High-speed rail project to create 4,800 jobs

WCNC ^ | February 16, 2010 | NewsChannel 36 Staff

[hinckley buzzard]

Yep. Lots of work and profits for Chinese rail experts.

[byteback]

More of the same Eric Cantor BS.

"Even House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, who voted against the stimulus bill, now wildly praises rail’s job-creation potential, writing, “It is estimated that creating a high-speed railway through Virginia will generate as many as 185,500 jobs, as much as $21.2 billion in economic development, and pull nearly 6.5 million cars off the road annually. Providing a high-speed rail service from Washington, D.C. to Richmond will drive economic development throughout our region for many years to come.”

reason magazine

[John S Mosby]

Meanwhile the billion or so Perdue has in stimulus that is NOT being spent, is being used to preserve the overwhelming number of govt. positions, jobs saved or created. Thus preserving the number one employer in NC— the state government. Nothing sadder. Additionally, NC taxpayers have “delays” in getting their income tax refunds. The state is in serious trouble. A railway to nowhere— shovel ready for a grave.

[Gene Eric]

>> A railway to nowhere— shovel ready for a grave.

But efficient and on time...

[Renderofveils]

Not to mention the Highway Slush Fund that is pinging “E.” Some friends of mine in the DoT bridge repair crews literally stopped working last June for three weeks. There was no money to spend on materials to patch damaged bridges. I guess the rail system will free up those resources since no one will be using the state roads any more.

[J Edgar]

” ... high-speed rail project will create 4,800 jobs .. “v
Just for comparison purposes, defunding F22 program will kill over 120,000 jobs.

Job creation? I don’t think so.

[Swiss]

If I was wanting to prove that high speed rail would actually make a profit this is how I would do it.

Buy the right a way and put in the roadbed and bridges and tunnels needed. A straight unimpeded route from city A to city B. Pave it and run regular modified buses at or near the speeds predicted with the high speed rail. On a fairly level route with no intersections and no other traffic you could get a bus up to much higher speeds than found on the Interstates in good weather. If the bus ridership means an increase in bus traffic on the route then install the needed signaling equipment for the train system but have the bus system try it out to make sure it works good.

When and if the bus system reaches a point where it can’t handle the demand then tear up the pavement and lay down railroad tracks. Myself I would run diesels locomotives for a few more years before investing the capital costs of electrification needed for true high speed rail.

[MitchellC]

Are you in the choo-choo train business or something? That’s the only explanation I can think of. Surely you don’t actually believe in this garbage.

[wideminded]

Buy the right a way and put in the roadbed and bridges and tunnels needed. A straight unimpeded route from city A to city B. Pave it and run regular modified buses at or near the speeds predicted with the high speed rail.

What's the fastest speed at which it is safe to operate a bus? The latest high speed train in regular service in China runs at 240 MPH.

[Gene Eric]

>> is being used to preserve the overwhelming number of govt. positions, jobs

Which is sustained by tax dollars, not self sustaining productivity.

[Willie Green]

Are you in the choo-choo train business or something? That’s the only explanation I can think of. Surely you don’t actually believe in this garbage.

Are you dumb enough to believe that our military involvement in Iran/Iraq over the last 20~30 years is all about spreading "democracy"???

My advocacy of US Energy Independence from foreign oil goes all the way back to the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo.
Support for construction of nuclear power plants and electrically powered passenger rail mass transit systems is a straightforward means of reducing our transportation oil consumption and improving our national security.

Having followed this issue closely over the last 40 years, I have little tolerance left for a disingenous Oil Lobby influenced GOP that promises much, but delivers squat.

The Arbusto/Halliburton administration had the advantage of a GOP controlled Congress and could've drilled the bejeesuz out of ANWR anythime it wanted too. Instead, it deliberately chose to use our military to subsidize our addiction to Arab Oil while simultaneously proposing to sell off our seaport infrastructure to the very OPEC sheiks who were gouging us at the gas pumps.

So you can go ahead and disparage and obstruct passenger rail all you want,
IMHO, all you're really doing is revealing what a myopic dope you really are.

[MitchellC]

So instead of drilling for oil HERE, you’d rather bankrupt us with transportation welfare.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

My friend, The GOP is not stupid. I will refrain from descibing you, but you are talking to an ex-drag racer and short track driver. And....if you claim to be so versed in automobiles and their gas comsumption rate, I suggest before mouthing your opinion, you ought to read any current issue of Car & Driver Magazine or Motor Trend Magazine. You will kindly take note of the “dozens” of new and upcoming cars with over 300HP engines. Ever hear of these, Camaro, Mustang, Corvette, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, how about Volkswagon, Toyota, Nisson, Honda, how about the various USA pickup trucks. And....forget it, friend, check out the wide range of SUVs coming up. Now as for railroads, give me a break, they ain’t gonna make it!!! Hey, sir, you Barack Obama and the entire Democrat Party are never going to end the love affair that Americans have with their cars, and Europeans, and Japanese, and...now China (PRC) and India. etc. Get real dude, you been drinking too much Obama “Kool-Aid”!!! Passenger trains are passe, big time.

[Willie Green]

So instead of drilling for oil HERE, you’d rather bankrupt us with transportation welfare.

The Arbusto/Halliburton administration started with a GOP controlled congress and didn't deliver squat.
There is no reason to believe Oil Industry Lobbyists and their sockpuppets on this issue any longer.
Their global self-interest no longer coincides with the best interests and national security of the American People.

[Willie Green]

My friend, The GOP is not stupid.

Yes it is:

""We have two political parties in this country,
the Stupid Party and the Evil Party.
I belong to the Stupid Party."
~ Alan Simpson, former Republican Senator from Wyoming

---

but you are talking to an ex-drag racer and short track driver. And....

read any current issue of Car & Driver Magazine or Motor Trend Magazine....
Blah, blah, blah, blah. blah...
And yakkity, yak, yak, yak...
Hey, sir, you Barack Obama and the entire Democrat Party are never going to end the love affair that Americans have with their cars...

America's love affair with the internal combustion engine will end due to rising fuel costs brought about by Peak Oil and the shift of global finacial power from the US to China.

The Free Traitors in the Stupid Party screwed the pooch.
we need to build electrically powered passenger rail systems because we won't be able to afford the future price of gasoline.

There is nothing that either the Evil Party nor the Stupid Party can do to avoid it.