Obama High-Speed Rail Plans Hit Traffic In Congress

McClatchy:

WASHINGTON — Congress and the Obama administration are headed for another head-on collision over high-speed rail.

On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reiterated President Barack Obama's strong support even as a top Republican in the House of Representatives naysayed. Neither side appears ready to steer clear this election year, particularly in differences concerning California.

Read the whole story: McClatchy

Comments

[R307Johnson]

05:08 PM on 03/01/2012

Where would America be if they never built railways beyond the east and west coasts? Railroads made this nation. High-speed rail is what makes Europe, Japan and China so successful. America needs to have mobility and our skies and airports are way too over-crowded to keep up with American demand. How much more oil will we have to find to power our cars? Republicans are stuck in the past thinking this is about the Trans-continental railroad. This is the beginning of a future, much more mobile America. High-speed rail is not about what our needs are right now, but of the needs of generations yet to be proud Americans.

[lcpnr]

06:55 PM on 03/01/2012

And the new high speed trains run on puppies breath?

[Jason Lx]

09:52 PM on 03/24/2012

The per-person fossil fuel emissions of an electric train, or even a diesel powered train, are a LOT less than cars or planes.

[Grichde]

04:08 PM on 03/01/2012

Wasn't quite shovel ready? The new cost estimate, formally released Tuesday by the California High Speed Rail Authority, is $98.5 billion, more than twice the previous estimate of $43 billion. The finish date is 2034, 14 years later than first predicted.
So were is the ret of the money?

[lcpnr]

06:57 PM on 03/01/2012

The unions got it and gave it back to the dems. as campaign contributions.

[Hillbilly49]

03:22 PM on 03/01/2012

President Obama wants to move America ahead; right wing extremists want to go back to the horse and buggy.

[lcpnr]

06:58 PM on 03/01/2012

bo's idea of progress is 99% of us on foot and the progressive govt.in jets and limos

[Hillbilly49]

08:12 PM on 03/01/2012

Bush never went in Air Force one.

[jwoww]

02:32 PM on 03/01/2012

California officials now say construction probably won't begin until at least early next year, instead of the originally scheduled start time of September.

Because Jerry needs the 3.6 Billion to help close the budget gap for this year. Expect nothing to get done on this project ever. CA will never be able to get through the permit stages on this project. the greenies will make sure of that.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/02/29/140399/obamas-high-speed-rail-plans-hit.html#storylink=cpy

[Karma2U]

02:18 PM on 03/01/2012

High speed rail is a great step forward to independence from foreign oil. That is why the oil cartels and their lackeys in the GOP don't want it. They're domestic terrorists.

[lcpnr]

07:00 PM on 03/01/2012

No one rides them-they always lose money-and they run on deisel fuel-like trucks

[danielsferguson]

02:26 AM on 10/09/2012

No one rides them presently because they are neither cost-efficient nor convenient. The purpose of updating our rail lines would be to increase both. If you look at inter- and intra-city trams and railways in Europe, they are highly utilized, as are our subway systems in cities such as New York, and our tram system in Portland. Also, the newest generation of mag-lev trains could just as easily run off nuclear power, or any other major power source. They are economically feasible, "green," and build jobs; besides the down-payment, what's the issue?

[Json]

01:55 PM on 03/01/2012

It's a shame that the GOP reflexively tries to stop anything Obama does, because they are dragging the country down.

[Purrfection]

02:24 PM on 03/01/2012

Ditto this. It hasnt been all that long ago in the U.S. we were whining about patting down kids at airports and all the x-ray security equipment. EEEEEK our privacy is being violated by aggressive, embarrassing searches. Not to mention the long lines, exorbitant prices and the fact that you have to be at the airport practically the day before to have enough time for it all. I remember thinking back then, its a perfect time for this rail system. We could start linking up cities within states then connect all the states. Its win/win for the states for the most part. And it may even.... *gasp* .....produce a few jobs along the way. Egads, we cant have that!

[lcpnr]

07:03 PM on 03/01/2012

bo's responsible foethe invasive body searches at the airport-that's something you can give him credit for.

[hapy2day]

01:04 PM on 03/01/2012

Obama just doesn't get. Obama thinks he can force this on America, but it isn't going to happen. He's doing everything he can to increase gas prices, and his administration has said they want gas prices comparable to why Europe pays.
"A report from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform details a disturbing “pattern of evidence” indicating that not only are the Obama administration’s energy policies responsible for higher oil and gas prices, but that the administration’s energy policy, in fact, is higher gas prices."
Obama thinks he's the end all and knows best. Rude awakening Obama. Americans are independent people. They like it. Freedom. You loose.

[Peartree3]

01:13 PM on 03/01/2012

I like MY independence! I like the fact that I have choices! I can take a high-speed rail for instance, instead of fly or drive.
Why are you trying to limit my freedom?

[hapy2day]

01:29 PM on 03/01/2012

The only freedom you have is a little wiggle room when the government eases the pressure of their foot on your neck. You're just not smart enough to know it.

[lcpnr]

07:07 PM on 03/01/2012

Why should the taxpayers spend trillions on high speed rail so a tiny % of the population can ride a train?

[MelanieMatthias]

01:56 PM on 03/01/2012

You may be in for a rude awakening. President Obama is now passing out charts and graphs of how under bush's last year for oil was at 57%, while under President Obama oil for 2011 was at 45%. So we will now be able to blanket the nation with charts and graphs and fact sheets.
republicans lies will crumble at your feet.

[hapy2day]

02:42 PM on 03/01/2012

I don't really give a tiddlely fart about your charts and graphs. Neither does anyone else who has common sense, something liberals are sorely lacking.

[camelias and sweet tea]

12:55 PM on 03/01/2012

Once again, the GOP proves they want us to stay in or go back even further into the dark ages while other countries keep improving transportation..We are doomed until we get rid of these GOPers.

[RegLib2]

12:49 PM on 03/01/2012

I travel on business constantly, and when in Asia or Europe I use the train system whenever I can. If we had a decent HS rail infrastructure in this country, I'd never get on another airplane.

[camelias and sweet tea]

12:55 PM on 03/01/2012

fanned

[RegLib2]

01:03 PM on 03/01/2012

Why thank you :-) Fanned back.

[Bienville]

12:57 PM on 03/01/2012

Good for you! The HSR niche is competing with (and replacing) short inter-city airline hops. The schedule and security difficulties of a one or two hour flight often make it a daylong exercise. A high-speed train leaving every hour (or more often) is very attractive.

[hapy2day]

12:16 PM on 03/01/2012

Hey...I want to see an enviornmental study on this. Where are all you enviornmental activists????????????????????

[Bienville]

01:03 PM on 03/01/2012

Every expenditure of Federal transportation funds requires an environmental study. The requirement is part of NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act). Alternatives are evaluated (includind a "No-Build" alternative), and comments from public agencies and private citizens are solicited and addressed. The studies are conducted conspicuously in the public, and the findings are public record.

[hapy2day]

01:27 PM on 03/01/2012

And the government will go ahead regardless of the finding and do whatever the hell they want. They will kick people out of their homes, and in this case destroy a school, and the environmentalists won't say a word. Because no frogs or wetlands are in danger. Only people, and the lives they've built.

[AlonzoQuijana]

12:06 PM on 03/01/2012

Try pricing Acela. I remember Philadelphia to Penn Sta. in New York was about $180 r/t. That's like $1 a mile. Liberal Utopians will be in for a shock when they try and use -- and pay for -- HS rail. Cars are cheaper -- especially if you have a family.

Oh, I tried pricing trip today, but, typical for government, the Amtrak site is down.

[RegLib2]

12:44 PM on 03/01/2012

I've used the bullet trains between Tokyo and Kyoto, and between London and Paris, many times. The price is about the same as air travel between the same destinations, but without all the associated headaches. No ridiculous security, no endless in-flight rules about seatbelts, electronics, etc. You just get on, sit down, and go. And while the trip itself takes longer than a flight, the fact that you travel between downtown stations rather than airports on the outskirts of the cities means that the actual travel time is about the same.

[gulamon]

12:53 PM on 03/01/2012

Can't compare us to Europe, our country is too large.

[AlonzoQuijana]

01:03 PM on 03/01/2012

Paris/London has security. When did you last travel?

[Peartree3]

01:10 PM on 03/01/2012

First, the Amtrak website is very user-friendly. Secondly, if you wanted to book for today, it WOULD be more expensive. Try a month from now. It's only $30.
If you have a family, cars are certainly an option. Rail isn't for everyone. No one says it is.
Try getting out of your bIack/white , either/or world once in awhile. It's a big place - filled with choices.
And no, I do NOT work for Amtrak. I'm someone whose chosen lifestyle has been greatly enhanced by Amtrak.

[Salentano]

12:06 PM on 03/01/2012

It took the U.S. Government to complete the Panama Canal, the current U.S. Highway System, to get NASA off the ground and many other major projects that have kept this country in the lead. Let's build that high speed rail across this Nation and continue as the greatest Nation on this earth. Fact is the high speed rail system would create more jobs than the pipeline between Canada and Texas where half of the estimated 5,000 permanent jobs would be filled and held by Canidians.

[hapy2day]

12:45 PM on 03/01/2012

Sorry friend. A highspeed rail system won't make this the greatest nation on earth. Obama has seen to that. Liberals seem to think the road to greatness is about stuff, mostly free stuff. How pathetic.

[Timur Graham]

04:14 PM on 03/01/2012

Would you object to high-speed rail if a republican president offered it?

[R307Johnson]

04:55 PM on 03/01/2012

You are so full of ____! You need to quit living in your little dream world and see what millions of Americans are wanting and needing. The railroads made this nation. High speed rail is what makes Europe, Japan and China so successful. America needs to have mobility and our skies and airports are way too over-packed to keep up with American demand. All I see in your comments are things about your little "I" country but this is "OUR" America.

[gulamon]

12:51 PM on 03/01/2012

Huge waste of money. We are a car country. Not enough people would use it. Money better spent on the infrastructure.

[Bienville]

01:04 PM on 03/01/2012

High speed rail IS infrastructure.

[dizmo4]

01:06 PM on 03/01/2012

NYC has something like 1 million people that don't own a car.    Most major cities have significant portions of their population that don't own cars.  That makes labor mobility significantly more difficult.    High speed rail connecting cities could help resolve that.

Its true that a national plan won't work.  But regional plans will.   Connecting NY to DC is a good investment, so is Boston to NY.

[satyrday]

11:59 AM on 03/01/2012

Just put the rails right next to the Keystone pipe, in the contraception free zone. We'll just have to refrain from sex while riding a train.

[Schoolgirl666]

11:52 AM on 03/01/2012

Before California spends the money, we should meet the 6 people who want to travel between Merced and Bakersfield and ask them why they need to get there so fast.

[AlonzoQuijana]

11:50 AM on 03/01/2012

Has anyone even bothered to consider what a round trip high speed rail ticket would cost? Does anyone have any ideas? I suspect most Liberal Utopians think it will be like a discounted off-peak ticket on the LIRR between Jamaica and Babylon. Well, think again. Just price Acela and you'll get a rude awakening.