Today's interesting excerpts and quotes

[oltmannd]

Some insight on the "whos" and the "whats" of HSR and HrSR.....

From the New York Times November 17, 2010, Midterms Threaten Obama’s Rail Plans By Michael Cooper

... the Republican takeover of the House could have ramifications for the administration’s rail program as well. The incoming chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representative John L. Mica of Florida, supports high-speed rail but has a different vision: A report he co-wrote last month called for "reprogramming funds that were awarded to states for slow-speed passenger rail projects to true high-speed projects that can attract private sector participation and run at an operational profit."...

....Karen Rae, the deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, said at this week’s conference that the nation needed to build a viable train network of feeder lines before high-speed rail would make sense in many places. She also noted the structural difficulties.

"Everyone likes to compare us to Europe, and to Asia, and to Japan and China, and how come we can’t do that?" Ms. Rae said. "First of all, I always like to say, when I look at Europe, we’re more like the European Union in our role at the F.R.A. than we are like Spain or France, which are much more like our states — they have independent governance structures, they have independent decision-making."...

....Then, although the conference was in a hotel across the street from Pennsylvania Station, where Amtrak trains leave all day for Washington, Mr. LaHood left for the airport.

His schedulers had booked him a flight back to Washington....

 

[henry6]

Reminds me of the days of train off hearings in NJ.  The first thing a witness or speaker was asked by railroad lawyers was how they arrived at the hearing that day.  Most answered "drove" and no further questions were asked; none needed.

And, too, the auto execs who flew or drove gas guzzling cars to Washington hearings a few year ago.