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I felt bad for the RailRunner... I would have asked the two businessmen among the candidates how they would make the RailRunner a success, if it was a business.
That would have been an excellent question.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aries63
Sounds like they'd just close up shop if given the chance. Doesn't speak well to their business skill.
I would actually disagree with this statement. If they weighed all the tangible and intangible pros and cons of the RailRunner and determined, according to their business acumen, that its continued existence was no longer justified, then I would say that would speak very well of their business skills. You don't become a successful businessman by throwing good money after bad.
I'd hate to see Railrunner go on general principle, but I agree with Chap. If it's unsustainable,
not just unprofitable, then best to cut it as soon as possible.
I'd hate to see Railrunner go on general principle, but I agree with Chap. If it's unsustainable,
not just unprofitable, then best to cut it as soon as possible.
My thoughts exactly.
The sustainability question is one that is key, as I don't think there is a commuter rail line on the planet that is profitable/self-sufficient. (Mort?)
And I don't doubt that the RR can be sustained long term. But it then becomes a question of whether the general population (particularly those that do not benefit from the RR directly) is willing to sustain it.
I think by definition if it is unsustainable then it will be shut down. But judging from some of the comments last night about how the RailRunner was created just to prop up Richardson's ego, I got the feeling that some candidates were itching to close it down out of spite (ungenerous of me, perhaps).
Personally I think the RailRunner is a great asset. I'm sure there are a lot of people who have come to depend on it, and maybe even made housing choices based on the expectation that the service would continue. There was even talk of extending the service to Denver (and El Paso?), wasn't there? With population growing I can only think that ridership will increase. It would be awful to take a step backward now and pull the plug. But I know the whole project was conceived in better economic times.
I'd hate to see Railrunner go on general principle, but I agree with Chap. If it's unsustainable,
not just unprofitable, then best to cut it as soon as possible.
are most transport businesses like the Railrunner supported largely by the government?
I often think of them as a conveniece and one that will attract people to a community becasue commuting is easier. Just my thoughts, but what do I know? By the way I was excited when they came to Belen.
Nita
are most transport businesses like the Railrunner supported largely by the government?
Nita
I think so; either directly through fees and bond issues as well as indirectly
through direct maintenance, tax relief and general transportation subsidies.
Aside from some toll roads, I doubt that any form of public service type transportation
is ever completely self-financing which is why I emphasized sustainability. I don't
expect the US interstate highway system to be self-financing and I support the
now six decade-long federal investment in it because it is so beneficial to the country
as a whole that whatever it takes to sustain it is enormously justified. I'm just
not sure that Railrunner's benefits to the New Mexico community as a whole will
justify underwriting it for decades.
I really support the concept, but at some point a few years from now we'll have to
seriously evaluate it to decide if it's worth continuing.
Last edited by Mike Horrell; 05-29-2010 at 10:13 AM..
And Weh has donated another $600K (!) to his own campaign. Good business sense?
Looking forward to watching the returns on Tuesday.
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