Making the Planes Run On Time
Making the Planes Run On Time: Eerily reminds me of mass transit rhyming with “planes” and that guy from Italy who was famous for making them run on time.
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Making the Planes Run On Time: Eerily reminds me of mass transit rhyming with “planes” and that guy from Italy who was famous for making them run on time.
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Look where most weather cancellations happen…the northeast…then why do we not have a TGV or a bullet train connecting all cities east of the Mississippi. It won’t replace air travel…just drastically reduce the need for it on short haul flights (500 miles or less) It would decongest airspace, provide cheap mass transit, carry the ability to operate 24/7 in all sorts of weather. An interesting fact I read on an Amtrak pamphlet, ridership on amtrak is up 100% since 9/11, 90% of amtrak ticket sales were east of the Mississippi, and 80% of the operating expenses were west of the Mississippi where Amtrak wants to shut down inefficient routes and use remaining funds to improve infrastructure in the east…but politicians won’t let them. It’s not that tax dollors aren’t being garnered…it’s that they aren’t going to the places where they are needed most.
It’s a touchy subject though, since to build all those tracks would require the seizure of property (with
faircompensation) via eminent domain.I just thought it was ironic that the current Administration, which has been accused of being soft-Fascist, was issuing directives to make the planes run on time.
I think it would be surprising to know how little addtional land would be required through eminent domain. So much is already held or current holdings widened with little impact. Eminent domain isn’t always a nasty concept. It’s the purpose the land is used for – occaisionally misused to take private holdings for private gain – but in general, it’s been used well – otherwise, we wouldn’t have the transportation grid we have, or the electrical grid for that matter. I’m all for a maglev train connecting much of the eastern seaboard. Think of the potential for fuel reduction and the boost mass transit would get.
Frankly…you both impress me…cause that’s the part of the ice berg that is below the surface of the water. We need effective, fair, eminent domain policies for infrastructure…we need to revisit the reality that eminent is necessary. A French friend pointed out that the 2nd TGV line that connects Paris to Marsailles direct cost a fortune and was controversial…however despite the temporal outcry…the bond was paid off by ticket sales in 3 years…2 years ahead of the 5 year payoff plan. French infrastructure
(including 100% nuclear power) is to be envied…(they can keep their self declared cultural elitism though.) Besides…wasn’t it
eminent domain that built the railroads and towns to begin with…only the Indians had weak lawyers.