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Points

Bullet Trains & Light Rail

Train transportation funding should be increased at the federal level. I think that the one issue keeping many people from using trains to travel to and from other cities is that they are too slow. What we really need are bullet trains between cities, like the ones that are prevalent in Japan. To increase the number of individuals using trains, the trains have to be much faster, and have to arrive at terminals at a greater frequency. 

Additionally, more funding should be removed from road construction and moved to funding light rail initiatives in major U.S. cities.
434 Comments  »  Posted by J.M.Lee to Economy, Energy and Environment, Technology, Additional Issues on 1/12/2009 12:09 PM

Comments
 
NC_Smith
1/12/2009 12:16 PM

J.M. Lee and I are thinking along the same line! Part of my issue with air travel is the negative attitudes of airline workers. I still like solar powered high-speed trains are the future with green jobs, expanded technology, and would be a friend to the economy. Plus it fits into almost every category on the list. - SAM

 
J.M.Lee
1/12/2009 12:27 PM
NC_Smith is right, and the idea that you gave was very interesting. 
 
J.M.Lee
1/12/2009 1:03 PM
Additionally, the federal government should also encourge the entire U.S. to take transportation services funding out of property taxes and make it fundable only through a sales tax in the locality. This increase revenues greatly. 
 
J.M.Lee
1/12/2009 1:29 PM
For example, in my home town of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Transit System is funded by the local property tax. The system has come down on hard times, and has increased fares to $2! A sales tax increase of 0.5% would raise millions of additional dollars for the transit system.
 
BradyBastian
1/12/2009 1:30 PM
I agree, and so do the California lawmakers: http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/
 
J.M.Lee
1/12/2009 1:48 PM
Midwest High Speed Rail resource: http://www.midwesthsr.org/index.htm
 
ian.
1/12/2009 1:57 PM
Transportation is essential, but it must also tie in to Livable / Walkable Cities. We need a transportation that goes from walking and biking, all the way to high speed rail.

Also, we need to upgrade our existing rail networks to complement new high speed rail lines. Grade separations and electrification could make our existing rails pretty quick — it's called Rapid Rail.
 
Patricia
1/12/2009 2:09 PM
There also needs to be more trains so that they run more frequently.  I went to Europe once and the trains there run every 5-10 minutes---there is no "schedule" as we know it---they just keep running, so anytime you need to go somewhere, there is a train in a few minutes.  This makes them truly convenient to ride because you are not spending a lot of time waiting for the next train.

We also need efficient buses and/or trolley systems to supplement the trains, since it is not really feasible to have trains to everywhere.  If we want to reduce car fumes, public transportation has to be more "user friendly" in terms of scheduling.
 
Greetings_from_Brussels
1/12/2009 2:33 PM

Rail is a great investment, but as we also discovered here in Europe, they are very expensive to run. Developing a rail system that can pay for itself in a very rare skill.

The high speed trains run on intervals of 1hour more or less. They drive a constant speed of almost 190Mph, they in effect have linked the large cities in Europe together. But, it is quite expensive so not for everybody. Brussels - Paris in second class is about 100USD, but is only 1hours travel.

Linking the larger all ereas together could be a great idea for the environment, saving all those plane flights.
 
J.M.Lee
1/12/2009 2:46 PM
Yes, exactly, I mean to build an infrastructure between cities to reduce the number of flights. 
 
Johnsrude
1/12/2009 3:35 PM
Bullet trains can perhaps wait but passenger rail transport definitely needs improvement.  A case in point is the Pacific Northwest.  

I-5 from Eugene, Oregon to Canada runs at near capacity for much of the day.  During the day when I stop at rest stops I count about 100 cars per minute along I-5.  Nevertheless, Amtrak is hobbled by poor rail maintenance and by being forced to give way to freight trains.

We don't need new technology.  Talgo Tilt Trains are currently in use in this corridor and are effective and scalable.

The problem is scheduling.  Too few trains too late at too few stops is standard operating procedure. Trains that allowed people from Eugene to Salem to arrive in Portland in time for the beginning of the workday and to leave Portland after the workday would substantially relieve congestion along I-5 as well as enable people who are unemployed or underemployed in the Willamette Valley to work in Portland Metro.

A bullet train could make sense between Portland and Seattle.  Traffic between the two cities may justify the expense.  But let's first start with multiple trains at multiple times between these two urban centers first.
 
hope
1/12/2009 3:41 PM
My idea of using highways and freeways to build new lightweight intelligent rail systems is very much in the same spirit.  Making mass transit more desirable/convenient is definitely important.
 
Tobin
1/12/2009 4:04 PM
Personally I don't know about taking the money away from construction projects specifically as in the short-term the demand and need will still exist.  However, if bullet trains were further developed then people would naturally tend to the faster option and thus there would be less of a need for more roads and the money would naturally be saved on that front.  But it wouldn't be smart to cut the funding while the need still existed.
 
ProgressiveEvangelical
1/12/2009 4:05 PM
Excellent idea except now is not the time to take away from funding highways. We need every job possible created. Do both now and hopefully as the economy picks up, shifting the mode of transportation and the needed funding can be worked out.
 
Westley
1/12/2009 4:14 PM
If the USA is going to move in the direction of more public transportation, I'd like to some research into preventing disease transmission on public transportation. A key advantage of driving oneself to work rather than taking public transportation is that one avoids exposure to hundreds of potentially infectious people. If one does get sick, one will most likely experience over a week of severe pain and lost productivity. That's not to say that public transportation isn't viable - just that there should be research to understand and mitigate the risks of disease transmission on public transportation.
 
tlu24
1/12/2009 4:23 PM
Why not just start building them?  

i.e  -
Boston - NY - Phily - DC;
San Diego - LA - SF;
Dallas - Houston - Austin 
Chicago - Denver

 
jacobisreal
1/12/2009 4:26 PM
I completely agree, fellow Americans.  Why are States still building super-highways that are already becoming packed with cars which only have 1 person most of the time?  Why are we adding HOV lanes that hardly get used because everyone MUST drive themselves to work?

Trains, light rail, single-person vehicles - all of these are needed, and the money can come from these huge national highway projects that never seem to be completed.  I, for one, would turn my car into the government for recycling if they gave me an incentive - such as a free single-occupant vehicle - to do so.  Imagine the jobs, the lack of dependance on oil AT ALL - not just foreign.  It's time we stop sucking the life-blood of the Earth so we can drive to work in luxury.  

Thank you.
 
ofrae
1/12/2009 4:27 PM
Any city with a population of over half million or more,  should have a rail system, starting with the most populous cites. The U.S . population will increase rapidly in coming years and years to come because of immigrants and local birth rate.

Recently in Europe, Lufthansa and Air france lost a lot of their passengers to Deutshe bahn, a privately owned rail carrier. So, now, the Luftahansa and Air France plans to build rail coaches in order to compete with Deutshe Bahn.

Both private and government investments will be needed in the development of a rail network. Electric rail networks connecting every major U.S city , airport , seaport will end U.S dependence on foreign oil and will ensure U.S competitiveness in the 21st century.

Imagine U.S postal service,  Grey hound, DHL, UPS, Fedex, American Airline, Southwestern airline, Exxon Mobil, Shell , Microsoft, Apple, Oracle , SAP,Google owning trains for  cargo and passangers transportation. 

 The development and implementation an electric rail system will not only suck up the 2.5 million jobless, it will create millions of new jobs . An Ultra modern electric rail system will create jobs for rail attendants, rail pilots, rail inspectors, rail cleaner, rail engineers ,  rail technician, rail construction workers, rail nurses and medical practioners, train restaurants and in addition , countless numbers of shopping malls and restaurants that  will open up at rail terminals.

Electric rail can be powered by Solar, Wind, Natural gas  because  we can derive electric energy from other sources of energy.


If Rolls Royce can manufacture jet engines , then, GM, Toyota , Honda , Ford , Chrysler, GE can manufacture electric train engines, alongside plugin hybrid vehicles.

President-elect Obama can  commence the construction of Ultra modern electric rail network and rail terminal  in every major U.S city. Los Angeles, New york city ,Chicago, Houston ,Dallas, Phoenix, San Diego, Philadelphia,  San Antonio, San jose , Detroit,  and other U.S cities with population of over half a million residents. I believe our generation owe it to the future generation to build an ultra morden electric rail system.

I am 100% sure the rail system will pay for itself. U.S population is over 300 million, and it will continue to increase.
 
madrid
1/12/2009 4:28 PM
As an expat living in Spain, I can say that high-speed rail is the greatest.  For business travel from Madrid to Barcelona (3 hours), it is fast, punctual, spacious and pleasant.  It beats air travel any time. And you can work, talk on your cell phone, etc.

It is about 600 km (400 miles) and well worth it.
Flying is 50 minutes, but what with having to be an hour early for checkout, delays, and taxis upon arrival from the airport to the city center, much more expensive.
 
Jennifer G.
1/12/2009 4:32 PM
Johnsrude,
I was just on the I-5 in Portland yesterday, making the same comment to my folks. It was jammed mid-day on a Saturday, and I shuddered to think what rush hour must be like. A train along the West Coast is desperately needed!!

I agree that speed is an issue: often train tickets are comparable in price to plane tickets, but train service is so much slower that it makes the travel impractical. Building a new, higher speed rail network would be a GREAT way to put America back to work -- a new WPA-type endeavor!

Jennifer G.
St. Louis, MO
 
Class of '69er
1/12/2009 5:18 PM
We need a HUGE commitment to increasing train systems of all kinds so that the system reaches enough people to make a difference.  We ought not to waste the opportunity to use some of the stimulus spending on this priority that addresses: reducing greenhouse gases, containing and undoing sprawl that has resulted from overinvestment in roads and cars, increasing work force mobility (efficiency of the economy), among many other important issues. 

When will we get the chance to invest enough money in this project to really make a difference if we don't do it now?

We also need to repair and maintain the infrastructure we already have - roads, bridges, parks, ports, schools, public buildings, but we could certainly put a moratorium on new roads and interstates.  We can't possibly build our way out of the vehicle traffic congestions we face as our population grows - for example, Boston's Big Dig has improved the time it takes to drive through downtown Boston, but at the expense of lengthening the commute on all the other feeder roads people need.
 
hope
1/12/2009 5:54 PM
 
bornintheusa
1/12/2009 6:02 PM

Your program will not work. It ignores the elephant in the room, the Federal Reserve. Also, feeding One Trillion Dollars to a bunch of fat tick construction and remodeling companies is insane! It's nothing more than trickledown job creation. What guarantee do WeThePeople have those new jobs will be created, instead of raises being given to “favored” employees. At least start with One Half Trillion to WeThePeople, and the other half for infrastructure! Unless a radical change is made, Mr. President, beginning with the re-organization of the Federal Reserve, you will become the first American President to preside over the Greatest of All Depressions. I hope this helps.

Further, Mr. President, our economic system is based on two main principals. The first is that consumer spending is two-thirds of the economy. The second is that every dollar spent at retail is spent seven times in a year. The current plan is to send 90% of the money to non-consumers. Any plan that does not target consumers is doomed to failure.

It makes no sense to offer help to fat tick construction companies when consumers are not spending and banks are not lending. Is it too much to ask that the American Family get something directly to help their “crumbling economic structure” when consumers are not spending, and banks are not lending?  You are not FDR despite the Time Magazine Article. Quit listening to FDR experts. We’re at a New Gate!

http://vimeo.com/2783535

 
bornintheusa
1/12/2009 6:08 PM
Build those trains in concentric circles around the 100 larges American Cities.

Your program will not work. It ignores the elephant in the room, the Federal Reserve. Also, feeding One Trillion Dollars to a bunch of fat tick construction and remodeling companies is insane! It's nothing more than trickledown job creation. What guarantee do WeThePeople have those new jobs will be created, instead of raises being given to “favored” employees. At least start with One Half Trillion to WeThePeople, and the other half for infrastructure! Unless a radical change is made, Mr. President, beginning with the re-organization of the Federal Reserve, you will become the first American President to preside over the Greatest of All Depressions. I hope this helps.

Further, Mr. President, our economic system is based on two main principals. The first is that consumer spending is two-thirds of the economy. The second is that every dollar spent at retail is spent seven times in a year. The current plan is to send 90% of the money to non-consumers. Any plan that does not target consumers is doomed to failure.

It makes no sense to offer help to fat tick construction companies when consumers are not spending and banks are not lending. Is it too much to ask that the American Family get something directly to help their “crumbling economic structure” when consumers are not spending, and banks are not lending?  You are not FDR despite the Time Magazine Article. Quit listening to FDR experts. We’re at a New Gate!

http://vimeo.com/2783535

 
Sandie
1/12/2009 6:16 PM
 Not all communities/cities benefit from bullet trains.  

Light rails can be used by any community/cities large or small. 

Less freeways - more use of light rails that are practical and sensible to the communities/cities it serves.
 
A_Trees
1/12/2009 7:39 PM
I would love to travel to other cities by rail! Before jumping on this bandwagon, though, I would like to see a report on the feasibility of extensive adoption of rails.

The U.S. is slightly bigger than most other countries. If we start and about a third of the way find out that a rail system would be unfeasible, that would be a huge waste of resources. "Other countries can do it" isn't really a fair evaluation of feasibility.
 
A_Goyne
1/12/2009 8:42 PM
Bring in the Airline companies to get this off the ground (ha ha).  Seriously, they have expertise in the logistics of demand, routing, security.  They would have an interest in alleviating the burden on overburdened hubs.  They could provide capital and expertise as well as being a valuable resource in that they would be a partner with something to gain instead of a competitor trying to stop this from going forward.
 
Shameless
1/12/2009 9:01 PM
Even our slowest commuter trains today can carry more passengers and move at much higher speed than autos creeping in rush-hour traffic.  AND you can WORK on a train, or read to make yourself a better informed voter.  It's time to wise up.

Shameless
 
Pamela in Oakland, CA
1/12/2009 9:09 PM
You can't ignore the cost of trains. When you factor in a family taking a train for inter-state travel - the time and cost usually exceed air travel. For commuters - patterns of commuting change over time. and trains are a fixed asset. This idea has some merit in selected instances, but is not a pancea.
 
kreinert
1/12/2009 10:18 PM
MEXICAN DRUG WAR is AMERICAN DRUG WAR

I strongly encourage everyone who votes up this idea to vote up the idea MEXICAN DRUG WAR is AMERICAN DRUG WAR: Revamp the Controlled Substance Act for Border Security

Here's where you can find it:
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004mhk&srPos=2&srKp=087

To be politically expedient, we should not be asking Obama to "legalize marijuana." We should ask him to revamp the Controlled Substance Act, descheduling marijuana so that it may eventually be feasible to make legalized.

Since it is a new idea and needing a BOOST, please vote this up and encourage all your friends to do so as well!
MEXICAN DRUG WAR is AMERICAN DRUG WAR!
 
Palal
1/12/2009 11:01 PM
It would also be nice of Mr. Obama would provide details on his urban policy, as this has not been mentioned yet anywhere.

LAND USE POLICY

New systems should be forced to adopt land use regulations that will provide future systems with riders.

What needs to happen is a comprehensive policy to develop proper land use concurrently with public transport initiatives. Public transport projects alone will not work if nobody rides them. As long as we have urban and suburban sprawl, without concentration of riders and jobs around stations, no amount of lines will help.

I fully support the initiative to build more public transport that people will ride... there are quite a few projects that are begging to be built given the current transportation situation in those corridors. Many others are logical extensions of already-existing systems.

MAINTENANCE BEFORE NEW CONSTRUCTION

Existing systems need to be maintained. Instead of building new road projects, this money should be diverted to maintenance of existing public transport systems (CTA in Chicago, NYC Subway, SEPTA el trains, etc.) We love to build new projects, but we forget that constant maintenance is required and 30, 40 and 50 years down the line, deferred maintenance brings systems to a halt. If we fail to maintain a transport system, what's the point of building new systems if we let them decay? A well-maintained system has no "expiration date" as can be seen from many rail public transport lines such as the Tube in London (although it has its share of problems due to underinvestment) that are now more than 100-150 years old.
 
Konrad
1/12/2009 11:43 PM
I live in Texas and must say that trains are completely non-existant.  I was born and raised in the Dallas area (Plano) and attend university in Austin.  As with many of my fellow students, I live in a major city of Texas but attend the flagship institution.  Now, to travel home, I have to drive 220 miles along an interstate.  This takes from 3-5hours and needless to say wastes pleny of gas.

However, this past summer I spent 3 months working at a German university.  Along with many other excellent experiences, I was shocked and pleased at how easily my colleagues moved about their country on the weekends.  In fact, should the mood strike, you can go down to the train station and for less than 20 EUR (about $30) you can take a comfortable, quiet, speedy, efficient train to anywhere in the country!

Applying this information to my situation, and that of approximately 3/4 of the University of texas at Austin student population (and probably atleast a majority of other state universities), were this caliber of train system to exist in the United States, I could travel home on the weekends to visit my parents without the huge expenditure of time, money, and gasoline that it currently takes (and I drive a small sedan, imagine the majority of texans with their trucks)

What I am trying to say is that it is simply insulting how poor our train system is in this country despite the very obvious need for a good one (considering the rising cost of aviation and the inefficiencies of this mode of travel for short distances)
 
Fritz
1/13/2009 2:02 AM

We need to be investing in a BIG way in rail of all types. This should be a major focus of the Economic Stimulus Package. Such investments should include:
1) Intercity passenger trains - first of all, more frequent service along more routes at conventional speeds (max. 125 mph), building toward ultra-fast corridors where appropriate;
2) Commuter rail to take advantage of existing infrastructure and rights of way in and around our metropolitan areas;
3) Subways and heavy rail urban transit in our largest metro areas;
4) Light rail and modern streetcars in urban areas of all sizes ; and
5) Freight rail.
All to bring this country into the 21st century. This would create ONGOING new family wage jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, help our environment, revitalize our cities and eliminate the need for expensive, futile highway widening projects that foul up the human and natural environments and end up with greater congestion after a few years.
While rail transportation has been around for a long time, it has not stopped evolving with technological advances. Research and development are needed to, for instance:
1) Reduce the cost of positive train control to SAFELY increase track utilization.
2) Work with freight railroads to eliminate counterproductive business practices (like running trains that exceed the length of sidings and ignoring medium distance traffic) that make rail less competitive than it has to be.
3) Develop new quick load/unload container and/or piggy back handling technology that allows rail to be competitive for shorter, intra-state hauling.

Contrary to the candidate Obama's platform, I don't hear anything about the importance of investments in rail infrastructure and service in the President-elect's economic stimulus proposals. This glaring omission has got to be corrected.

--- Fred Nussbaum, Portland, OR

 
magman
1/13/2009 4:09 AM

I have been in electronics for 25 years and have determined the approach to bullet trains is not quite as efficient as it could be. Other countries rely on alternating the magnetic signals on the rails to drive the trains being used. My idea is quite simple for anyone understanding a little of magnetic theory. The rails required for trains are always in pairs for obvious reasons. If one rail were to be energized with a positive charge (north) and the other negative (south) then the trains could be controlled to make sharp turns at high speeds by controlling the charge emitted by the train’s internal generators to reduce the distance from the track magnetically thus making a level turn. The drive would be generated by fans which would be driven by dc generated by solar panels. Since the friction would be low, the drive mechanism would not require a powerful force and stopping power would be controlled by the magnetic rails and we all know how strong a magnet can be.  I know this is worth its weight in gold and by throwing my idea out there it becomes public domain but the time has come for action and the red tape between marketing it and putting it to use is too long in my opinion. God bless the US!

 
warmonkey
1/13/2009 5:55 AM
CAUTION!   This sounds good- but is it practical?  An incredible amount of money is spent by orgs to lobby state leg to adopt this EXPENSIVE  idea,  I think our crumbling infastructure and power grid FIRST PRIORITY!  Beware of lbbiests! They have not got the best interest of our country as a motivation.  I am sure this will be investigated as to cost effectivness.  It is generally NOT.
 
DaigNut
1/13/2009 6:07 AM
Uh, how cost effective are building and maintaining roads and highways? No one ever questions that massive budget. Yet somehow it's not OK for trains/rail budgets to go into deficit. WHY NOT? We subsidize cars in many ways and no one thinks twice about it.
 
Jonny
1/13/2009 7:45 AM
I'm not sure how strongly I agree with emphasizing taking money out of road construction, though I do know the money has to come from somewhere. I would say that money for roads should go toward fixing up the bad roads, and constructing new roads in poor urban areas (such as in Chicago) where there is limited mobility from the poor neighborhoods to the main city. Other than that I support moving funds toward light rails and bullet trains.
 
peterbilt_47
1/13/2009 8:23 AM
Great and very important idea.  When Europe and Japan have had something like this for years, it's embarassing that we don't have it in the US.  It will create jobs, protect the environment, reduce congestion on our overtaxed and getting worse road system, and make for improved economic opportunity for all segments of society.
 
GregRichane
1/13/2009 8:34 AM
I just want to add my first comment on change,gov as a resounding agreement that we need more tranportation choices, and high speed rail as well as local rail systems should be at the top of the list!  If developed properly, these systems can generate massive long-term economic growth (not just short-term construction jobs) reduce global warming, and help us create more livable and vibrant urban and suburban areas.  

I'll also add that we don't need to build trains at the expense of road construction - we just neeed to ensure road expenditures are targetted in an intelligent way that creates jobs but doesn't feed the real estate bubble and global warming.  That means on street networks, not highways that cause congestion and create walls in our cities as they empty them of people and economic activity.
 
aviate
1/13/2009 8:49 AM
 I spend a good deal of time in France for work and our transportation infrastructure, compared to theirs, is embarrassing. The TGV is a marvel--fast, comfortable & safe. And the various metros, tramway systems, and commuter train networks are excellent. 

Upgrading both long and short-distance rail (High-Speed trains & light rail) would be a boon to the economy. It would create good jobs, reduce overcrowded roads and pollution, cut back airport overcrowding & flight delays (do we really need planes to get from Philly to DC? Portland to Seattle? Boston to NYC?), and generally enhance quality of life. 

This is real investment in America's future--one with significant multiplier effects for the economy, environmental benefits, quality of life improvements, and a host of other goods. 
 
sean
1/13/2009 9:20 AM

A national high-speed rail system is not a good idea because flying will always be faster for coast-to-coast travel.  But several regional high-speed rail networks would cut down on shorter driving and flying trips.  Give the northeast a truly high-speed rail network.  Maybe others in:

  • Charlotte-Raleigh-Durham-Atlanta
  • Chicago, StLouis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Columbus
  • Dallas-Houston-San Antonio
  • Sacramento-Oakland-SJ-LA-SD


Construction provides stimulus and infrastructure investment, has environmental benefits.  Build in Blue and Red States in order to ensure political support.

 
Woozle
1/13/2009 9:20 AM
I'm not sure that speed is the main issue -- at least, out here in the southeast -- as it is regularity and frequency of trains. I once looked into booking a train from Durham NC to Athens GA, which is less than 6 hours by car. I found that there was a 4-hour layover in Greensboro, less than one hour from here by car, with the next train to GA leaving after midnight -- and the nearest train stop to Athens was in Gainesville, which meant I still had to find someone to pick me up by car, or else take a bus or taxi (it's about a 45-minute drive from Gainesville to Athens, which probably translates into at least 2 hours by bus).

We need more trains, more train stops in more towns.

One of the obstacles to doing this seems to be the unwillingness of the rail owners, who make their money on freight, to allow passenger trains on their rails. (Athens has at least one set of tracks coming through; it used to be a passenger line.) One big concern they have is apparently liability, which is understandable (freight can be insured at low cost, but personal injury/death is much more dicey) -- and an area where some federal legislation could help.

How about a carrot-and-stick approach, where freight rail owners are *required* to allow passenger trains, but with caps (or subsidies, or indemnity of some kind) on lawsuit awards due to personal injury? This could make a tremendous difference simply by requiring more efficient use of existing resources, and putting a few rules in place to make that easier to do.
 
Woozle
1/13/2009 9:24 AM
Also, I disagree with ProgressiveEvangelical: we do not need more highways. Fix up the ones we have now, but rail can create jobs as easily as highway construction -- perhaps better (think ticket booths, maintenance, computers, concession stands... jobs that continue after the construction is done) -- especially if we can get more use out of existing rail (see my previous comment).
 
DanaBlankenhorn
1/13/2009 9:56 AM
Trains are far more energy-efficient than cars. Full stop.

Cargo trains can run a ton of goods at 430 miles/gallon. The mileage is less for passenger trains in cities, because of stopping-and-starting, but it's still a significant improvement over the 20 mpg you're liable to get (with a tail wind) from a single person in a car.

My view is our most important priority is the War Against Oil. We have to get off the stuff. And the quickest, most effective way to do that is through efficiency.

Energy efficiency is economic policy that works on every level.
 
user_87966263
1/13/2009 9:57 AM
Banning or heavily taxing short-haul flights would also make very high speed passenger rail more attractive. For example, there is no reason to fly from Portland, Maine, to Boston, or Boston to New York, and yet you can - on routinely scheduled flights.

One other point about VHSR - and this will perhaps be the hardest thing to force through - there can be NO stops between major cities. NONE. Each city might have two, or three, or possibly four (one at the major airport for sure), but allowing stops between major nodes will increase the travel time considerably. It takes a while for these trains to get up to speed and then decelerate.
 
bornintheusa
1/13/2009 10:01 AM

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEMAND

 

1.        The re-organisation of the Federal Reserve System, forbidding it to print any more Federal Reserve Notes, and that the Federal Reserve be placed under the Department of the Treasury, and be forbidden eternally  the practice common know as fractional banking.

2.        The Creation of United States Money in the amount of One Trillion United States Dollars, and other future fiat creations in United States Dollars as deemed necessary by the President, The Secretary of the Treasury and what is generally known as the President’s economic team.

 

 
bornintheusa
1/13/2009 10:03 AM

3.        Upon the Creation of this initial One Trillion Dollar Fund, that every American Household be given a cash voucher, payable in the new United States Dollar, in the amount of $20,000 for the purchase of a new energy efficient home, or the re-fitting of an existing property to an energy efficient standard, and a $10,000 cash voucher to the head of every American Household for the purchase of a hybrid electric or natural gas powered car to be made in America. The SBA shall be instructed to issue a $100,000 Zero Interest, Zero Down Loan payable in the United States Dollar, and repayable over the next 10 years in those same United States Dollars, for the opening of any business related to alternative energy, gas powered and/or hybrid electric cars, or any other worthy business whose sole focus will be to create alternative energy, conserve energy, or to create a new energy related invention. Regional Transportation Authorities owned by We The People will be created and instructed to build rapid transit in concentric circles around the 100 largest cities in the America funded by newly the newly created fiat money. United States Fiat Money will also be used to build Wind Farms and to produce Natural Gas wherever feasible, also owned by We The People of the United States.

 
Proud KY Citizen
1/13/2009 10:03 AM

"Long Term Plans- Help is needed everywhere, where do you start?


First Off, let me say Mr. President Elect I am so humbled to write to you, on my feelings and share my thoughts, This is Awesome!, its kind of like a contest like calling the request lines at a radio station to see if I'm caller # 9. (Smile)

You have a lot on your plate with everything, so Mr. Obama good luck! and many prayers are going up and will continue to go up on your behalf.

Don't let Washington insiders change you, not your thoughts, your emotions, your patience, your steady hand don't let them change you at all! Democrats, Republicans and who ever else has something to say! Mr. President Elect- RUN YOUR RACE.

This is your battle to WIN!, or otherwise use your judgment that you have used in the past with your decisions and require everyone on your team to do the same.

I'm being long winded, but how often do you get to write to the President Elect in this way, NEVER- at least not in this way.

Ok, here's my only BIG but URGENT/ PRIORITY REQUEST.

Create some type of Office that will allow for companies or government to provide access to Jobs IN REAL TIME, if your Young and trying hard you should be able to get a job, if your Old or only have worked in a particular sector most of your life you should also be able to get a job, if you have no work experience or are from another country you should also be able to get a job. 

So since things are the way they are if you could for at least a year or two either create a Department or open up Satelite offices around the country that has JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO WANT'S IT!

WHAT WE NEED IS JOBS! This is the biggest hurdle for most, Jobs that pay good and are futuristic jobs and will stay in this country. I know this is not all that's needed but it's a darn good start. 

President Elect, Vice President Elect, and all of the wonderful people that surround you, your Family, Friends, Collegues, Supporters etc.

WE ALL SAY-- GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL!! WE ARE ROOTING FOR U.

Thanks for listening....." Copied from REALWORLD
 
bornintheusa
1/13/2009 10:05 AM

4.       Foreclosures and IRS seizures shall be forbidden for a period of four years.

5.        Criminal records are to be made private except to law enforcement. Probation officers will be required to find employment and a place to live for their “client base” of released prisoners.

6.       Credit records, and all Debts public and private will be cleared every 30 Years. It will be the Year of the American Jubilee!

7.      That a 20% flat tax be created immediately. No withholding will be allowed for any amount of money above an estimate of the amount of the 20% tax due based on last year’s income. That  the American Poor Head of Household be give a negative tax(a monthly voucher) in the amount of $12,000 per year, adjusted for inflation, provided such Citizen participate in drug and alcohol programs if their past history indicates that should be undertaken.

 
BruceMcF
1/13/2009 10:07 AM
ian is right ... electrification of the Dept. of Defense STRACNET and upgrades to allow 110mph freight trains has been found by the Millenium Institution to be able to get 50% to 80% of trucks off the roads, saving 10% or more of our imported oil. That is a big priority.

And for a lot of the US, availability of that system would allow us to have 110mph electric intercity passenger trains ... for here in Ohio, that would be plenty fast to get from Cleveland to Columbus or Cincinatti, Columbus to Pittsburgh or Indianapolis, Cleveland to Chicago. Same for Rapid Rail for North Carolina through Virginia to the Northeast Corridor starting in DC, Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, NYC to Buffalo, Chicago to Kansas City, New Orleans to Houston to Dallas, and so on.

There are a couple of places where we can justify true bullet trains ... the Northeast Corridor, California (who already passed a $9b bond for a bullet train system), but we would benefit from Rapid Passenger Rail in basically in every state east of the Missisippi, the first rank of states west of the Mississippi, the Pacific Northwest, and even, from a study being done in Colorado, along the Front Range from Cheyenne into New Mexico.
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