Solipsism means that we can only be sure that we as individuals exist; nothing else is real. That's where I classify high-speed rail in the US. It's a mental construction and it is being shaped for us such that we must have it, whatever the cost. It's a mirage. We want it, until it becomes a reality and threatens us in our pockets and our cities and our farms. Many of us are already changing our minds as the project evolves into an unexpected, overpriced, reality.
Ever watch a fish tank at feeding time? That's what's going on with the rejected $2.4 billion from Florida. Need I say it again, It's about the money!!!!!
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Friday that “a merit-driven process’’ will be used to award the $2.4 billion that is being redirected from Florida. The money will go to projects that are already being constructed and can create more jobs and economic benefits quickly, LaHood said.
"Merit-driven process?" I don't think so. It's a politically driven process and always has been. The FRA is unqualified to distribute grants; it has never before been in that line of work, the ARRA stimulus dollars were stuffed in at the last minute by the White House, which dumped the funding distribution job on the FRA. There's not a lot of "merit" going on here.
Also, LaHood says that the money will go to projects that are "already being constructed." Which ones are those? Certainly not in California, where construction cannot start until at least September 2012.
This is maddening. Nothing is clear or specific. Everything is vague, suggestive, bathed in platitudes and pep-rally endorsements.
The selection criteria include projects that significantly reduce energy consumption, improve the efficiency of a region’s overall transportation network and generate sustained economic activity along the high-speed rail corridor, officials said.
To obtain these goals, why does it require high-speed rail? Energy consumption reduction can be achieved with fast regular electric trains far more than with high-speed trains. And, particularly in Illinois, where this article comes from, the electricity that everyone regards so fondly is generated by coal fired power plants. Not so environmentally friendly.
Then there's the point about improving the region's overall transportation network. Where's the overall plan for doing that? Shouldn't that have come first? Maybe there's no room or need for high-speed rail, but how would we know? I call this high-speed rail stuffing. First push high-speed rail into the environment and then justify it.
Finally there's the point about sustained economic activity along the high-speed rail corridor. What does that mean? The trains flash by in seconds and are gone. What economic activity would benefit from that? Is LaHood talking about train stations with those hamburger windows or newspaper stands? Will HSR build the car-rental businesses at train stations? I suppose so, or taxi cab stands? I know there is a strong push for high-density high-rise housing near train stations (TOD). It's social engineering and the government has no business doing that. Is that the economic activity LaHood means? Is he talking about developers developing? Because that certainly will be a huge business for a while.
It's high time for many more Americans to be able to see through this promotional program and its fakery. It's not real. It's all talk, vision, concept, fantasy. It's a movie. Unfortunately, it will cost us enormous resources to convert those fantasies into a reality and we will be stunningly disappointed if and when it happens.
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Illinois can vie for $2.4 billion in high-speed rail cash
By Jon Hilkevitch
Tribune reporter
4:15 p.m. CST, March 11, 2011
Illinois and other states with high-speed passenger rail programs will be allowed to compete for $2.4 billion in federal funds that Florida turned down when its governor killed a fast-trains project between Orlando and Tampa, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced today.
It will provide the second opportunity for Illinois to pick up federal high-speed rail funds relinquished by other states. In December, Illinois was awarded about $42 million after the governors of Wisconsin and Ohio scuttled the rail programs in those two states. Wisconsin gave up $810 million and Ohio lost $400 million.
Illinois had previously received $1.2 billion in federal grants to upgrade tracks and signals for 110 mph Amtrak service on the Union Pacific Railroad route between Chicago and St. Louis. Amtrak trains currently are limited to 79 mph on the route.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Friday that “a merit-driven process’’ will be used to award the $2.4 billion that is being redirected from Florida. The money will go to projects that are already being constructed and can create more jobs and economic benefits quickly, LaHood said.
The selection criteria include projects that significantly reduce energy consumption, improve the efficiency of a region’s overall transportation network and generate sustained economic activity along the high-speed rail corridor, officials said.
Applications for the funding will be due on April 4, officials said. “States across the country have been banging down our door for the opportunity to receive additional high-speed rail dollars,’’ LaHood said.
jhilkevitch@tribune.com
