Pittsburgh region has what it takes for maglev

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Thursday, October 18, 2001 | C.M. Mortimer

[Willie Green]

Southwestern Pennsylvania has what it will take to bag the big one - $1 billion in federal funding for a proposed $2.8 billion magnetic levitation train system -says the man heading a consortium dedicated to bringing the project here.

A high-speed maglev line would not only open a new transportation niche with southwestern Pennsylvania as the hub, it would also spur steelmaking and boost the shipbuilding industry, according to Dr. Fred J. Gurney, president and chief executive officer of Maglev Inc.

[Willie Green]

Rather than tax cuts that will just dissipate from our economy as continuing Trade Deficit, this is one of several infrastructure projects that Dubya should accelerate to stimulate the economy.

[Willie Green]

bump FYI.

[dirtboy]

Rather than tax cuts that will just dissipate from our economy as continuing Trade Deficit,

Oh, really? I spent mine at local merchants.

this is one of several infrastructure projects that Dubya should accelerate to stimulate the economy.

This has "boondoggle" written all over it.

[Willie Green]

Yikes! Title should be:

"Pittsburgh region has what it takes for maglev "

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Hey let it come to washington to......

[JohnGalt]

Bud Schuster has poured thrise that amount into PA road projects...pick another state.

[summer]

Wow! Thank you so much for this flag, Willie. I am flagging others in Florida who know about the upcoming high speed rail in FL, and may be interested in seeing how this is happening in Pittsburgh! :)

[Wolfie]

Two words - "Sky Bus".

[SoothingDave]

It's either going to be in Pittsburgh to provide a way to get to the airport from way on the other side of the city.

Or it's going to be a train between the DC and Baltimore airports. Now which one is going to provide more chances for our legislators to show off their new toy?

SD

[Senator Pardek]

Damn - I was hoping this was a poem in the style of William Carlos Williams' Patterson.

[JenB]

Whew. I was worried, from the non-title, that something bad was happening here that I hadn't heard about yet. Living in Greensburg bump!

[RayBob]

We try not to think about that....

[Wolfie]

Exactly.

[OBAFGKM]

OINK!

If this is such a great idea, how come the government has to underwrite it? It sounds to me like AmTrak on steroids.

[Willie Green]

...pick another state.

Florida has a good project planned:

High-speed rail authority chair says train project moving ahead [in FL, reported by AP]

I support both projects.

[Willie Green]

Or it's going to be a train between the DC and Baltimore airports. Now which one is going to provide more chances for our legislators to show off their new toy?

With the current state of our economy, and recent attacks on our airlines, I say build 'em both.

[Willie Green]

Oh, really? I spent mine at local merchants.

With the massive amount of imported consumer goods, you did a fine job of propping up the economies of Mexico and China.

[SoothingDave]

With the current state of our economy, and recent attacks on our airlines, I say build 'em both.

We'll soon have a lot of former USAir mechanics to deal with too. Personally, if this thing ever gets built, I can see the usefulness. You know we need something like this. If I could get from Greensburg to the airport in what? 20 minutes I sure would use it. To go to a hockey game in 13 minutes.

SD

[Willie Green]

If this is such a great idea, how come the government has to underwrite it?

Because it's transportation infrastructure. Same as highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, air traffic control system, locks & dams that make our rivers navigable, etc. etc.

[Nowhere Man]

Two words - "Sky Bus".

Heh, I remember the Skybus fiasco even though I was a very little kid at the time. Personally, I think Maglev is just a gimmick. Most people just want to drive their cars anyhow, it's the American way. If Penndot was run better, I'd rather see a dedicated highway ring around Pittsburgh.