mcm1610 Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2818383020100128?type=marketsNews WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will announce on Thursday $8 billion in grants to develop the first U.S. high-speed, intercity rail service the White House says will create or save thousands of jobs. Bonds Obama is heading to Tampa, Florida, after delivering his State of the Union address Wednesday night in which he promised Americans that job creation would be his top priority this year, in the face of stubborn double-digit unemployment. The grants will help fund the development of 13 high-speed "rail corridors" across the country, the White House said. One of the new rail corridors will be in Florida. The grants come from money already earmarked for the projects in Obama's $787 billion stimulus package that Congress passed last year. "This historic $8 billion investment is expected to create or save tens of thousands of jobs over time in areas like track-laying, manufacturing and rail maintenance," the White House said in a statement It said more than 30 rail manufacturers, including foreign companies, had agreed to establish or expand their base of operations in the United States if they won contracts to help build the new rail corridors. In addition to the $8 billion stimulus money, $1 billion a year will be set aside for five years in the federal budget to jump-start the program. Great move? Unnecessary? Waste of gov't (our) money? They still make trains? Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goraiders Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 i think itll be good in the long run, people in palo alto (where I grew up) are throwing a bitch fit maybe with good reason. Its following the local train tracks which go behind really nice houses backyards, and theyre trying to build a twenty foot high platform in the same place for this. i think its cool though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtz Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I think it's a good idea. I could see myself using high speed trains if it's cheaper than airfare or gas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlerobot Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 if i can get to SF or Las Vegas quickly and cheap from LA, I'm all over this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jurrobear Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 if i can get to SF or Las Vegas quickly and cheap from LA, I'm all over this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jawbroken Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 man i just want a fucking light rail from Boulder to Denver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goraiders Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 man i just want a fucking light rail from Boulder to Denver you have a free bus! assuming youre a student. If I want to go to SF i have to bus to berkeley and then walk a mile and take a trian to SF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davezer Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I think it's pretty awesome! Just as long as they are more comfortable than Metro North. So how fast are we talking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goraiders Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I think it's pretty awesome! Just as long as they are more comfortable than Metro North. So how fast are we talking? In california around 200 mph i believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlerobot Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 the thought of going 200 mph on the ground is exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynamitekid Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 This will be pretty cool although California is very cut off from everywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steventangent Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Living near a city that this will definitely affect, I'm sorta stoked about it. I've actually hoped for it a long time, as it would make getting to Chicago way the fuck quicker and cheaper for me. Taking the train would rule. I took it to Denver once and enjoyed just sitting back, chilling, talking to people, watching the countryside. And for those of you that drink, they have absolutely NO standard on how plowed they'll let you get. The major downside is that amtrack, as it stands, can sometimes cost as much as a plane ticket, but takes 6 times as long. It's often disorganized, slow, and the trains are terribly late. The service fucking blew, when we used it last. I would hope this would change all that. It has a real potential to change things for the better in this country, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suburbanargyle Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 It would be so awesome to have a high speed rail connecting San Antonio to Austin, Houston, and Dallas. But it'll probably take so long to happen that I won't be living here anymore. That's like the one thing that keeps me from going to shows in Austin is that I don't feel like driving home afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 i like how it doesnt connect cincy and louisville, but both are accessible through indy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhythmgtr5 Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I would love this if it is anything like europes train infrastructure. Being able to take a train from MPLS to Chicago would be great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soysquad Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I would love this if it is anything like europes train infrastructure. Being able to take a train from MPLS to Chicago would be great I agree, but it'd be awfully hard to beat the prices it costs to fly there. Round trip flights only run between 80-120, depending on the day, and when you book. I love taking the train though. It's just too damn expensive usually. And high speed trains I don't think are going to be any cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamlikesmusic Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I'm intrigued. I wish there was a route from Phoenix to LA. Would be amazing to be able to take a ~2 hour train there. (Better than the 6 hour drive, anyways ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedavidescapeplan Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 This would be incredible! If this replaced the train I usually take from Northwest Indiana to Chicago I could theoretically get there in under ten minutes. This is assuming this actually happens anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jawbroken Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 man i just want a fucking light rail from Boulder to Denver you have a free bus! assuming youre a student. If I want to go to SF i have to bus to berkeley and then walk a mile and take a trian to SF well its not free, i pay $80 for it in my student fees. the bus is nice to have, but it takes fucking forever. god forbid there's traffic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justinfastbreak Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 The Cleveland to Chicago line would be incredible. I went on a high-speed rail (Maglev) in China and it was great..hopefully these have plenty of banked turns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smailtronic Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I love flying, but I'm sure I'd still find reasons to take a train. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynamitekid Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 yea, I would love to take the train but it takes so damn long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentgods Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 It would be so awesome to have a high speed rail connecting San Antonio to Austin, Houston, and Dallas. But it'll probably take so long to happen that I won't be living here anymore. That's like the one thing that keeps me from going to shows in Austin is that I don't feel like driving home afterwards. this would be fucking awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstrike Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 I would love this if it is anything like europes train infrastructure. Being able to take a train from MPLS to Chicago would be great Especially Swiss train/bus system - damn they have it down. The buses carry the mail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goraiders Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 unfortunately by the time this is built i may be too old to get really drunk on the train with my friends on the way to l.a. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.