The liberals $43 billion train to no where...

[Genx87]

They said the Minnesota Light Rail would flop too. It didn't.
Minnesotans love it. Their Light-Rail has been expanded over and over.
People want, need, and use mass transit whatever the cost.
LA to SF is the perfect plan for a mass transit system.
I've driven from San Diego to SF. Took some eight hours by car.
This system will be loved and no doubt expanded down to San Diego and north past SF.
It won't not take long for the state to recoup their investment.
Mass transit is always a win win situation.
And the more of it we build, the lower the cost and more streamlined the process will become.
Hey... Someone's got to do it.
Think of it as our national highway system.
Took a depression to get that going.
Try shutting down the national highway system and see what happens.

Our rail system is a waste of money. Why yes I would like to take 40 minutes to go from downtown out to the airport when it takes me 15 minutes of driving. The Northstar commuter train that runs in the northern metro is a better idea. But it carries so little people it is inconsequential on traffic. But it is nice to go to a twins game. I live about a half mile from one of the stations.

 

[piasabird]

High speed rail will enable criminals to jump on the train and travel to another location and then easily go back home.

 

[piasabird]

Now a high speed rail from LA to Dallas might make more sense. That way the people that move to Texas can go home for a visit.

 

[IronWing]

Having stupidly driven I-5 from LA to the SF turnoff and back again (once should be enough to teach anybody but the dumbest rocks) I think high speed rail is a most excellent idea. In fact, maybe tear up I-5 and use the corridor for rail since so few people drive on it anyway. The I-5 morons would have to find new occupations like blocking grocery store aisles and picking their noses in public. The restrooms at the Grapevine pump and piss could be turned into public art.

 

[Thebobo]

I like the idea. I am glad its being done.

 

[fskimospy]

Our rail system is a waste of money. Why yes I would like to take 40 minutes to go from downtown out to the airport when it takes me 15 minutes of driving. The Northstar commuter train that runs in the northern metro is a better idea. But it carries so little people it is inconsequential on traffic. But it is nice to go to a twins game. I live about a half mile from one of the stations.

Rail needs high population density to make sense. My guess is that a rail line that connected LA, San Diego, and San Francisco would probably be super helpful. In a lot of the rest of the country (outside of the northeast), rail doesn't make a lot of sense.

I don't know a lot about central/northern California, but it seems like they are starting with some of the least useful segments and I don't know why.

 

[Genx87]

Rail needs high population density to make sense. My guess is that a rail line that connected LA, San Diego, and San Francisco would probably be super helpful. In a lot of the rest of the country (outside of the northeast), rail doesn't make a lot of sense.

I don't know a lot about central/northern California, but it seems like they are starting with some of the least useful segments and I don't know why.

Yup, MN doesn't have that density. Our population density in the metro area sits around 514/sq mile. They also built the first line really poorly imo. Too many stops, and it has that MN charm. In other words take your sweet ass time at the stop so everybody isn't rushed to get on. I like NYCs subway system. In, out, no fucking around. It gets you places quickly. The run from Jamaica station to near time square I think took us abou 15-20 mins. In MN that would easily be over an hour.

I have come around on the idea of high speed rail and mass public transit in general. But it needs to be in a location that makes sense. The NE corridor makes sense. Run a high speed train from Boston to DC ect. I'm not totally sold on this train due to the location, costs, and expected service.

I thought they were starting on these segments due to costs? I assume building in the wilderness would cost less than the stretches that are in LA or the Bay Area?

 

[Thebobo]

Europe HSR system

Chinas

USA

 

[Brainonska511]

I have come around on the idea of high speed rail and mass public transit in general. But it needs to be in a location that makes sense. The NE corridor makes sense. Run a high speed train from Boston to DC ect. I'm not totally sold on this train due to the location, costs, and expected service.

I wish they would. Amtrak proposed something for the Northeast Corridor, which would straighten track, build new lines where necessary, and upgrade electrical lines, but they estimated the cost at ~$150 billion in 2020 dollars. Something like that would be great, but no one wants to foot the bill. Maybe if we cut back on our regular bombing of people we don't like, we could redirect the money to building something for ourselves.

We're spending billions of dollars upgrading airports and air-traffic control systems. Those are necessary, but HSR could serve to remove a lot of short-haul flights between major cities (eg: the Northeast Corridor; the midwest: Chicago-St. Louis-Cleveland-Madison...; West-coast cities (what's been proposed in California)) and freeing up slots for longer-distance flights.

 

[IronWing]

Rail needs high population density to make sense. My guess is that a rail line that connected LA, San Diego, and San Francisco would probably be super helpful. In a lot of the rest of the country (outside of the northeast), rail doesn't make a lot of sense.

I don't know a lot about central/northern California, but it seems like they are starting with some of the least useful segments and I don't know why.

The central valley is flat and should provide a place to work the kinks out before tackling the mountain passes and congestion into LA. The central valley also has a lot of people, it's not LA but millions of people live there. Stopping at Merced doesn't make a lot of sense on the face of it. Maybe there is a tie into the existing passenger rail system there.

On our recent trip to SF we looked at CalRail and Amtrak and we were like "What do you mean you can't take a train from LA to SF?", but currently, you can't.

 

[Genx87]

I wish they would. Amtrak proposed something for the Northeast Corridor, which would straighten track, build new lines where necessary, and upgrade electrical lines, but they estimated the cost at ~$120 billion in 2010 dollars. Something like that would be great, but no one wants to foot the bill. Maybe if we cut back on our regular bombing of people we don't like, we could redirect the money to building something for ourselves.

Bu bu bu think of all those defense contractors at Lockheed Martin or Boeing!

In all seriousness. I wouldn't be against a realistic high speed line built by the federal govt in that area. It is an infrastructure project. A legitimate use of govt in my opinion. At 240 billion spread out over 20 years. Because we all know that is how long it will really take and cost. That is still pennies on the dollar compared to our budgets.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Rail needs high population density to make sense. My guess is that a rail line that connected LA, San Diego, and San Francisco would probably be super helpful. In a lot of the rest of the country (outside of the northeast), rail doesn't make a lot of sense.

I don't know a lot about central/northern California, but it seems like they are starting with some of the least useful segments and I don't know why.

It also needs to work. My daughter used to take the train from Boston to our home, a major line, but she takes a bus now. It's not nearly as comfortable, however if the train is only an hour late that's good. There have been six hour delays. What it never has been is close to on time. We'd like to use Amtrak but we're done with it.

 

[Jaskalas]

Throw it to the Federal budget and call it stimulus.

I mean, if the Feds are going to march us to 19 and 20 trillion, why not put some nice things on the list?

 

[IronWing]

Throw it to the Federal budget and call it stimulus.

I mean, if the Feds are going to march us to 19 and 20 trillion, why not put some nice things on the list?

If more people voted this way, we'd be better off. Seriously, if we're going to let Congress and the Pres blow through bills at $10 billion/day at least get something to show for it.

 

[theeedude]

Now a high speed rail from LA to Dallas might make more sense. That way the people that move to Texas can go home for a visit.

And CA dumbfvcks can move to Dumbfvckistan faster.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Slap a pipeline on it, they'll LOVE it.

 

[fskimospy]

It also needs to work. My daughter used to take the train from Boston to our home, a major line, but she takes a bus now. It's not nearly as comfortable, however if the train is only an hour late that's good. There have been six hour delays. What it never has been is close to on time. We'd like to use Amtrak but we're done with it.

Well I can't speak for her experience but lots of people here ride Amtrak, metro north, etc, every day.

The major issue with Amtrak is its national mandate. Maybe that makes it more politically viable by spreading out spending between states, but in the end it just makes place where Amtrak makes sense (the northeast) subsidize places where it doesn't. (minnesota)

 

[theeedude]

The central valley is flat and should provide a place to work the kinks out before tackling the mountain passes and congestion into LA. The central valley also has a lot of people, it's not LA but millions of people live there. Stopping at Merced doesn't make a lot of sense on the face of it. Maybe there is a tie into the existing passenger rail system there.

On our recent trip to SF we looked at CalRail and Amtrak and we were like "What do you mean you can't take a train from LA to SF?", but currently, you can't.

It's also going to be wonderful for tourism.
Fly to LA, spend a couple hundred dollars on rail pass. Cha-ching.
Take a train trip down to San Diego, spend money down there. Cha-ching.
Take a train trip to SF for a couple days, spend money there. Cha-ching.
I just hope in 20 years, conservatives still call it "Liberals' train," but just like many other major infrastructure projects, cons seem to forget their liberal origins, and instead pretend that they magically appeared out of free markets and the American spirit.

 

[zinfamous]

You are a really stupid fuck. Good idea because I'm against it? That's just great! Self reliance and poor people have nothing to do with this, unless you make them more dependent on their own work and less reliant on government. If you have a problem with that, you must have your lips firmly wrapped around the government tit. Well, do you? I get up and go to work every day. What do you do, besides sit around and get stoned all day, while waiting for your gov. benefits? I do blame liberals for the 8.5 trillion in additional debt since Obama took office.

It isn't plainly obvious to you why free-thinking, educated individuals such as myself, with the ability to form independent thoughts without consulting a weekly mailer from the TEABaggers talking points fan club? Lol--the absurd things you invent about educated people that frighten you.

Your history here is spouting embryonic thoughts formed soley on vitriol and fear. You're not the beacon for considered thought that you assume you are.

Still not sure why such a cunty imbecile such as yourself remains an "elite member" with that attitude.

 

[feralkid]

Our rail system is a waste of money. Why yes I would like to take 40 minutes to go from downtown out to the airport when it takes me 15 minutes of driving. The Northstar commuter train that runs in the northern metro is a better idea. But it carries so little people it is inconsequential on traffic. But it is nice to go to a twins game. I live about a half mile from one of the stations.

"Waste of money"

Says you.

You live out in the sticks, how would you even know?

 

[IronWing]

Slap a pipeline on it, they'll LOVE it.

Bakersfield has a refinery. Keystone West here we come. :biggrin:

 

[BoberFett]

"Waste of money"

Says you.

You live out in the sticks, how would you even know?

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/236136121.html

Oh yeah, a train that goes to that international trade hub, Big Lake. What could possibly be a better use for our money?

Oh I know! We should give a billionaire hundreds of millions of our tax dollars so he can build a stadium and charge us hundreds of dollars per seat to watch his team play!

MN is a bunch of fucking rubes.

From the article:

Total fare revenues rose from $2.56 million to $2.59 million. The average cost per passenger dropped from $22.91 to $19.81, with adult passengers paying fares of $2.50 to $6.

Of course project are popular when you take money from one group of people and give it to another group of people. I love how rail projects always ask riders how they like it. "Oh I love it, it's so convenient!" Of course it is, unless you're the 99% of people who are paying for it but will never use it.

 

[zinfamous]

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/236136121.html

Oh yeah, a train that goes to that international trade hub, Big Lake. What could possibly be a better use for our money?

Oh I know! We should give a billionaire hundreds of millions of our tax dollar so he can build a stadium and charge us hundreds of dollars per seat to watch his team play!

MN is a bunch of fucking rubes.

From the article:



Of course project are popular when you take money from one group of people and give it to another group of people. I love how rail projects always ask riders how they like it. "Oh I love it, it's so convenient!" Of course it is, unless you're the 99% of people who are paying for it but will never use it.

maybe some people want to see ALL of the lakes

 

[K1052]

I don't know a lot about central/northern California, but it seems like they are starting with some of the least useful segments and I don't know why.

There was something in the conditions on the cash from the feds that said they had to start in the central valley by a certain date, heedless of sense.

At least Amtrak can use the initial segment to shave an hour off the San Joaquin runs.

 

[Genx87]

"Waste of money"

Says you.

You live out in the sticks, how would you even know?

I moved years ago back into the metro area. I still own the house out in Albertville, but rent it out. Either way I used to work downtown in the IDS center and now am out in the suburbs. And have used the trains, both of them over the years for various things. But mostly now just the Northstar to go to Twins games because I am within walking distance of a station.