Maglev gets funds, good idea?

[SpringfieldMonorail]

Our country also experienced a phenomenon known as a budget surplus in the late '90s when the Pittsburgh/Greensburg Maglev project was first proposed. If you wait long enough, someone is bound to burn that money up on a war. Just a couple weeks ago, the President announced plans for funding high speed rail projects with part of the $64 billion that was included in the stimulus package, calling it "the most sweeping investment in our infrastructure since President Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s." They're looking at projects with the design and enviromental work finished, or nearly finished, so they can start as soon as possible.

From an article about the announcement:
"Initially, regional transportation offices will compete for the $8 billion included in the $787 billion economic stimulus spending package for high-speed rail, bolstered by $1 billion a year for five years requested in the federal budget.
The only U.S. rail service that meets the Federal Railroad Administration's 110 mph threshold to qualify as high-speed rail is Amtrak's 9-year-old Acela Express route connecting Boston to Washington, D.C."

[hempfield mania]

Even though I work in the rail/transportation business, I would much rather see the stimulus money go towards the repair/replacement and upgrading of our current infrastructure. In PA especially, our roads and bridges are crumbling and the entire Allegheny County sewage system is outdated, antiquated and failing. These are all projects that are "shovel ready" and would help boost the local economy, local employment and improve the quality of life of residents. I feel sorry for Alcosan customers as your rates will be skyrocketing in the near future to pay for the 21 billion in repairs/replacements that will be required to meet the EPA decent decrees. Also, our country as a whole needs to upgrade our electrical grid to improve efficiency and capacity.

[mattjd]

Originally Posted by hempfield mania

Even though I work in the rail/transportation business, I would much rather see the stimulus money go towards the repair/replacement and upgrading of our current infrastructure. In PA especially, our roads and bridges are crumbling and the entire Allegheny County sewage system is outdated, antiquated and failing. These are all projects that are "shovel ready" and would help boost the local economy, local employment and improve the quality of life of residents. I feel sorry for Alcosan customers as your rates will be skyrocketing in the near future to pay for the 21 billion in repairs/replacements that will be required to meet the EPA decent decrees. Also, our country as a whole needs to upgrade our electrical grid to improve efficiency and capacity.

Unfortunately, our opinion means nothing. Obama will do whatever he thinks is best. He won. He's dictator for 4 years. I'm sure that crazy expensive maglev will be more beneficial to Pittsburgh than expanding the T through the East End to Monroeville, or completing the Mon-Fayette Expressway, and other projects that have already been discussed or in the works.

[pman]

Originally Posted by hempfield mania

. Also, our country as a whole needs to upgrade our electrical grid to improve efficiency and capacity.

there's been some talk of using rail row's of way as part of the electrical grid and electrification of train services (both freight and passenger). I think there needs to be a balance of current and upgraded. there's no point in restoring if you can build better new....or some combination. Isn't Seattle talking about removing a downtown highway rather than rebuilding it?