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Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,766,887 times
Reputation: 3587
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Yes I am all for trains. In fact I am all for fast trains. Really REALLY fast trains. After the country gets over its silly belief that, if we just stick a drill bit into the ground, crude will come a bubblin up, it too will see that this is probably a future mode of transport- nuclear electric powered trains that scream across the country at 200 or more MPH.
My question is, do you think a train between Disneyland and Las Vegas is a good place to start such a thing? I really do not. Here is why:
1. Yes Interstate 15 is clogged but most of it goes through empty desert and it could easily and cheaply be widened.
2. Las Vegas does not have the population necessary to support such a service. Sure it has lots of visitors but I might point out that Amtrak used to run between LA and Vegas and they dropped the service because nobody used it.
3. Las Vegas and Disney have NOTHING in common but for being tourist spots. I mean, how many families are going to spend the day at Disney enjoying Mickey Mouse and then say "hey let's take the kids over the Vegas to catch a little nightlife!"?
For the 250 miles of magnalev, there are many other routes that make more sense. New York to Washington, San Diego to LA, Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Palm Beach.
A magnetic levitating train...how futuristicky. I don't know about LA to Vegas, but I'd like one from Phoenix to anywhere on the east coast. It's so expensive to fly from AZ to almost anywhere east of Texas...not to mention the usual 1-2 layovers and plane transfers = a full day of exhausting plane travel. It'd be nice to get on a fast train at night, go to sleep for a few hours in a bunk room, and wake up the next morning in Philly or DC.
Kev, the bad part is, the $45,000,000 is just to cover the environmental impact study etc, it does little if anything to actually build the project thats been in development for 20 years.
If it takes 20+ years to get to the point that you can do an environmental study, (not even the train) is it any wonder that we have no new sources of power constructed in the USA since this plan started to be laid out 20 years ago?
Blaming environmental regulation as the source of no new sources of power is not accurate. One shouldn't build something that's destructive just because people claim they want it. That level of irresponsibility runs completely counter to any conservative ethic about "personal responsibility" and being held accountable.
I think the idea is a good one because it links the largest urbanized area in the nation to the nation's party town. I'm sure the reason why Amtrak didn't succeed is because it's only a five-hour drive, hardly enough of an inconvenience to forgo your own transportation once you get to Vegas. It's cheaper to drive...although nowadays with $5 gas, the train might be a better alternative. Still, a responsible, non-destructive maglev train in this corridor would be a good idea.
How about Boston - New York - Philadelphia - Washington DC coupled with Philadelphia - Pittsburgh - Cleveland - Toledo - Chicago and a spur route from Toledo to Detroit? Might ignite redevelopment in the "rust" belt. Florida needs something as well but I'd imagine the environmental impact statement would take quite a long time to develop. I could also see Vancouver - Seattle - Olympia - Portland and San Jose - Los Angeles - San Diego. There's not enough business interaction between Phoenix and Tucson to justify the expense but there's probably something to be said for a T-shaped route centered in Austin linking it to the 3 larger cities in Texas. Let's put America to work!
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,766,887 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by pghquest
Kev, the bad part is, the $45,000,000 is just to cover the environmental impact study etc, it does little if anything to actually build the project thats been in development for 20 years.
If it takes 20+ years to get to the point that you can do an environmental study, (not even the train) is it any wonder that we have no new sources of power constructed in the USA since this plan started to be laid out 20 years ago?
That is one thing I admire about the Chinese. They don't mes around with any "studies". When they decide to build something there, bulldozers are clearing land within a few weeks!
That is one thing I admire about the Chinese. They don't mes around with any "studies". When they decide to build something there, bulldozers are clearing land within a few weeks!
Yes, that and the worst environmental destruction on the planet. I love that river with the leather and entrails in it instead of water. How do you sustain your crops with that as the sole source? They don't care how they get to the top, they only care THAT they get to the top. They will crash and burn with serious consequences.
Blaming environmental regulation as the source of no new sources of power is not accurate. One shouldn't build something that's destructive just because people claim they want it. That level of irresponsibility runs completely counter to any conservative ethic about "personal responsibility" and being held accountable.
I think the idea is a good one because it links the largest urbanized area in the nation to the nation's party town. I'm sure the reason why Amtrak didn't succeed is because it's only a five-hour drive, hardly enough of an inconvenience to forgo your own transportation once you get to Vegas. It's cheaper to drive...although nowadays with $5 gas, the train might be a better alternative. Still, a responsible, non-destructive maglev train in this corridor would be a good idea.
How about Boston - New York - Philadelphia - Washington DC coupled with Philadelphia - Pittsburgh - Cleveland - Toledo - Chicago and a spur route from Toledo to Detroit? Might ignite redevelopment in the "rust" belt. Florida needs something as well but I'd imagine the environmental impact statement would take quite a long time to develop. I could also see Vancouver - Seattle - Olympia - Portland and San Jose - Los Angeles - San Diego. There's not enough business interaction between Phoenix and Tucson to justify the expense but there's probably something to be said for a T-shaped route centered in Austin linking it to the 3 larger cities in Texas. Let's put America to work!
Oh for peets sake, learn a little bit because even the founder of Green Peace supports nuclear power construction because they are the most environmental way to generate electricity. There hasnt been one of those built in over 20 + years because of the environmental restrictions placed upon it. No, we continue to burn coal in massive amounts which polultes the air.
Yes, lets just continue to burn that coal instead of building more environmentally friendly ways to generate energy.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,766,887 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by mhouse2001
Yes, that and the worst environmental destruction on the planet. I love that river with the leather and entrails in it instead of water. How do you sustain your crops with that as the sole source? They don't care how they get to the top, they only care THAT they get to the top. They will crash and burn with serious consequences.
You have to admit though- they get things done over there- and quickly!
You have to admit though- they get things done over there- and quickly!
Thats cause they are a communist country and the government gets what it wants.. here, it takes 20 + years to even get to the point that you can study the impact of getting a new train, another 5 years for the study, 10 more years for the lawsuits to be cleared, 5 years for construction, and by time your done constructing, the project budget is no longer affordable (which is the usual story with high speed trains), or the original plan was no longer practical because of population changes and it needs to be redesigned, starting the process all over again.
Lets not even discuss how long it takes to get funding for things like this, because no private investor wants their funds tied up for 40 years, waiting for a project to start work and they can begin recouping funds. Thats why so many projects like this ends up being on the taxpayers back. Not because people wont fund the plans, its because it takes 40+ years before one starts to see a return on their investment.
My question is, do you think a train between Disneyland and Las Vegas is a good place to start such a thing? I really do not. Here is why:
1. Yes Interstate 15 is clogged but most of it goes through empty desert and it could easily and cheaply be widened.
2. Las Vegas does not have the population necessary to support such a service. Sure it has lots of visitors but I might point out that Amtrak used to run between LA and Vegas and they dropped the service because nobody used it.
3. Las Vegas and Disney have NOTHING in common but for being tourist spots. I mean, how many families are going to spend the day at Disney enjoying Mickey Mouse and then say "hey let's take the kids over the Vegas to catch a little nightlife!"?
You must not be from southern California.
1. Yes it could be easily and cheaply be widened, but the same problems will only come back. And knowing southern California, those problems will be back quick!
2. The Amtrak? LOL. Nobody used it because it took about 5 hours just to get to Vegas. But a train that would get to Vegas in one hour as proposed, would become a big hit for Angelinos.
3. The proposal regarding Disneyland is only there because OC is trying to get that bid. It makes sense because there is more open space in the OC. That whole area, Disneyland, Arrowhead Pond, and Angels stadium has a ton of parking available. Well, from what Ive seen. Though I never go into Anaheim when driving to LA. But it has nothing to do with the fact they are so different from each other. Besides, I see alot of parents with their kids at the casino's at 1a.m. anyways in Vegas.
Its a kick ass idea. I hope the money proposal does go through. At the same time, it would provide reciprocal benefits to LV citizens that want to hang out at the beach with great weather.
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here, it takes 20 + years to even get to the point that you can study the impact of getting a new train, another 5 years for the study, 10 more years for the lawsuits to be cleared, 5 years for construction, and by time your done constructing, the project budget is no longer affordable (which is the usual story with high speed trains), or the original plan was no longer practical because of population changes and it needs to be redesigned, starting the process all over again.
