http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2047110,00.html
President Obama's proposed 2012 budget includes bringing access to high-speed rail to 80 percent of Americans within 25 years. US passenger trains are currently considered a "global laughingstock" considering most of America's trains travel at speeds that were common a century ago. A high-speed rail system would "help create jobs, reduce dependence on foreign oil and relieve congestion in highways and airports, while upgrading the long-term efficiency and productivity of the U.S. economy." However, high-speed rail, one of Obama's signature initiatives, has surely gotten its fair share of criticism as you can see in the article. In fact, just recently, Florida's Gov. Rick Scott rejected any plans for federal high-speed rail systems within his state because he was fearful that overruns could cost Florida over $3 billion (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/04/rick-scott-florida-high-speed-rail_n_831305.html). This brings us to an important point: funding. In theory, the idea of a high-speed rail system throughout America sounds great; but, how will our country pay for such an expensive investment during a time where we are supposed to be making huge spending cuts? Do you think a high-speed rail system is worth the hefty price? Will the benefits of massive job creation and long-term efficiency outweigh the further increase in the deficit? What are your thoughts on the issue?
I think the high-speed rail system is a great idea, but as you said, there is a huge problem with funding. I think 25 years from now might be a better starting point for the enormous project. It's impossible to tell how much job creation and efficiency will come as a result of the rail system. I would be interested to see what kind of research has been done in that area.
ReplyDeleteI love high speed rail. There has been a debate in the Twin Cities connecting Minneapolis to Chicago with high speed rail would cut the 8 hour drive down to four. Its an issue of political funding there too.
ReplyDeleteThe initial rail road system created lots of job growh and made the US a more powerful industrial country.
The new high speed rail would just be playing catch up
The United States has been behind in transportation for quite sometime now. I think there are multiple benefits in having high speed railway systems, some of which could help revive the economy. However, the inner cynic in me wonders if the Automotive and air travel lobbies would really allow a thing to happen. Plus the expense now could cripple state governments
ReplyDeleteAs shown with one of the graphs in class, transportation is one of the biggest portions of allocation of our taxes. So trying to implement this idea would only seem as a proposition waiting to happen. Yet, the billion dollar question is, 'is the railroad worth it?' As witnessed by the bullet railroad in Florida, it seems like those that are riding would be limited. Since they are bullet trains, the stops would be farther apart, but this diminishes everyday riders to use it. So the real question one needs to look at would be 'is there a high demand for people to ride from one city to another 100+ miles away to make the railroad worth building?'
ReplyDeleteThese are good points, I think as of now, this railroad system would be a luxury we cannot afford, but perhaps in the future will be an idea to consider. I also wonder if the demand will be high enough... I know today, the railroad system is struggling in many areas due to a shortage of demand, so would making it faster really improve demand enough to really make it worth the cost?
ReplyDeleteAmerica's transport system really is a laughing stock and this is coming from a person belonging to a 3rd world country- that has to say something. Plus, it seems like he is slowly trying to get it started in terms of getting funds for the project. With the sizable US spending already in transportation (specially keeping in mind that the interstate road system is not being maintained at its current standard even - Urban Econ class), "hundreds of billions of dollars" over the course of 25 years does not seem that extravagant. Keeping in mind the hawkish Republicans in the house though, Obama needs to be really strategic in the coming years about this.
ReplyDeleteI think the high-speed rail system is a great idea, and I would love to see a system like that here in the US. However, as others in the class have mentioned, this project would be extremely expensive and I have no clue how we could afford it. Besides this huge expense, aren't we cutting back spending on just about everything right now? Increasing spending right now = no bueno. I also do not know how many jobs this project would create or exactly how beneficial it would be to our current economy. I think this is a realistic project in maybe 20 or 30 years from now. We currently have so many other infrastructural problems with our highways, sewers, etc... that I believe we need to focus our funding there first (since we do heavily rely on this infrastructure now).
ReplyDeleteNever hurts to try. I'd use it if it were available. But we have a long way to go. 25 years to lay track? If we are smart about it, it could work, but funding it is another issue. How about fixing the crappy roads and bridges in this country? I agree with Matt, we have so many other immediately pressing issues that require attention that in the immediate future, this project might not be worth it.
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