kingdick
Champion Author
Minnesota
Posts:17,900
Points:1,436,895
Joined:Aug 2004
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 12:28:50 PM
|
Ignore kingdick Report Abuse
|
If we could have used the trillions the Republicans WASTED on the war in Iraqi.
-----------------------------------
We could have filled the needs of the USA for more electric powered Trains in cities and between Towns/Cities.
-----------------------------------
|
comet63
Champion Author
Long Island
Posts:1,852
Points:93,585
Joined:Mar 2007
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 11:05:26 AM
|
Ignore comet63 Report Abuse
|
|
I live in the suburbs about 16 miles outside NYC. I wish there was ample public transportation to take me to and from work.
|
garyKY
Veteran Author
Kentucky
Posts:415
Points:38,730
Joined:Jun 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:54:56 AM
|
Ignore garyKY Report Abuse
|
|
YEA RIGHT, IF YOU LIVE IN THE BIG CITIES, OH, HERE IS A QUESTION? WERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? THAT PRINTING PRESS IN WASHINGTON WILL RUN OUT, HECK OUR DOLLAR ISN'T ANY GOOD ANYMORE. WHAT A JOKE, BETTER,THERE IS NO BETTER
|
domer2
Veteran Author
Gary
Posts:417
Points:288,975
Joined:May 2007
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:53:36 AM
|
Ignore domer2 Report Abuse
|
|
yeah right
|
TankerToadOH
Rookie Author
Ohio
Posts:61
Points:90,475
Joined:Mar 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:46:31 AM
|
Ignore TankerToadOH Report Abuse
|
|
If the government was in charge of sand in the Sahara Desert there would be a sand shortage in 5 years.
|
TankerToadOH
Rookie Author
Ohio
Posts:61
Points:90,475
Joined:Mar 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:46:30 AM
|
Ignore TankerToadOH Report Abuse
|
|
If the government was in charge of sand in the Sahara Desert there would be a sand shortage in 5 years.
|
EarlyMoose
Champion Author
Seattle
Posts:1,490
Points:619,715
Joined:Dec 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:39:04 AM
|
Ignore EarlyMoose Report Abuse
|
|
Sure, how long before the gov wrecks that?
|
357revo
Champion Author
Pittsburgh
Posts:6,039
Points:680,765
Joined:Sep 2006
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:37:37 AM
|
Ignore 357revo Report Abuse
|
Does anyone know of a metropolitan transit system in the U.S. or Canada that is self-sufficient?
By that, I mean a system that operates on a budget solely provided by commuter fares. No subsidies from local, state, or federal funds... all of which are provided by tax dollars of one sort or another. In fact, most of the time the subsidies come from the liquid fuel taxes that car and truck drivers pay when they buy gasoline and diesel.
As an example of public subsidies, the Amtrak system is provided with state and Federal subsidies that amount to $40+ per passenger-trip [estimates for FY08], despite the fact that usage and passenger-ticket revenue is at an all-time high. The Amtrak system has NEVER been self-sufficient.
Estimates of FY08 metrics:
Passenger-trips: 15.840 million
Ticket revenue: $955.0 million
State Subsidy: $167.7 million
Federal Subsity: $475.0 million
Budget Deficit: $5.5 million
Average ticket revenue per passenger-trip: $60.29
State & Federal Subsity per passenger-trip: $40.57
That's a hell of a way to run a railroad.
Amtrak Financial Report - April 08
|
good2goVA
Sophomore Author
Virginia
Posts:104
Points:38,845
Joined:Jun 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:36:41 AM
|
Ignore good2goVA Report Abuse
|
|
ok
|
CruisinLinda
Champion Author
Tallahassee
Posts:4,238
Points:863,385
Joined:Sep 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:35:08 AM
|
Ignore CruisinLinda Report Abuse
|
|
Mass transit works where there are masses of people, so forget about it in rural area, but the park-and-ride concept is a good compromise. Cut your costs by parking at the terminus of the urban system and ride into the big city.
|
HockeyLady
All-Star Author
New Jersey
Posts:877
Points:851,080
Joined:Jun 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:29:55 AM
|
Ignore HockeyLady Report Abuse
|
|
would be nice if it happened here
|
MG_Sputnik
Veteran Author
Philadelphia
Posts:433
Points:375,415
Joined:Apr 2006
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:28:21 AM
|
Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse
|
|
No way here!
|
PokerAce
All-Star Author
Louisiana
Posts:951
Points:206,130
Joined:Jan 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:27:20 AM
|
Ignore PokerAce Report Abuse
|
|
Maybe.... in some areas.... not here....
|
dreamweaver7050
Sophomore Author
Louisiana
Posts:224
Points:391,635
Joined:Sep 2006
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:27:11 AM
|
Ignore dreamweaver7050 Report Abuse
|
|
going back to the old ways
|
RF4CPhantom
All-Star Author
Oklahoma City
Posts:897
Points:122,630
Joined:Feb 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:25:55 AM
|
Ignore RF4CPhantom Report Abuse
|
|
Very interesting~!
|
fastfreddy38
Veteran Author
Ontario
Posts:499
Points:822,910
Joined:Aug 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:23:45 AM
|
Ignore fastfreddy38 Report Abuse
|
|
Its about time!
|
LuvEd08
Sophomore Author
Georgia
Posts:171
Points:50,580
Joined:Apr 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:21:50 AM
|
Ignore LuvEd08 Report Abuse
|
|
Mass transit can really help when you have riders who are visiting the city or trying to get to and from the airport
|
rjb21760
All-Star Author
Chicago
Posts:588
Points:365,860
Joined:Oct 2006
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:20:31 AM
|
Ignore rjb21760 Report Abuse
|
|
Transit is government run, it will never improve.
|
The_WB
Champion Author
Detroit
Posts:3,416
Points:393,600
Joined:Apr 2007
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:20:28 AM
|
Ignore The_WB Report Abuse
|
|
Agreed.
|
jackson661
Veteran Author
Columbus
Posts:270
Points:19,255
Joined:May 2006
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:18:42 AM
|
Ignore jackson661 Report Abuse
|
|
This will only work in the large cities. In rural area's it a wish.
|
acknot
Veteran Author
Seattle
Posts:477
Points:560,300
Joined:Sep 2003
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:16:33 AM
|
Ignore acknot Report Abuse
|
|
America is to spread out, besides, your car is your freedom.
|
CrazyQ
Champion Author
Washington
Posts:11,852
Points:1,369,650
Joined:Aug 2004
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:15:41 AM
|
Ignore CrazyQ Report Abuse
|
|
cresovia, pack all the people in the world into Texas, and you'd have the population density of the Netherlands. Then mass transit makes sense.
|
Lonewolftx
Champion Author
Houston
Posts:5,256
Points:1,032,285
Joined:Sep 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:15:40 AM
|
Ignore Lonewolftx Report Abuse
|
|
We can only hope . .
|
kingbee2u
Rookie Author
Colorado
Posts:20
Points:30,850
Joined:Jul 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:13:24 AM
|
Ignore kingbee2u Report Abuse
|
|
Good luck out here in the west.
|
hblee
Sophomore Author
Ontario
Posts:119
Points:191,200
Joined:May 2004
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:13:19 AM
|
Ignore hblee Report Abuse
|
|
If the transit service in Ottawa is as efficient as Montreal, maybe I would considered taking the bus. Right now it would take me close to 2 hours to get to work by bus but only 35 minutes by car. Time is money so I have to stick with my car.
|
kypeanuts
Veteran Author
Louisville
Posts:258
Points:56,355
Joined:May 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:09:42 AM
|
Ignore kypeanuts Report Abuse
|
|
good luck waiting around for this - just look at all the 'burbs they'll have to expand to
|
cresovia
Rookie Author
Tallahassee
Posts:67
Points:91,655
Joined:Apr 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:08:05 AM
|
Ignore cresovia Report Abuse
|
|
Well, it's about time government used there brains and invested in public transit. Take a trip to Europe and you can get everywhere by bus or train.
|
tomok
Champion Author
Portland
Posts:7,780
Points:628,110
Joined:Aug 2006
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:04:59 AM
|
Ignore tomok Report Abuse
|
Better transit service can only happen in higher population areas.
And some of the higher population areas could careless or just have a 'token' system located downtown. No service to the outlying suburban areas where it is really needed.
|
Brn2bEvl
Veteran Author
New York
Posts:392
Points:93,100
Joined:Apr 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:04:11 AM
|
Ignore Brn2bEvl Report Abuse
|
|
You do what you have to do!
|
Matts_Pap
All-Star Author
Pennsylvania
Posts:822
Points:129,420
Joined:Feb 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:03:55 AM
|
Ignore Matts_Pap Report Abuse
|
|
Too Little: Too Late!!
|
madyank
Rookie Author
Baltimore
Posts:65
Points:5,500
Joined:Mar 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 10:01:55 AM
|
Ignore madyank Report Abuse
|
Proverbs3,
LOOK at the size of Japan, and how it's laid out as far as organization. Then LOOK at the size of the US, and how it's laid out as far as organization. CLOSELY INSPECT the rail system over there and here. Study the population density in the two countries - and then consider the average crime rate, the basic societal structure, and the lifestyle in the two nations.
Bottom line? You pack Americans in as tightly as the Japanese habitually crowd together, and I GUARANTEE the homicide rate in most metropolitan areas will break 1,000 by March of each year! And I'm speaking as an ex-cop! Been there, done that.
Next, study the transportation systems. We DO NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE for mass transit; not any longer. IF you want to pay 50% property taxes for the next 20 years, you can have public transportation systems to replace the roads - but they'll ONLY go for URBAN areas; you'll still need a car out in the boondocks!
FACE THE FACTS; the United States is just TOO DAMN BIG for European or Oriental solutions. Either the U.S. will Balkanize into little-bitty independent countries, each trying it's best to solve the energy crunch on it's own - and failing miserably, while becoming a collection of Third World nations, or we will together find an alternative to petroleum that is economical, ecologically sound, logical, and doesn't involve putting half our food supply in the fuel tank. That means either cold fusion-powered electrics, or SOMETHING hydrogen-powered, burning seawater-distilled hydrogen. And if we're going to do either of those two solutions, we can develop the rail system we DO have for long-distance surface travel, as in the Auto-Train that transports tourists to Florida from DC, to get people around the country. We do it now from ports to distribution centers for containerized cargo, where trucks pick up the containers for transshipment to local destinations; expand that containerization for freight. The most efficient transport system IS the steel wheel on the steel rail. Put a bunch of cars in a railcar, put the people in a passenger car overnight, and they get there the next morning, refreshed, alert, and ready to do whatever they need to do - and with their personal transport needs taken care of.
|
leolisa
Champion Author
New York
Posts:3,915
Points:713,030
Joined:Sep 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:55:10 AM
|
Ignore leolisa Report Abuse
|
|
i would take a bus to work if it was available
|
RochBear
Champion Author
Minnesota
Posts:1,291
Points:422,675
Joined:May 2006
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:54:39 AM
|
Ignore RochBear Report Abuse
|
|
This country needs to loose it's love affair with the car, and fall in love with the train all over again. Instead of 4 lane interstate highways, we need two track rail lines, with passenger and freight trains going across the country. If the train would also allow your car to be on board, you could take the train for long distances, and then use your own car for the short commutes.
|
krucker
Sophomore Author
Austin
Posts:181
Points:346,805
Joined:Aug 2004
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:50:36 AM
|
Ignore krucker Report Abuse
|
|
Great............Decreasing demand should bring gasoline prices down..........RIGHT?
|
FFootdoc12
Sophomore Author
Illinois
Posts:154
Points:34,785
Joined:Apr 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:49:53 AM
|
Ignore FFootdoc12 Report Abuse
|
|
public transport is great for large metro areas. There's never gonna be a timely, reliable public transport to backwoods midwest. Japan, England, and most of europe have decent public transport, but their societies were also not built around the personal vehicle
|
AlaRedNeck
All-Star Author
Kansas
Posts:701
Points:119,875
Joined:Apr 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:48:55 AM
|
Ignore AlaRedNeck Report Abuse
|
|
It isn't going to change anything around here.
|
sailormon
Veteran Author
Michigan
Posts:423
Points:157,595
Joined:Jul 2007
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:48:00 AM
|
Ignore sailormon Report Abuse
|
|
My uncle rides the train into Cleveland every day. Free parking for his car at the station and the ride costs $1.75. (Yes, a buck seventy five!) It is $8.50 just to park the car downtown every day. Yet, he tells me the train is only half full! Why is that? Do we love our cars that much?!
|
proverbs3
Rookie Author
Detroit
Posts:67
Points:21,610
Joined:May 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:45:30 AM
|
Ignore proverbs3 Report Abuse
|
|
I lived in Japan for 5 months. I was able to take a train to any place I wanted to go. Maybe this fuel crisis will finally motivate North Americans to consider public transportation, and "sacrifice" the luxuries of driving everywhere.
|
scrounger
Champion Author
Vancouver
Posts:5,840
Points:1,597,890
Joined:Mar 2003
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:43:38 AM
|
Ignore scrounger Report Abuse
|
|
I'm not going to hold my breath
|
mrkel
Champion Author
Cincinnati
Posts:1,328
Points:723,255
Joined:Apr 2006
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:38:53 AM
|
Ignore mrkel Report Abuse
|
|
Way to go Montreal!
|
mcevoy22
Sophomore Author
Utah
Posts:147
Points:35,525
Joined:Jun 2008
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:38:20 AM
|
Ignore mcevoy22 Report Abuse
|
|
They need to step up the transit services in America. I hear people say everyday, "at least we aren't paying what they do in Europe." In Europe, they have an excellent transit system that takes you almost everywhere, fast. In America, we don't have that luxury and heavily depend on our personal vehicles. Drop gas prices or find a way to better our transit system without a hugh impact on tax dollars.
|
Netscaper113
Champion Author
New York City
Posts:5,143
Points:1,005,200
Joined:Aug 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:38:05 AM
|
Ignore Netscaper113 Report Abuse
|
|
I wish...
|
SpruceGuse2
Champion Author
Michigan
Posts:1,256
Points:771,125
Joined:Mar 2006
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:37:07 AM
|
Ignore SpruceGuse2 Report Abuse
|
|
Great for large cities but what about smaller cities? There isn't any form of mass transit. We are screwed...Thank you George W. Bush..................(pass the vasoline)
|
spunky4443
All-Star Author
Washington
Posts:695
Points:365,875
Joined:May 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:35:38 AM
|
Ignore spunky4443 Report Abuse
|
|
Well if they would get transit service out where I live, I would then use it.
|
ardmoretoday
Veteran Author
Oklahoma
Posts:415
Points:366,905
Joined:May 2007
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:33:57 AM
|
Ignore ardmoretoday Report Abuse
|
|
Same old news.
|
gasman50
All-Star Author
Portland
Posts:935
Points:732,640
Joined:Nov 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:31:00 AM
|
Ignore gasman50 Report Abuse
|
|
Remove the taxpayer subsidies from public transportation and see how it works
|
rod1965
Veteran Author
Portland
Posts:368
Points:45,315
Joined:Jul 2007
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:29:54 AM
|
Ignore rod1965 Report Abuse
|
|
Yea for Montreal, how about the rest of us.
|
DooDaa
Champion Author
Massachusetts
Posts:3,273
Points:732,730
Joined:Dec 2004
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:27:36 AM
|
Ignore DooDaa Report Abuse
|
|
OK!
|
joncarwash
Veteran Author
Chicago
Posts:348
Points:120,140
Joined:Aug 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:26:25 AM
|
Ignore joncarwash Report Abuse
|
|
The gas tax revenues won't do much good when the bloated government is mis-managing the transit system anyways (see Chicago).
|
Toppers
Veteran Author
Atlanta
Posts:422
Points:766,875
Joined:Mar 2005
|
Message Posted:
7/7/2008 9:22:41 AM
|
Ignore Toppers Report Abuse
|
|
Better late than never!
|
