Comments on: GAO Says We Need More Than a Vision for High Speed Rail

By: Tana Green

Tana Green — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:50:51 +0000

I am happy to announce the public release of High Speed Rail USA's website. We are a not-for-profit advocating for a national high speed rail system of 220 mph trains across America. We believe in educating the American public about the true potential of high speed rail. Please check out our website, and check back often as we continue to grow and spread the message.

By: Think_twice

Think_twice — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:28:57 +0000

How did Eisenhower administration do it? How did they manage to build the Interstates while, according to Wikipedia, they "oversaw the cease-fire of the Korean War, kept up the pressure on the Soviet Union during the Cold War, made nuclear weapons a higher defense priority, launched the Space Race," and "enlarged the Social Security program."

By: Dan Berkman

Dan Berkman — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:06:09 +0000

I agree. Geting from STL to Chicago in four hours instead of five isn't going to make anyone get out of their car and billing that trip as some kind of super fast train magic trick is going to turn people off when the train doesn't get above 110mph.

By: Urbanis

Urbanis — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:59:06 +0000

Just like we're ruining the Bus Rapid Transit brand in the US when we refer to Select Bus Service as BRT.

By: Aaron M. Renn

Aaron M. Renn — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:24:19 +0000

My biggest beef is that we are talking about "high speed rail" and having people go to Europe to show people how great it is, then coming back and investing in a 110MPH "Amatrak on steroids" solution that is NOTHING like Europe. I'm not saying don't do that or that incremental HSR improvements shouldn't be made, but let's not mislead people into thinking this is "high speed rail" or we'll just end up ruining the high speed rail brand in the United States.

By: lexslamman

lexslamman — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:02:58 +0000

The important thing is that this draft national rail plan that the Federal DOT is working on is complete before we pass the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009, that way we have a framework for spending the appropriation - but all of this is for naught if we fail to pass that Act.