Group Wants Atlanta-Savannah Passenger Rail Line (Macon, Brunswick: to move, estimate, yard)

[gtcorndog]

Originally Posted by munna21977

as you say billions of people use roads, so that billion multiplied by 0.02 is lot of subsidy. By contrast rail carries less passengers and thus subsidy will be much less. By the way the amount of money we spend in iraq or afghanistan for one week was enough to build those NJ-NYC tunnels. but priorities of conservatives are different.

Why revert this to a red/blue argument? This is apolitical and I have framed it as such from the beginning. Trying to weaken or align my point of fiscal responsibility and return on investment to a political ideology just another weak way of trying to avoid the facts.

Of course there is a overall big subsidy for the roads, but it is justified by the usage. That is why you break it down to a similar metric (passenger miles traveled) to compare the two on an even level.

What does road spending have to do with war spending? Try to stay in the real world here so we can have a realistic argument. "If my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle." Dealing with wild what ifs is not constructive because it does move anything forward. And as much as this war is put solely on the conservatives, a lot of responsibility falls to the blues as well. However... this tangent is worthless to this thread.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by gtcorndog

I would be open to exploring it, but after crunching numbers based on Amtrak's efficiency level and operating costs as a point of reference, the ridership numbers would have to be very, very high to even come close to being viable.

Savannah simply isn't a big enough destination for this to work. Again, there is very little benefit added to the rider that would create mass appeal. It would be more expensive, not faster and there are several existing alternatives available. Where rail is successful, it works because it is faster, provides a level of convenience that is unmatched by car or air travel, and is price competitive. I don't see any 3 of these holding true for this route to build a large ridership base. There simply isn't enough traffic between Atlanta and a small city like Savannah.

Maybe you're right. Maybe you're not. I don't know. Only way to gain a clearer picture would be to conduct a study.

My thought is that the line should hold off--for now. I'd be more in favor of integrating it into a future national rail network that starts in the Northeast, where population is most dense, and fans its way across other parts of the country. Or make it more regional--start in Atlanta and fan outwards.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I'm not saying they should, just that a group can do it if they want. If it's their money, not my business. Now if it taxpayer funded, that's a different story.



That's not a bad idea. There's a toll road that stretches across the state of Pennsylvania for instance.

And Ohio, and Indiana.

[neil0311]

I would have no problem with toll roads, provided the road is smooth as glass with adequate capacity. In the northeast, there are tolls all over the place, with some roads meeting that obligation and others not.

Personally, I have no problem paying for something, but I have to receive the value I expect for what I'm paying. What annoys me to no end is paying out the nose and getting nothing of value. What infuriates me beyond belief is paying out the nose, getting no value, and then being told I need to pay more (or that I'm selfish and greedy for not willingly forking over more). Writing my tax check this past weekend comes to mind.

[eyesus34]

Let me see if I can illuminate this discussion. This state hasn't moved forward since Sherman marched to the sea in '64...1864. I rarely drive through Georgia but I imagine they wonder what those metal cigars up in the air are. Do yourselves a favor, give up on any hope of Georgia becoming progressive. And save the hate. I've lived here since '78. I know this town better than y'all do!

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by eyesus34

Let me see if I can illuminate this discussion. This state hasn't moved forward since Sherman marched to the sea in '64...1864. I rarely drive through Georgia but I imagine they wonder what those metal cigars up in the air are. Do yourselves a favor, give up on any hope of Georgia becoming progressive. And save the hate. I've lived here since '78. I know this town better than y'all do!

Metal cigars... Let's see. I think I've seen some of them up close at that big place down south of the city. The aeropot?

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by eyesus34

Let me see if I can illuminate this discussion. This state hasn't moved forward since Sherman marched to the sea in '64...1864. I rarely drive through Georgia but I imagine they wonder what those metal cigars up in the air are. Do yourselves a favor, give up on any hope of Georgia becoming progressive. And save the hate. I've lived here since '78. I know this town better than y'all do!

I can trump that. I've been here since '73. Unless you mean 1878?

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Metal cigars... Let's see. I think I've seen some of them up close at that big place down south of the city. The aeropot?

I've flown in some. They are called CRJ-700s and -900s. Made sure my next flights were on bigger planes.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by eyesus34

Do yourselves a favor, give up on any hope of Georgia becoming progressive.

If by "progressive" you mean wasteful and willing to enact left wing policies that are not well thought out, then count me in for being glad for the lack of "progressiveness" in the state.

There are plenty of so-called "progressive" states, like California, and they are in deep and dire financial doo doo.

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by neil0311

If by "progressive" you mean wasteful and willing to enact left wing policies that are not well thought out, then count me in for being glad for the lack of "progressiveness" in the state.

There are plenty of so-called "progressive" states, like California, and they are in deep and dire financial doo doo.

So you rather live 50 years in the past than the future? California already has flying cars and robot workers. What financial doo doo? California has alot of money from all the technology, and a 0% unemployment rate. Apple owns the state, lol.