High-speed rail line in Texas - Aye or nay? (Dallas: living in, versus)

[ScoPro]

Nay - unless each station has adequate transportation to local areas.

If provision is made for that, and the victims of eminent domain are compensated at fair market value plus 20% (negotiable), along with the caveat that current roadways are still updated, upgraded, and properly maintained, then Yes.

However, at this point Texas cities are not dense enough like they are in NYC, Chicago, Bay Area, and Europe.

[JJG]

Proposed Dallas station, in Ceaders.

[SenorChip]

is better wait for the hyperloop.

[kidicarus89]

Originally Posted by SenorChip

is better wait for the hyperloop.

Hyperloop is an unproven concept that won't carry anywhere near the capacity of a high speed train. HSR is a reliable, technologically mature method proven around the globe. Hyperloop tech needs more proof of concept studies before being used in large transportation networks.

[bu2]

Absolutely. Even SW Airlines doesn't object. This is privately funded and rail works very well vs. short haul flying on this type of distance. And it will draw a fair number of people who drive simply because flying can be such a hassle for such a relatively short trip.

[Slowpoke_TX]

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

That same argument can be levied against the federal highway system and freeways.

Except that the federal government is authorized by the Constitution "To establish Post Offices and post Roads;".

If the private sector has ever designed, built, and operated a publicly-accessible roadway in the uNited States with zero government involvement, then please provide a link.

[kidicarus89]

Originally Posted by Slowpoke_TX

Except that the federal government is authorized by the Constitution "To establish Post Offices and post Roads;".

If the private sector has ever designed, built, and operated a publicly-accessible roadway in the uNited States with zero government involvement, then please provide a link.

That depends on how you strictly you interpret "post roads". It's been taken pretty liberally since the early 19th century, and rail can probably fit in that category, as can air traffic.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by JJG

The only thing I hate about this is that neither one of the stops will be in each city's respective downtown area... which is where you'd think would be the MAIN place you would want a train station to be.

That's why I admire Chicago, Union Station (and Ogiivie Station) are just across the river from The Loop and have sufficient local bus connections in front of the station. Nobody complains about having to walk around downtown, unlike here in obese Texas/Southern U.S.A.

Originally Posted by Spade

Brilliantly said. One of the biggest mistakes that the US has made was having these freeways and tollroads destroy our urban cores. Part of the reason why American cities are the ugliest in the world.

And the Pierce Elevated is about to be torn down. Getting rid of one of the (if not The) most scenic routes in scenically-challenged Texas is one of the worst ideas in the world.

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

DART doesn't get enough credit. Clean cars (and stations), frequent trains, inexpensive. It's a great system.

DART is no Metra or BART. You will have to get out of the Texas bubble to see how public transit is supposed to work.

Originally Posted by ScoPro

However, at this point Texas cities are not dense enough like they are in NYC, Chicago, Bay Area, and Europe.

What's the point to sprawl the population over a few metros instead of a building a megacity? Sprawl only creates increased infrastructure maintenance costs and lost economic opportunity. I really admire Illinois with the Chicagoland vs. Downstate setup.

[Slowpoke_TX]

Originally Posted by kidicarus89

That depends on how you strictly you interpret "post roads". It's been taken pretty liberally since the early 19th century, and rail can probably fit in that category, as can air traffic.

The first railroad in the US wasn't built until more than 50 years after the ratification of the Constitution, so to say that rail and air travel count as "post roads" is quite a stretch.

[stephenm85]

I like the idea of a high speed train. However I would echo a lot of others concern about property being stolen. Sure it's always happened when need buildings or highways were being built but there was a need for those. A high speed train might not be needed right now with the transportation we have.

Also I might not know what high speed trains run on but trains themselves run on diesel. So if I'm wrong sorry about that but I would rather the hyperloop. And this system would be between Dallas and Houston so inter-city travel would still be by bus or car which doesn't cut carbon in the atmosphere anyways.

This might have already been said but just wanted to put my two-cents in for what it's worth.