Don--
I disagree that "perceived public benefit" drives government decisions. I believe "short term profit" is what drives politics.
The US has invested a half trillion dollars in the interstate highway system, and Americans spent at least that much on new cars last year. Indeed, we now have a great highway network for defense. It's great for the defense industry because we have to fight wars to protect our oil supply so we can drive to work to pay for our cars.
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." Daniel Burnham
MaglevThe US has invested a half trillion dollars in the interstate highway system, and Americans spent at least that much on new cars last year. Indeed, we now have a great highway network for defense. It's great for the defense industry because we have to fight wars to protect our oil supply so we can drive to work to pay for our cars.
But we LIKE it this way.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
WHO likes it this way? Those who are killed or injured in the Middle East, and their families?
Greensburg, Pennsylvania, felt the tragedy of war when thirteen of their sons were killed by an Iraqi Scud missile attack in 1991. And Greensburg is one of the few towns in America that wants to develop maglev.
It's good that there are still SOME Americans who understand the costs and benefits of freedom!
Maglev WHO likes it this way? Those who are killed or injured in the Middle East, and their families? Greensburg, Pennsylvania, felt the tragedy of war when thirteen of their sons were killed by an Iraqi Scud missile attack in 1991. And Greensburg is one of the few towns in America that wants to develop maglev. It's good that there are still SOME Americans who understand the costs and benefits of freedom!
Freeways and cheap gas are what Americans like. Why else would we have gone down this path for 50+ years? Politicians not reflecting the values of the people? Not likely!
And, many don't link the wars with the cheap gas. They say "drill baby, drill."
It seems to me the politician who appropriated the slogan "Drill Baby Drill" was soundly defeated in her last run for office, as well as having low ratings in polling data. Perhaps the public is finally ready for a change from the automobile society. But when I look down my street and see 3-5 enormous pick-up trucks and/or SUV's at each house (we've cut back to one 45mpg diesel VW), I wonder if I am being overly optimistic.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Americans who live and work within a quarter-mile of a transit stop use transit at a higher rate than Americans who do not live in close proximity to transit (according to the APTA). In places like New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia ridership is far higher than 4.8% -- more population with proximity to transit helps? In places like Omaha NE transit ridership amounts to .5% -- far less than half the metro is within that quarter-mile proximity of a bus route.
Light rail and street-car may attract higher ridership than bus due to the smelly-noisy perception of bus (true) and bus riders (questionable - no worse than going to the mall). I suspect however that most rail-based systems attract higher ridership because routes are linear while a bus route-map often looks like a coiled snake. Who wants to waste time winding around in circles when there is a more obvious direct route? But a direct route on mostly private ROW vs. stuck in traffic -- I'll take it.
As to the myth of the automobile paying for itself -- if motor vehicle taxes paid for the true costs of automobility many Americans would have made a different choice. With Congress and many state legislatures debating taking money out of general revenues for highway/road construction you would think that myth would die.
schlimm It seems to me the politician who appropriated the slogan "Drill Baby Drill" was soundly defeated in her last run for office, as well as having low ratings in polling data. Perhaps the public is finally ready for a change from the automobile society. But when I look down my street and see 3-5 enormous pick-up trucks and/or SUV's at each house (we've cut back to one 45mpg diesel VW), I wonder if I am being overly optimistic.
You probably are!
51/48 is hardly "soundly defeated". There are quite a few "drill, baby, drill" believers out there.
I don't think that's the sole solution. Nor do I think that we are on the cusp of becoming re-urbanized. The suburbs with their autos are here to stay, but a whole host of factors will shift where and how we live over time. Some of them are changing demographics, the cost of oil vis a vis alternatives, transportation and communication technology, etc. How about suburban communities that support most errands being accomplished by walking/biking/electric carts? Or, retirement communities along the "main street" concept. Living above, services below. Who knows for sure what the market will bring?
" There are quite a few "drill, baby, drill" believers out there."
There are also quite a few people out there who believe:
That we never went to the moon,
In the Loch Ness Monster.
That Elvis didn't really die.
That we are being constantly watched by UFOs.
That 9/11 was in inside job.
Drill if it makes you happy; It won't hurt anything, but it won't help.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
The "drill baby, drill" politician also announced with excitement a $28 Bil. pipeline from Alaska to the lower 48. I wonder how much urban transit and HSR that could buy?
Remember Vancouver is unique, last time I rode it they are no operators, nor attendants but only roving fare checkers and security teams answer calls from alarms and maintenance people to observe train operation.
Works well with Canadians,
They are alarms sensitive enough in station to detect a pocket book.
Also the motors are flat polyphase linear induction motors using metal plates in the center of track for induction, hence no gears, and traction and braking does not depend on friction except for the usual air brakes which need only be applied in an emergency and final stoppage.
Trains should do an article on this
The Vancouver system's technology was driven by the need to double-deck the formerly single-track CP Harbor freight access tunnel. Conventional technology would have been possible, like the low Washington Metro cars, but custom, expensive, and difficult to maintain, like the low Washington Metro cars.
Phoebe Vet There are also quite a few people out there who believe: That we never went to the moon, In the Loch Ness Monster. That Elvis didn't really die. That we are being constantly watched by UFOs. That 9/11 was in inside job. Drill if it makes you happy; It won't hurt anything, but it won't help.
48% of Americans beleive those things, too? Who knew!
Drilling will help. It can't not. The question is how much, for how long and at what cost? I think your opinion would be "not much, for a short time, at a high cost", no?
I think the answer is more supply, reduced demand (or decreasing the rate of increase), and inventment into alternatives as the market demands and the market should be stabilized by government policy so that long term investments can be made with less risk. Reducing demand includes investment in transit.
You'll soon have to add something about Michael Jackson to your short list of whacko American conspiracy theories.
schlimm The "drill baby, drill" politician also announced with excitement a $28 Bil. pipeline from Alaska to the lower 48. I wonder how much urban transit and HSR that could buy?
Not much HSR. According to this http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/state/rail-vision-2050.htm, $66B will get you 8B passenger miles a year. Air travel in the US is roughly 600B passenger miles per year.
A couple billion would build out a commuter rail network in Atlanta that would get you about 1/2 Billion passenger miles a year.
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