Comments on: In Defense of High-Speed Rail http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/27/in-defense-of-high-speed-rail/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: clever-title http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/27/in-defense-of-high-speed-rail/comment-page-1/#comment-113551 clever-title Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:47:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=36811#comment-113551 If the Dallas-Houston HSR project will be economically profitable, why not let investors fund it? If the Dallas-Houston HSR project will be economically profitable, why not let investors fund it?

]]> By: Mattyoung http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/27/in-defense-of-high-speed-rail/comment-page-1/#comment-109931 Mattyoung Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:42:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=36811#comment-109931 Relative congestion will determine the funding. Relative congestion will determine the funding.

]]> By: Charley http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/27/in-defense-of-high-speed-rail/comment-page-1/#comment-108011 Charley Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:33:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=36811#comment-108011 This is a pretty interesting analysis, although you need to get what you're comparing straight. I would think that most people would look at the tradeoff in two dimensions: whether we invest in urban transit vs regional transit, and what mode we invest in (whether it be urban or regional transit). Looking at it this way, I could see why people would say that investment in inter-city transit is more important than intra-city transit. Thinking only of passenger travel, I would say that choice of mode has way more of an effect on urban transit than on regional transit. Cars (or planes) don't have the same effects on travelling between cities that forced daily car commuting does. Obviously I'd rather there be a car (or Greyhound!) free alternative, but if it comes down to it, I'd rather expand the subway then build more HSR. This is a pretty interesting analysis, although you need to get what you’re comparing straight.

I would think that most people would look at the tradeoff in two dimensions: whether we invest in urban transit vs regional transit, and what mode we invest in (whether it be urban or regional transit).

Looking at it this way, I could see why people would say that investment in inter-city transit is more important than intra-city transit. Thinking only of passenger travel, I would say that choice of mode has way more of an effect on urban transit than on regional transit. Cars (or planes) don’t have the same effects on travelling between cities that forced daily car commuting does.

Obviously I’d rather there be a car (or Greyhound!) free alternative, but if it comes down to it, I’d rather expand the subway then build more HSR.

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/27/in-defense-of-high-speed-rail/comment-page-1/#comment-107981 Mark Walker Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:05:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=36811#comment-107981 Drivers are never asked to choose between highways and smaller roads. Why should rail users be forced into an either/or choice on high-speed and conventional rail? They both have their purposes. If we knuckle under and say, OK, we'll have to do without one of them, that sign of weakness will be established as a new baseline by the anti-rail forces. Whatever we ask for, they'll always work hard to make sure we get less. The highway and car lobbies never make that mistake. They want it all, they want it now, and they get what they want. Drivers are never asked to choose between highways and smaller roads. Why should rail users be forced into an either/or choice on high-speed and conventional rail? They both have their purposes. If we knuckle under and say, OK, we’ll have to do without one of them, that sign of weakness will be established as a new baseline by the anti-rail forces. Whatever we ask for, they’ll always work hard to make sure we get less. The highway and car lobbies never make that mistake. They want it all, they want it now, and they get what they want.

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