QUOTE: Originally posted by 1shado1 QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman QUOTE: Originally posted by 1shado1 Are you still looking to support the proposed rail project? I hope so. Are there any other backers to the plan? QUOTE: Really? Because you know ALL the facts of the proposed rail line? Or simply because you are a rail fan? Just because it is a choo-choo, and you are a fan, that doesn't automatically mean that the proposed plan is a good idea (or a bad one, for that matter). People blindly supporting such projects is just as silly as people blindly bashing them.[:D] Jeff Well Jeff, I guess I am "blindly" supporting the RR idea. If TrackLayer felt strong enough to support the line, I will take at face value his reasons, and support his effort, until shown otherwise. I guess I should have been more fanatical in my post and USED UPPER CASE TO YELL, all kinds of emoticons etc so I would blindly be as silly. [B)] Also as I stated in my first post to the topic, I am personally experiencing a "railroading" of a railroad that the city here has been after from day one, the media, the "tree-hugger" crowd, which if you watched the council meetings would think the same, crying and chanting to remove the rails for a trail, you would also get a different slant on how some people are against rail. To each his own. I'm not agreeing, nor am I disagreeing with Tracklayer's opinion, just based on the fact that I think he's a swell guy. I prefer to not be a lemming. I form my own opinions based on information, not on one person's take on any given subject. Based ONLY on the information you've provided about the problem in your town, I would be inclined to side with you. The railroad brings money to the area. A "trail" would merely spend it. Seems like the choice is obvious.[:D] Jeff
QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman QUOTE: Originally posted by 1shado1 Are you still looking to support the proposed rail project? I hope so. Are there any other backers to the plan? QUOTE: Really? Because you know ALL the facts of the proposed rail line? Or simply because you are a rail fan? Just because it is a choo-choo, and you are a fan, that doesn't automatically mean that the proposed plan is a good idea (or a bad one, for that matter). People blindly supporting such projects is just as silly as people blindly bashing them.[:D] Jeff Well Jeff, I guess I am "blindly" supporting the RR idea. If TrackLayer felt strong enough to support the line, I will take at face value his reasons, and support his effort, until shown otherwise. I guess I should have been more fanatical in my post and USED UPPER CASE TO YELL, all kinds of emoticons etc so I would blindly be as silly. [B)] Also as I stated in my first post to the topic, I am personally experiencing a "railroading" of a railroad that the city here has been after from day one, the media, the "tree-hugger" crowd, which if you watched the council meetings would think the same, crying and chanting to remove the rails for a trail, you would also get a different slant on how some people are against rail.
QUOTE: Originally posted by 1shado1 Are you still looking to support the proposed rail project? I hope so. Are there any other backers to the plan?
QUOTE: Really? Because you know ALL the facts of the proposed rail line? Or simply because you are a rail fan? Just because it is a choo-choo, and you are a fan, that doesn't automatically mean that the proposed plan is a good idea (or a bad one, for that matter). People blindly supporting such projects is just as silly as people blindly bashing them.[:D] Jeff
QUOTE: Originally posted by mark_in_utah Here in Salt Lake we had a raging debate for several years on a Light Rail system. The busses are chronically under utilized, freeways are available, blah, blah, blah. Freeways were swamped during rush hour. Buses were busy during rush hour but mostly vacant the rest of the time. Light rail ridership was estimated, but purposely low-balled because too many cities had been overly optimistic. Even had it on the ballot, which passed by a small margin. Light Rail ridership surpassed all expectations. The cities that fought the hardest to NOT have a terminal were petitioning for new terminals after the first year - and they'd PAY for them!. The original terminals were built under the main funding package. All additional teminals had to be paid for by the individual cities. They're now actively working to expand the system. Built one spur up to the University of Utah, big success. Want to build another spur to the airport, and several more extending the line further south, east, and west. People enjoy riding Light Rail. We have a commuter Rail system going in now, longer haul, faster trains. Hoping it succeeds as well. When things go right, the biggest opponents can become your biggest allies. Mark in Utah
QUOTE: Originally posted by WetumkaFats I don't know if this has already been posted, but what really killed the high speed rail running on the DFW-Houston-Austin (or San Antonio) triangle route was pressure brought by Southwest Airlines. They dominate public transportation on that route and they don't want to lose the revenue that would switch to rail. But, for routes of that length (200 to 300 mi.), high speed rail makes much more sense than air travel, especially when you factor in transportation to and from the airport versus a downtown railroad station and the hassle of security at the airport. I guess that some folks just enjoy being wanded and fondled by security types who can't count past ten with their shoes on. [C):-)]