Replies

Here's another aspect where W and the gov't have failed us. As with the gasoline 'crisis', we are sorely lacking in keeping up and expanding the infrastructure required to fuel our nation. No refineries built since the 70s. Now this article that points out that no new track has been added in years. Hmmm, let's see, can you say enviromentalists and lawyers? How long is W going to stand by and let this situation deteriorate during a time of war before he takes action to remedy it. I know he's made noises about it, but no action that I've heard of. Isn't an executive order to suspend some of the enviromental impact studies and such the kick start that is desperately needed for the construction of oil refineries, nuclear power plants, and added rail capacity (although the last one isn't as vital if we shift more to nuke power)? During the Clintoon administration it seemed as if he was signing an executive order every other day (can you say Grand Staircase Escalante?). And that was during 'peacetime'.

Here's another aspect where W and the gov't have failed us.

I'd prefer to leave gov't out of this to let the market respond to demand.

I'll stand corrected if wrong but I believe the needed railbeds are extant and needing just the rail and the trains.

President Bush can't just snap his fingers and make new rails appear. The EIS for this project will be relatively small because it only involves an existing rail corridor.

What takes the most time is acquiring properties for the wider Right-of-Way and new new staging yard, drawing up the plans, staking, grading and laying the rails. In other words, all of the things that would need to be done even if there were no environmental laws. I've made a living working for both companies involved in environmental compliance and companies involved in civil engineering, so I know what I speak of.

These anti-Bush rants are getting more ridiculous by the day.

"Here's another aspect where W and the gov't have failed us. As with the gasoline 'crisis', we are sorely lacking in keeping up and expanding the infrastructure required to fuel our nation."

Wrong. All "expanding the infrastructure" for RAILROADS is the responsibility of the RAILROADS, and has always been. Unless you want to nationalize them, which will only make things worse.

As with the gasoline 'crisis', we are sorely lacking in keeping up and expanding the infrastructure required to fuel our nation.

Who is "we?" It is not the responsibility of the Federal government to expand the infrastructure for the nation's railroads.