Clicky: High Speed Rail

EmmieB · January 2011

I hear a lot of "Americans don't want a high speed rail" and "Republicans know what Americans love: their cars and the freedom that comes with them."

If there were a cross-country high speed rail (like in europe and Japan) would you take it? Would you support tax dollars going to building the infrastructure?

[Poll]

EmmieB · January 2011

I would love to know why people vote no, btw.

I love train travel. it's so easy and relaxing...at the very least, no one looks at my hooha before they let me board!

torylynn1 · January 2011

I voted orther because I like traveling by train-Tons of room and you can move about the cabin Stick out tongue

, but how high speed would it be? Would it get you across the country in roughly the same time as a plane? If it was to go across country I might still fly. For me to go from Sac to the Bay Area and not have to deal with parking, I like Amtrak/Bart. It'd be nicer just to take Amtrak straight from here to SF though.

hannikan · January 2011

Most people in the U.S. don't have any idea what this would actually be like because they have never experienced a long distance, high speed train. People automatically think it would be like Amtrak, which is often not reliable. I think it would be awesome to avoid the Grapevine/L.A. traffic. I love taking trains, too. It's so much less stressful to me. I will always take BART/CalTrain or even Amtrak over driving but I know I'm in the minority. I think it would be hard to undo car culture in the U.S. because it has been entrenched for so long. Some ppl might be also saying they wouldn't support it because they don't think it should be a priority right now during the recession.

sm23 · January 2011

Absolutely. I would love to have a viable alternative to flying, for various reasons. We've seen how well it can work in other countries so I really don't know what the big objection is. Those who love their cars so much can keep driving... It's not like you're *required* to take the train.

MadameD517 · January 2011

EmmieB:
I love train travel. it's so easy and relaxing...at the very least, no one looks at my hooha before they let me board!

Yes

StefandTodd · January 2011

My absolute favorite thing about being in Europe was the train travel. It was just absolutely amazing. And I could not in a million years have truly envisioned the ease, simplicity, and pure awesomeness of it without experiencing it...so I think Hannah has a point...I'd be curious if those that are not in support of it and clicked no have experienced it (obviously, you can still oppose it, knowing what it's like...I'm just curious).

All that said, I also agree with Hannah that undoing car culture in the US would be so tough. And so so expensive right now. I do think it's more important at this point to focus on our currently used, necessary, failing infrastructure...before we build a lot of new stuff. But ultimately, I'd love more high speed train travel infrastructure constructed here.

I would, in particular, love to be able to take a train to LA/San Diego as a first step though!!

sm23 · January 2011

StefandTodd:
I would, in particular, love to be able to take a train to LA/San Diego as a first step though!!

Me too. Or to Oregon/Washington, or Tahoe, or Las Vegas...

hannikan · January 2011

sm23:
StefandTodd:
I would, in particular, love to be able to take a train to LA/San Diego as a first step though!!
Me too. Or to Oregon/Washington, or Tahoe, or Las Vegas...

Yeah, it would be great to have convenient, reliable, fast trains to Portland and Seattle. It would be great to have one to Napa/Sonoma/Central coast to keep people from drinking and driving. One thing that this would require would be to make tunnels through the hills and lower mountains. That's the most annoying thing about taking Amtrak in Calif. Since there are no tunnels for trains you have to take buses for long stretches, causing the trip to be way longer than necessary.

Roni.Cedra · January 2011

I totally would use it. I wouldn't stop using planes though, I LOVE to fly, but it would be a great alternative and in several circumstance (WA, Tahoe, Reno, Vegas, Southern California...) it will make more sense. I have a hard time figuring out why we wouldn't put people back to work by creating a new high speed rail especially with the need for alternative technology and an alternative to our auto dependency. It is moments like this that I really really wish I lived in Europe.

mrswall84 · January 2011

I think it's a nice idea but now is not the time, especially in California. I think that money could be put to better use right now rather than building a high speed rail system. I also don't know how to feel about China investing in high speed rail in California.

MeggyO · January 2011

I love the idea of a high speed train to travel across the country. My questions would be:

a) how much would it cost to build?

b) do the benefits outweigh the cost?

c) is now really the right time to put our money in this kind of a venture? It's going to cost a crapload of money, and is this a responsible use of our money? If everything were hunky dory, I'd say it would be a great idea and totally vote for it, but in the economic position our country is in today, I can think of a lot of other places to put our money.

Passanie · January 2011

Oh, I would love it. It's so freaking exhausting and stressful to drive from Fresno to the Bay Area. Amtrak sucks for that path, same for L.A. I think it would work especially well in California.

When I was in Spain in college we took a regular train across the country: 8-9 hours. Took a high-speed one back: 2-3 hours.

StumpyG · January 2011

Oh, how I would love it!! So very much.

pkw · January 2011

I said yes, I would take it if it were economical and had good stop offs on the way.

That said...I would prefer a CA high speed rail, I would take it over flying since it should be cheaper and take only 2 times the amount of time as flying...so SJ to SD would be about 4 hours or less.

I think that as gas prices climb the need for more transportations options will climb as well. Also, flying is getting more expensive and the amount of time flying takes now with getting there early and the detection process etc...it is the same amount of time pretty much.

Mrs.BoomBoom · January 2011

I'm totally for High Speed rail...if it's really high speed. The 'high speed rail' back East only goes fast for a few miles. Most of the line is only 45mph max. (We could do a lot to speed up Amtrak if passenger didn't have to defer to freight)

I don't think I'd be as likely to take rail cross country as I would to take it within the state though...it would have to be REALLY fast to make that do-able

We recently looked at taking a family vacation to Portland Oregon via rail. Including the sleeper car (which we'd need because it's overnight and we have Q) it would be like $1k! Um, thanks, but I'll fly.

Celyn · January 2011

The Chinese built our first railroad the hard way, maybe some turnabout it fair play

I've driven my fair share through Europe, but high speed rail is so nice. Going to sleep in Amsterdam and waking up well rested in Munich is awesome. You can't sleep like that on a plane.

EmmieB · January 2011

Celyn:
The Chinese built our first railroad the hard way, maybe some turnabout it fair play
I've driven my fair share through Europe, but high speed rail is so nice. Going to sleep in Amsterdam and waking up well rested in Munich is awesome. You can't sleep like that on a plane.

Love that.

I see the reservations about the finances, but I'd rather our money go to repairing rail/laying rail and installing right-of-way lines (and trains) than bailing out companies who clearly can't keep their ducks in a row.

FWIW - we're taking the 24 hr rail to seattle in October and I've romanticized the hell out of it. I'm so excited.

Roni.Cedra · January 2011

I chatted with DH about this last night, and while he isn't sold on long flights... like East Coast or Midwest unless it was much cheaper and/or faster, but he would really like it as a commute alternative from Marin to the deep South Bay/Silicon Valley where he has meetings all the time. Just another perspective :-)

Mrs.BoomBoom · January 2011

BTW-I think this is the PERFECT time to invest in HSR. IMO it's like the WPA projects of the depression. When we're in a recession/depression, we need MORE public works projects.

sm23 · January 2011

EmmieB:
Celyn:
The Chinese built our first railroad the hard way, maybe some turnabout it fair play
I've driven my fair share through Europe, but high speed rail is so nice. Going to sleep in Amsterdam and waking up well rested in Munich is awesome. You can't sleep like that on a plane.
Love that.
I see the reservations about the finances, but I'd rather our money go to repairing rail/laying rail and installing right-of-way lines (and trains) than bailing out companies who clearly can't keep their ducks in a row.

FWIW - we're taking the 24 hr rail to seattle in October and I've romanticized the hell out of it. I'm so excited.

Totally. Also, while we're talking about the economic side of this: Think of how many jobs this project would create, from design all the way to construction. And job creation seems to be one of the biggest issues California has. Once we have it, we have to keep it staffed and maintained (jobs again), and we have this awesome system of public transportation.

I'm sure the same concerns were present when the discussion began about building BART. In hindsight, I think most people would agree that spending the money and time on that system was the right choice. Can you imagine NOT having it, and how many more people that would put on the road? How much more congestion and environmental impact it would have?

hannikan · January 2011

sm23:
EmmieB:
Celyn:
The Chinese built our first railroad the hard way, maybe some turnabout it fair play
I've driven my fair share through Europe, but high speed rail is so nice. Going to sleep in Amsterdam and waking up well rested in Munich is awesome. You can't sleep like that on a plane.
Love that.
I see the reservations about the finances, but I'd rather our money go to repairing rail/laying rail and installing right-of-way lines (and trains) than bailing out companies who clearly can't keep their ducks in a row.

FWIW - we're taking the 24 hr rail to seattle in October and I've romanticized the hell out of it. I'm so excited.
Totally. Also, while we're talking about the economic side of this: Think of how many jobs this project would create, from design all the way to construction. And job creation seems to be one of the biggest issues California has. Once we have it, we have to keep it staffed and maintained (jobs again), and we have this awesome system of public transportation.
I'm sure the same concerns were present when the discussion began about building BART. In hindsight, I think most people would agree that spending the money and time on that system was the right choice. Can you imagine NOT having it, and how many more people that would put on the road? How much more congestion and environmental impact it would have?

Yep, the Chinese, Mexicans and former slaves built the railroads. I think Obama is thinking if this kind of project as being similar to the PWA/WPA New Deal programs. It certainly could be. I would hope that as part of the project in Calif. they would expand BART to go into the N. Bay and link up in San Jose. It would also be great to have more stations because there are chunks of the Bay Area that BART doesn't reach. It is horrible to think of how bad traffic would be w/o BART.

Roni.Cedra · January 2011

hannikan:
sm23:
EmmieB:
Celyn:
The Chinese built our first railroad the hard way, maybe some turnabout it fair play
I've driven my fair share through Europe, but high speed rail is so nice. Going to sleep in Amsterdam and waking up well rested in Munich is awesome. You can't sleep like that on a plane.
Love that.
I see the reservations about the finances, but I'd rather our money go to repairing rail/laying rail and installing right-of-way lines (and trains) than bailing out companies who clearly can't keep their ducks in a row.

FWIW - we're taking the 24 hr rail to seattle in October and I've romanticized the hell out of it. I'm so excited.
Totally. Also, while we're talking about the economic side of this: Think of how many jobs this project would create, from design all the way to construction. And job creation seems to be one of the biggest issues California has. Once we have it, we have to keep it staffed and maintained (jobs again), and we have this awesome system of public transportation.
I'm sure the same concerns were present when the discussion began about building BART. In hindsight, I think most people would agree that spending the money and time on that system was the right choice. Can you imagine NOT having it, and how many more people that would put on the road? How much more congestion and environmental impact it would have?
Yep, the Chinese, Mexicans and former slaves built the railroads. I think Obama is thinking if this kind of project as being similar to the PWA/WPA New Deal programs. It certainly could be. I would hope that as part of the project in Calif. they would expand BART to go into the N. Bay and link up in San Jose. It would also be great to have more stations because there are chunks of the Bay Area that BART doesn't reach. It is horrible to think of how bad traffic would be w/o BART.

I would LOVE that. It would be amazing to take BART to work every day. I would need a marina/cow hollow exit, but whatever! Sadly, I just don't see it happening...

wldktz10 · January 2011

EmmieB:
I see the reservations about the finances, but I'd rather our money go to repairing rail/laying rail and installing right-of-way lines (and trains) than bailing out companies who clearly can't keep their ducks in a row.

Agreed 100%. Public Works is the way to go at this point.

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