The momentum is on our side.
On January 3, 2007, both legislative bodies of the US will change from rail-hostile hands to rail-friendly. Jim Oberstar will become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he wants to increase passenger rail capacity and start high speed rail outside the NE corridor.
San Franciscans please don't let Nancy Pelosi forget that Blue people in Red states are starving for rail transit. Many of us have fought hard uphill battles to convince local leaders and populace to start projects (AZ, CO, NC, TX) only to find the federal government has "limited" recourses, yet funneling tons into highways and bridges to nowhere. The projects may have stalled, but the successful referenda prove that statements of “people love their cars” and “everyone wants the suburban lifestyle” are ignorant if not passé. They are ready for a change.
If anything, we should encourage transit reformation in Red states. Extend high speed corridors: Acela into Virginia, and start new ones: Dallas to Houston. If Mr. Carlover watches a jettrain pass him on the highway at 150 mph, three times as fast and with one third the energy per passenger, we'll make some converts. If Red states join Blue states in reducing energy consumption, we might just save this planet.
Championing hydrogen, ethanol, and hybrid cars is a joke. It still takes EIGHT BARRELS of oil to make a car. Cars still carry one person on average - 20% efficiency with five seats. Every car still needs at least two parking spots (home and work) and highways galore leading to an immense acreage of toxic asphalt regardless what the damn things run on, enough already, STRIKE THREE. Moreover, the new technology is playing right into the hands of the automobile manufacturers. It’s called planned obsolescence.
We ALREADY have the technology: lightrail, streetcar, walking, jettrain.
We have the tools, we have the Chairmen, we just need the inertia, that’s you, and the time: now.
Lovingly always,
Mother Earth
On January 3, 2007, both legislative bodies of the US will change from rail-hostile hands to rail-friendly. Jim Oberstar will become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he wants to increase passenger rail capacity and start high speed rail outside the NE corridor.
San Franciscans please don't let Nancy Pelosi forget that Blue people in Red states are starving for rail transit. Many of us have fought hard uphill battles to convince local leaders and populace to start projects (AZ, CO, NC, TX) only to find the federal government has "limited" recourses, yet funneling tons into highways and bridges to nowhere. The projects may have stalled, but the successful referenda prove that statements of “people love their cars” and “everyone wants the suburban lifestyle” are ignorant if not passé. They are ready for a change.
If anything, we should encourage transit reformation in Red states. Extend high speed corridors: Acela into Virginia, and start new ones: Dallas to Houston. If Mr. Carlover watches a jettrain pass him on the highway at 150 mph, three times as fast and with one third the energy per passenger, we'll make some converts. If Red states join Blue states in reducing energy consumption, we might just save this planet.
Championing hydrogen, ethanol, and hybrid cars is a joke. It still takes EIGHT BARRELS of oil to make a car. Cars still carry one person on average - 20% efficiency with five seats. Every car still needs at least two parking spots (home and work) and highways galore leading to an immense acreage of toxic asphalt regardless what the damn things run on, enough already, STRIKE THREE. Moreover, the new technology is playing right into the hands of the automobile manufacturers. It’s called planned obsolescence.
We ALREADY have the technology: lightrail, streetcar, walking, jettrain.
We have the tools, we have the Chairmen, we just need the inertia, that’s you, and the time: now.
Lovingly always,
Mother Earth
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Re: Now
Sun, November 26, 2006 - 6:07 AMYou are absolutely right about that, David.
Another thing is that many states and local municipalities aren't even waiting on the feds anymore. There was a recent article I read in a mass transit journal out of Canada that sales of buses (both articulated and regulars), street cars, train carriages and locomotives and other mass transit infrastructural components in the United States are at an all-time high. The article alludes to states' and local municipalities' frustration with the feds and how these entities are charging forth by passing on some of the financial responsibilities to local residents through sales-tax initiatives and so on.
What's interesting about this trend is that most of these sales-tax initiatives have to be voted on locally, which indicates (as you have stated), that people ARE indeed ready to welcome mass transit alternatives to their neighborhoods and cities.
That nonsense about "Americans love their cars" and "You'll never get an American to leave their cars behind and get on a train" is, in fact, passe and is currently being argued only by uber-Conservative think-tanks who are so out of touch with reality that it is a complete and utter joke to even take them seriously (and this mid-term election proved that quite powerfully).
Therefore, I am encouraged that POSITIVE change is coming.
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Re: Now
Wed, December 12, 2007 - 1:59 PMWe can go to Washington, DC to protest wars. Why can't we do the same for promoting mass transit? I know people who whine about gas prices asking where mass transit and gasohol are and then jump in their Hummers for that comfortable ride to the office. Hello! Can anybody look in the mirror?
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Re: Now
Fri, December 14, 2007 - 4:38 PMWell, I would like slightly change the 2 parking space . In my siuuation it is home and the space where I catch the bus at. I do have to admit that the typical American does drive too much. I WAS one of those until thankfully there is an extended bus service that is a happy medium for my 10 mile trek to work. I will keep using my big mouth to advocate more and better mass transit.
