872
2
0
If I lived in Florida I would be pissed off that the Governor turned down an opportunity to improve the state's infrastructure because there is a Democrat in the White House.

Everything has to be a party issue...

Maybe he did it because the idea sucks?
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,529
3
0
We don't want any of those San Joaquin Valley types of people in the Santa Clara Valley. You stay in your valley, I'll stay in mine :)

Most of of those "San Joaquin Valley types of people" originally lived in Santa Clara Valley and moved out to the boonies because the cost of housing in Santa Clara is absurd due to the influx of all the Yuppie Scum.