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I wonder why HappyTexan is wrong about everything?
You do know that there is multiple options on trains, decisions on stops, and capability to have express as well as local trains?
It only would be "that slow" if it was designed that way.
China is moving forward with high speed trains, and currently has the fastest, topping 300mph.
3,000 miles.
A jet does the trip in 6hours
A 300mph train could do it in 10hrs
4 hour difference, if you could handle 300mph the entire time. Maybe not feasible today, but feasible soon. Plus trains would more likely bring you right to city center (and not 30-1hr outside of city of laguardia or whatever).
China will demonstrate the effectiveness of high speed rail over large distances, and maybe after they do we will jump on the band wagon too late?
And on the way into city centers we can bulldoze thousands of homes and businesses and ruin the value of tens of thousands of others all while costing hundreds of billions, if not trillions of dollars.
Or we can just take the already faster plane that is currently in place and cheaper.
I think the issue with High Speed Rail is that while it's a wonderful idea, and wouldn't it be great if there were HSR between Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, why should the nation pay for it? Why shouldn't Texans pay for HSR in the state of Texas? And Californians pay for the HSR in the state of California? The fact that it's a great way to travel doesn't offset the fact that the question of HSR is about the federal government paying to provide a service that many Americans would never use.
I think the issue with High Speed Rail is that while it's a wonderful idea, and wouldn't it be great if there were HSR between Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, why should the nation pay for it? Why shouldn't Texans pay for HSR in the state of Texas? And Californians pay for the HSR in the state of California? The fact that it's a great way to travel doesn't offset the fact that the question of HSR is about the federal government paying to provide a service that many Americans would never use.
How are airports funded? Should ALL funding be done locally only?
Infrastructure creates economies, not the other way around.
Actually, you're wrong.
If we look at the United States, the majority of roads started off as trade routes. The majority of initial river crossing were private ferries. The first interstates were made by private railroads. Most of the first hospitals were built by churches or rich industrialists. A number of fire departments were private clubs. Eventually, the economies grew large enough to allow enough revenue for public support.
How are airports funded? Should ALL funding be done locally only?
That's a good point, except that many small communities have airports. Airports they funded locally. And most states have several regional airports. On the first page, where the OP showed the map of the proposed HSR, did you note the rail didn't even cross SIXTEEN states. People go on and on and on about how the Eastern seaboard would benefit from HSR, how it would help California so much. So let them build it. But don't ask the people in Nebraska that would get ZERO benefit to help fund it.
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I can see HSR between major urban points but you need to include short term car rental sites at the stations so people can get to their location for a meeting. Please do not think a business traveler wants to take a milk stop city bus to make it to their meeting. I also think it will would be a big seller for coast to coast due to time/cost.
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