Oil is becoming increasingly expensive. It is a finite resource, and eventually drivers of cars and trucks will be breaking their budgets to travel, and seek an alternative -like trains. It's really inevitable, although we may not want to think about it.
- Yesterday my acupuncturist said that President Obama is the only president who is a visionary when it comes to transportation in this country, and supported high-speed rails. I totally agree. No other President has had such forethought. Think of your kids!!! and their children! Rail is a good solution.
- Now, Florida's stupid GOP Governor told the Federal Gov't to keep their funding. As someone who lived in Florida in Orlando and Miami, I can tell you that they would greatly benefit from high-speed rail. Driving from Orlando to Miami is tedious and long, and uses a LOT of gas. Even from east to west - Orlando to St. Petersburg would be a huge benefit. BUT, the stupid governor made up his mind.
- Even the Republican Governors in Wisconsin and Ohio REJECT High-Speed rail. WHY CAN'T THE GOP politicians think beyond today?
- Too bad for Florida, but great for 15 other states who are smart enough to accept it. At least people in those states understand we need to take action for the future NOW. - Rob
HERE'S THE ARTICLE FROM USA TODAY:
Amtrak, 15 states get Florida's $2B in high-speed rail money
(Associated Press) WASHINGTON — Amtrak and rail projects in 15 states will get the $2 billion that Florida spurned when its governor canceled plans for high-speed train service, the Department of Transportation said Monday.
The largest share of the money — nearly $800 million — will be used to upgrade train speeds from 135 mph to 160 mph on segments of the heavily traveled Northeast corridor, the department said.
Another $404 million will go to expand high-speed rail service in the Midwest, including newly constructed segments of 110-mph track between Detroit and Chicago that are expected to save passengers 30 minutes in travel time.
Nearly $340 million will go toward state-of-the-art locomotives and rail cars for California and the Midwest. California will also get another $300 million toward trains that will travel up to 220 mph between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
"These projects will put thousands of Americans to work, save hundreds of thousands of hours for American travelers every year, and boost U.S. manufacturing by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in next-generation, American-made locomotives and rail cars," Vice President Joseph Biden said.
President Barack Obama has sought to make creation of a national network of high-speed trains a signature project of his administration. He has said he wants to make fast trains accessible to 80% of Americans within 25 years.
The money — initially $2.4 billion — had been awarded to Florida for high-speed trains between Tampa and Orlando. After Gov. Rick Scott canceled the project, the Transportation Department invited other states to bid for the money. It received 90 applications seeking a total of $10 billion. Scott said he was concerned that the state government would be locked into years of operating subsidies. However, a report by the state's transportation department forecast the rail line would be profitable. The project initially had been approved by Scott's predecessor, Republican-turned-Independent Charlie Crist.
Two other Republican governors elected in November have canceled high-speed train projects in their states. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker turned down $810 million to build a Madison-to-Milwaukee high-speed line. Ohio Gov. John Kasich rejected $400 million for a project to connect Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus with slower-moving trains. Both the Ohio and Wisconsin projects had been approved by the governors' Democratic predecessors.
Republican members of Congress have also opposed funds for high-speed trains, rescinding $400 million of the money previously awarded Florida as well as other unspent money designated for trains in budget deliberations with the administration.
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