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Jindal To Seek Stimulus Funds For Hi-Speed Rail Project

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:03:14 AM EST
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BOBBY JINDAL: While some of the projects in the [stimulus] bill make sense, their legislation is larded with wasteful spending. It includes . . . $8 billion for high-speed rail projects, such as a magnetic levitation line from Las Vegas to Disneyland . . .

New Orleans Times-Picayune:

Louisiana's transportation department plans to request federal dollars for a New Orleans to Baton Rouge passenger rail service from the same pot of railroad money in the president's economic stimulus package that Gov. Bobby Jindal criticized as unnecessary pork on national television Tuesday night.

So much for Bobby Jindal's "principles."

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    Jindal To Seek Stimulus Funds For Hi-Speed Rail Project | 80 comments (80 topical)

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    Completely unsurprised. (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by Thanin on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:14:54 AM EST


    I'm sure he's voted for (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:18:58 AM EST
    and accepted highway funding over the years to. See, certain kinds of infrastructure projects are "wasteful."

    Sure, Jindal's a pol, but... (2.00 / 1) (#3)
    by EL seattle on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:30:48 AM EST
    ... these look like apples and oranges to me.  Unless there are a lot of hard-working, tax-paying citizens living at Disneyland who have to commute to Las Vegas for their day jobs.

    The passenger service Amtrak has a rail line that runs from New Orleans west to Lafayette and beyond, but does not connect in the state capital. About 89 miles of freight line connecting the two cities would be upgraded to handle the higher-speed passenger trains.

    It's about 220 miles from Pasadena to Vegas, and I doubt if Harry Reid's high speed train would be making a lot of stops (or any stops?) between the two.


    What are you talking about? (5.00 / 4) (#8)
    by WS on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:53:06 AM EST
    While a Las Vegas to LA line is probably not a high priority rail line at the outset especially compared to California's HSR line, a rail line from LA to Vegas would provide an economic stimulus in jobs such as construction, transport, tourism, and retail.  Like any rail line, it would make stops in cities and towns that make sense and that includes Republican districts in the Inland Empire.  

    Here's places across the US competing for HSR grants:

    Competitors for High-Speed Rail Grants  

    Please stop taking Republican politicians at their word because they lie a lot.    

    Parent

    It very likely IS (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:56:47 AM EST
    a high priority line.

    I guarantee you a New Orleans to Baton Rouge line is NOT.

    Parent

    Jindal is a tossed (none / 0) (#19)
    by Salo on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:07:51 AM EST
    How did such an ignoramus get a rhoades scholarship?

    Parent
    Jindal is a smart guy (5.00 / 4) (#21)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:08:44 AM EST
    He wants to be the GOP nominee for President in 2012.

    that requires acting like an ignoramus.

    Parent

    He's a fool to want 2012 (none / 0) (#25)
    by Salo on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:11:23 AM EST
    If he's smart he ought to bide his time.  He must be truly stupid.

    Parent
    Well (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:12:35 AM EST
    I am sure someone said the same thing when Bill clinton decided to run in 1992 after Desert Storm.

    Parent
    if he's acting, (none / 0) (#77)
    by cpinva on Sun Mar 01, 2009 at 05:04:16 AM EST
    that requires acting like an ignoramus.

    his performance is deserving of an oscar nomination.

    BTD, you make a very common mistake: confusing the ability to regurgitate with intellect.

    highly developed regurgitation skills will get you through college, grad school (law school, med school), post-grad work, and all the tests associated with professional licences. it will get you selected for any number of awards and scholarships, the rhodes among them.

    what regurgitation skills won't do is endow you with a highly developed capacity for original thought. thus, one can have an exceptional education resume', and still be an idiot. just and idiot with a degree from oxford, harvard, yale, etc.

    as it stands, i am less than whelmed by gov. jindal's great intellectual prowess.

    Parent

    Well, the Vegas to LA line still has (none / 0) (#22)
    by WS on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:09:20 AM EST
    the issue of Maglev technology versus other types of HSR technology as well as engineering and other planning requirements.  Other places such as the San Francisco to LA line, Midwest lines to Chicago, the 3C Ohio line, and the DC to Charlotte line are further along the development pipeline.  

    A regular commuter line could work for a Baton Rouge to New Orleans line.  They don't have to go for the HSR money and could opt for New Starts money instead.

    EL Seattle just assumed the LA to Vegas line will run from the Vegas casinos to Disneyland when that's a complete misinterpretation.  

     

    Parent

    No question (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:11:52 AM EST
    there are HIGHER priorities than the LA t0- Vegas line.

    I assume the stimulus "bureaucrats" will apply the proper criteria. Let's face it, Jindal is pretty unlikely to get any money out of this - the NO to BR line can not possibly project big usage. It won't get it.

    Parent

    So how many stops will the.. (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by EL seattle on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:31:41 AM EST
    ...Pasadena to Vegas train make along the way?  Will it serve any cities or developing areas of population between the two destinations, or will it be like a non-stop airport-to-airport plane ride?  

    I think that one's an apple, and one's an orange.  If this project will be serving tourism, that's fine, but I don't think it would be as much help in addressing the population/transit issues that face US cities as the other projects on the list.

    Parent

    That's why it is likely (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:49:27 AM EST
    a lower priority than some of the other projects.

    Parent
    I Agree BTD; and anyone (none / 0) (#78)
    by easilydistracted on Mon Mar 02, 2009 at 10:22:31 AM EST
    who's driven the SoCal -- I-15 -- Vegas corridor would also agree.

    Parent
    It's a massive route. (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Salo on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:06:01 AM EST
    Jindal is wanker. Has anyone driven that route?  It's never empty. It should have a highspeed train.  Perfect candidate for such a project.

    Parent
    Ding! (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:08:02 AM EST
    Let me add that my people are very much into mass transit and that such a line would get big usage for non-entertainment related purposes.

    Parent
    Might even make it easier (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:10:35 AM EST
    to sell off some of that excess housing stock faster.

    Parent
    Good point (none / 0) (#29)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:14:14 AM EST


    Parent
    uh oh, long range thinking alert (none / 0) (#36)
    by Dadler on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:44:02 AM EST
    Why would we want to kill two birds with one stone, or even try?

    Lol.

    Parent

    I would take trains to most places (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by lilybart on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:28:34 AM EST
    if they were fast enough. I am beginning to hate flying. The hassles and delays and the bad weather that is increasing have me wanting to never fly again.

    trains are sweet as long as there are quiet cars without cellphone users!

    Parent

    Dedicated rail lines. (none / 0) (#61)
    by Fabian on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:27:42 PM EST
    When Amtrak is on time, it's good.  Not great, because I don't travel the east coast, but good.

    When Amtrak isn't on time due to track sharing delays, it's AWFUL.  

    I'd love to have a Cincinnati to Cleveland rail system.  It would help sports fans too!

    Parent

    delays on Amtrack (5.00 / 2) (#66)
    by DFLer on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:42:07 PM EST
    the track sharing, yes....and freight trains get to go first, in most cases, especially on the easterly lines out of Chicago

    Parent
    The railroads would be... (none / 0) (#68)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 01:30:14 PM EST
    ...pretty stupid to have it any other way.  As long as they own the routes/tracks/right-of-ways (which the US pretty much gave them), the profitable freight trains are always going to be a priority.  That's why they ditched passenger service in the first place--it was always a loss leader.  

    Also, not exclusively an East of Chicago thing--as anyone who's ridden the CZ or Empire Builder knows all too well.  People like Phil Anschutz didn't get to where they're at by letting Amtrak have priority.  The $'s in freight, not people.

    Parent

    Indeed (5.00 / 2) (#72)
    by DFLer on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 04:15:06 PM EST
    and when the passengers run behind time, everyone complains about it, as if it's amtrak incompetence, as opposed to being told it's the blame of the freights and the owners thereof.

    Parent
    I don't follow (none / 0) (#4)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:33:20 AM EST
    Are you saying that building an express train constitutes "wasteful spending?"

    Parent
    Are you saying that (none / 0) (#5)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:41:31 AM EST
    220 miles of track from one entertainment center to another is comparible to 89 miles of track that would carry people to jobs?

    I'm thinking Jindahl said to himself that if the Disney train is acceptable, he might as well try to get help with a train that would get people to jobs. His principles don't matter if his state residents demand he do something to get them jobs and transportation to them.


    Parent

    Its not like the train (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by samtaylor2 on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:06:46 AM EST
    is going from Magic Mountain to the MGM, it is going form Anaheim (serving the greater LA area) to Vegas.

    Parent
    Of course they're comparable (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:44:25 AM EST
    Jindal decided that one was "wasteful" without explaining why.

    Parent
    They are not comparable (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:55:44 AM EST
    The usage of a LA to Vegas line would dwarf the usage of a New Orleans to Baton Rouge line.

    Parent
    Either way, (none / 0) (#12)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:59:30 AM EST
    the wheels on the train go round and round. . .

    (Actually, I'm not sure maglev uses wheels at all, but you get the point).

    Parent

    Oh I am not against the NO-BR line (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:01:00 AM EST
    But if we are doing a "wasteful spending" list, that oen would be well above the LA-LV line.

    Parent
    I agree that neither is wasteful (none / 0) (#16)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:06:00 AM EST
    I'm still waiting for the train that can get me from NYC to DC in two hours and from either place to Philly in an hour or less. Where's the money for that!?

    Parent
    Efficient spending (5.00 / 3) (#28)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:13:38 AM EST
    to be frank, that would be the most efficient spending.

    the NE Corridor uses its rails.

    the rest of the country really does not.

    Parent

    The might in some places (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:17:04 AM EST
    if freight trains didn't have priority almost everywhere.

    Seriously, though, the NEC is just BEGGING for a 21st century train. The Acela is a joke. Probably the problem was that they decided that one couldn't be built fast enough to be included in the stimulus.

    Parent

    No place to put tracks (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:30:48 AM EST
    either, for the vast majority of the route, without extensive, endless, costly eminent domain procedures and the attendant legal proceedings.


    Parent
    Probably true (none / 0) (#34)
    by andgarden on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:32:29 AM EST
    but if you never start, you never finish.

    Parent
    Oh, I'm in favor of it (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:30:27 AM EST
    just pointing out that if it was started tomorrow, it wouldn't come into reality in my lifetime, and maybe not even yours.

    Parent
    That's because.... (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:23:07 AM EST
    ...you're lucky enough to have passenger rail options to utilize back East.  

    What little we have here is very much used.  The Ski Train between Denver and Winter Park is sold-out every run.  Ridership on our light rail has far and away exceeded every expectation.  

    I have no doubt that a line linking the communities along the Front Range would be a success as well.  Not to mention a line linking DIA to Union Station in downtown Denver and on up to the ski areas along the I-70 corridor.  

    Parent

    Only in the very eastern East (5.00 / 2) (#54)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:36:27 AM EST
    though, for the most part.  In Vermont, there's a single daily train that goes from NY to a "city" on the eastern edge of the state.  There's another single daily train that goes up the eastern border of NY state to Montreal-- ie, on the other side of Lake Champlain.  There's no longer any direct train from Boston to anywhere in Vermont, which is just mind-boggling given the number of Mass. folks who ski and otherwise vacation here winter and summer.


    Parent
    I'd say for a State with a population... (none / 0) (#65)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:41:27 PM EST
    ...of what, 600,000 or so, you're doing pretty well.  

    The FR, while being similar in physical size of the entire State of Vermont, has a population of about 4 million.  

    Our only line it is the East/West, once a day but never on time, stops at every watering hole, California Zephyr.  We're talking days, not hours, to get anywhere at all.  Even with a sleeper, a very, very long ride to the West Coast or Chicago.  

     

    Parent

    I don't doubt you're (none / 0) (#73)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 04:47:34 PM EST
    underserved there, I'm just pointing out that it's not the entire eastern half of the country that's well served by any kind of rail.

    Rural areas everywhere are grossly underserved by mass transit of any kind because it's not profitable to serve them and mass transit is either in private hands (Greyhound bus) or required to break even, like Amtrak.

    Sure, maybe one train a day is "a lot" for our population, but that's exactly the thinking that keeps us, and so many other parts of the country, effectively trainless.

    The irony is that it's vastly less expensive and much easier to build train tracks through those areas to serve currently unserved needs than it would be to, say, upgrade the northeast corridor so it has faster service.

    Geez, the revenue a winter train service from Boston to the ski areas in the Green Mountains would take in would be substantial, and it sure would help our state's somewhat tourism-dependent economy out a lot.

    Parent

    Yes, we really don't.... (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 06:49:24 PM EST
    ...have much of a "national" rail system.  A lot of people are under served, if they are served at all.  

    For instance, taking a train from Des Moines requires going to Osceola if your going East/West and a trip to Chicago if one wants to go North/South.  

    My Dad worked for the RR, so I've been riding the rails almost from the day I was born.  And, I'm old enough to remember the pre-Amtrak passenger service days.  Back then, we could take a train to Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City and both coasts from the Des Moines station--along with every imaginable town along the way.  

    Even in their heyday, those routes weren't profitable though.  Especially with the rise of planes and autos.  Passenger service is always going to need subsidy and will never really serve rural America like in the past as a result.  

    Would you expect the ski areas to contribute their fair share to a line from Boston to the Green Mountains?  That's one of the sticking points here--along with deciding the kind of train required for the varied terrain and the astronomical cost of building any line in the mountains.  

    It still gripes me that trains were responsible for making our Country what it is today and yet we effectivetly relegated it to the dust bin of history.  We're pretty much starting from scratch again.

    Parent

    You're whining about that? (none / 0) (#62)
    by Fabian on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:31:05 PM EST
    At least the east coast has efficient commuter rail lines!  They are hard to find in the interior.  Nonexistent?

    Parent
    You guys crack me up (none / 0) (#9)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:54:49 AM EST
    Here's a question for you, do you have some numbers in projected USAGE of a line between LA (not Disneyland, only a dope buys this GOP BS) and Las Vegas as compared to expected usage of a line between New Orleans and Baton Rouge?

    If you did, you might realize how silly your comment looks.

    Parent

    Well, according to one report (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by inclusiveheart on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:33:43 AM EST
    I saw, the LA-LV line was a fabrication on the part of the GOP spin machine in that it called out one line in a proposed network and the reporter noted that such a line probably would enjoy high usage based on the number of passengers that use the airlines to commute between LA and Vegas.  

    The reporter did not, however, address Baton Rouge to New Orleans and make any comparisons between the potential use between the lines.

    But I would say based on my study from many years ago that the success of a rail line is somewhat dependent on people being open to not driving their own cars.  

    In the case of LA to LV, it is already established that folks will use an alternate mode of transportation to commute between the two cities while the people who commute between BR and NO are generally going to be accustomed to driving and therefore at least at the outset it is more likely that a high speed rail commuter train between LV and LA would probably see a higher rate of utilization - that's assuming that the train commute between LV and LA would be relatively speaking close enough to the total time one would invest in getting through the airport system.

    According to the Las Vegas tourist board the drive between the two cities takes about five hours - a high speed rail line could do that in probably three - doing the airport route even with the short flight would take about the same amount of time - so it is really likely that this route would be very well travelled given how many people who already commute between the two cities.

    Parent

    Stop! (none / 0) (#38)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:50:45 AM EST
    We have outlawed common sense in this discussion.

    Parent
    Well just for that I'll share some (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by inclusiveheart on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:21:13 AM EST
    statistical data with you:

    The population of Baton Rouge is just under 800,000

    The population of New Orleans was around 400,000 in 2000

    The population of Lousiana is about 4.5 million

    The population of Los Angeles is 9,878,554

    The popluation of Las Vegas is 552,539

    California has about 36.5 million residents

    Therefore, the potential ridership for a rail line between LA and LV is probably is probably no different than a line between BR and NO.  /not.common.sense

    How did I do?

    Parent

    Grerat Las Vegas has well over a million now (none / 0) (#55)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:36:45 AM EST


    Parent
    Greater Las Vegas (none / 0) (#56)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:38:57 AM EST
    "Las Vegas is located at the southern tip of Nevada in the Great Basin - the western region between the Sierra Nevada and Wasatch mountain ranges - which contains isolated mountains and has no drainage to the ocean. Official elevation of the city is 2,174 feet. Las Vegas is the 33rd largest metro area in the country with a population of 1.7 million residents in Clark County. For the entire decade of the 1990s and now into the 21st century, Las Vegas has been the fastest growing metro area in the nation.

    Each month more than 2 million visitors and 6,000 new residents flock to Las Vegas to enjoy its warm climate, fabulous resorts, unparalleled entertainment, southwestern lifestyle and economic prosperity. The current population is about 1.7 million."

    Parent

    Greater New Orleans (none / 0) (#57)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:40:24 AM EST
    "New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner is a metropolitan area designated by the US Census encompassing seven parishes in the state of Louisiana, centering on the city of New Orleans. As of the July 1, 2007 estimate, the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had a population of 1.03 million."

    Parent
    I was taking city data from (none / 0) (#59)
    by inclusiveheart on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:12:18 PM EST
    the 2007 Census estimates.  I didn't bother with regional data primarily because the contrast between the two areas is stark enough just by virtue of the size of the population in Los Angeles alone.

    In any case, who is dealing in common sense now?  lol

    Parent

    ut is the Guggenheim Museum (none / 0) (#63)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:34:31 PM EST
    still open?  Heard it closed.  My favorite LV "attraction."

    Parent
    A Commuter Train running east from LA (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by tokin librul on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:53:46 AM EST
    would reduce the auto pollution in the Basin significantly.

    HiSpeedRail could supply the infrastructure.

    Scores of thousands of people NOW drive into LA almost from Barstow, certainly from Victorville, etc.

    HiSpeedRail--which would go a long way towards reducing the role of the gasoline-powered auto, and reduce the impact of air-borne pollutogens from aircraft, in any case--should be a priority all over the country.

    Parent

    No disagreement from me (none / 0) (#40)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:55:37 AM EST


    Parent
    Until about 2001... (none / 0) (#43)
    by EL seattle on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:16:20 AM EST
    ...when they closed the entire Desert Wind route, Amtrak had FULLERTON - SAN BERNARDINO - BARSTOW - LAS VEGAS service.  I wonder what sort of usage this leg of that larger route had befrore it was shut down?  (I'm not a local, so I don't know about these things.)

    I'm a big believer in passenger rail, but ticket prices and convenience tend to keep people in their cars unless gas prices permanently hit $4.00+ per gallon.

    A few weeks ago, NOVA had an episode about electric cars.  They interviewed Cal Worthington (!) about lure of the car on the highway, and I thought that he was very eloquent (IIRC) about the connection we feel to our cars, and the challenge that poses for alternate fuels or other forms of transportation.  

    Building these projects is just the first stage.  I think that subsidizing them after they're built in such a way that they don't wind up running on a timely schedule, but losing money every year with well over half their seats empty, can be the tougher part.

    Parent

    High speed was it? (none / 0) (#53)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:36:10 AM EST
    I doubt your commitment to rail frankly.

    Parent
    Rail and Pedestrian Oriented Infrastructure (none / 0) (#74)
    by WS on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 04:48:43 PM EST
    has a transformative effect in cities and towns where they are built to more human scale development.  We will always be committed to roads but there needs to be equal commitment to rail and people friendly development as well.  

    A down payment on rail will help to stimulate demand for more and better rail/transit, regenerate city and town cores, and reduce our carbon and air pollution footprint.    

    Parent

    The raid between vegas (none / 0) (#23)
    by Salo on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:09:51 AM EST
    And la is always jammed pack. I reckon millions per year would use such a train.

    Parent
    Ha! (none / 0) (#7)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 09:53:02 AM EST
    You guys crack me up.

    Parent
    It would make a fortune. (none / 0) (#14)
    by Salo on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:01:38 AM EST
    German Chinese and Japanese tourists will buy every ticket.

    Parent
    service based economy? (none / 0) (#15)
    by lilburro on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:05:57 AM EST
    much of our cultural revolves around tourism, pleasure, etc.  Maligning some projects because of that aspect doesn't make much sense - they bring in the dough y'know.

    Parent
    New Mexico Just Opened A Rail Line (none / 0) (#41)
    by tokin librul on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:59:00 AM EST
    from Belen (about 60 mile south of ABQ) to Santa Fe (about 60 miles north). It's primarily for the purpose of supplying commuters an easy way to get from their homes (not in Santa Fe) to their jobs (with the State, mostly, in Santa Fe).

    The reason for this is that Santa Fe is just too pricey for the average civil servant to afford. Median housing, even after the crisis, is still just under half-a-million, even for older, mass-built masonry and wood structures.

    Called "Railrunner" (in honor of our state bird, the roadrunner), I predict that it will be the next best thing for New Mexico since snow and sunsets.

    Parent

    Sure would be nice... (none / 0) (#42)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:14:52 AM EST
    ...to extend that line North along the Front Range all the way up to Cheyenne.  

    When we were looking at a site for one of our upcoming national conferences that was "Westerncentic", we picked ABQ and the new rail there was a factor in the decision.  

    Parent

    El Paso To Calgary (none / 0) (#79)
    by tokin librul on Tue Mar 03, 2009 at 08:13:00 AM EST
    is what I hope they'll eventually build.

    Parent
    Is there a stop at ABQ airport? (none / 0) (#60)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:24:26 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm not a local, but... (none / 0) (#64)
    by EL seattle on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:38:28 PM EST
    ... maybe this seems to indicate it "connects" to the airport at least. (Unless the Sunport isn't the airport.)

    Railrunner schedule

    This looks like a terrific line.

    Parent

    Thanks. (none / 0) (#67)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 01:01:19 PM EST


    Parent
    There is a planned stop. (none / 0) (#80)
    by tokin librul on Tue Mar 03, 2009 at 08:15:02 AM EST
    Not yet built (hello, stimulus?)

    but there is a shuttle from the Sunport to the downtown RR stop.

    $7, all-stops, one-day pass.

    you cannot drive from Abq to SF, and park all day, for thrice that...

    Parent

    The 8bil is not going to any specific project (none / 0) (#51)
    by lilybart on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:32:58 AM EST
    so stop spreading this GOP talking point.

    The last I heard, the LA to SFO route is the one under serious consideration, but the there is merit in any train project that connects major cities.

    Parent

    Jindal is Rootie Kazootie grown up (none / 0) (#31)
    by cpa1 on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 10:18:18 AM EST
    but just as stupid.  Look at the likeness!  For those of you who don't remember Rootie, Polka Dottie and Gallapoochie Pup take a look here:

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8779534594264081875

    Poison Zumac is played by Bob Dole and later played by John Boehner who was also was Dudley Nightshade in the Crusader Rabbit series.

    Jindal said all railroads are bad (none / 0) (#45)
    by daryl herbert on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:21:58 AM EST
    what a hypocrite!

    He took a clear stance against spending money on all railroads, anywhere in the world, for any purpose, and now he wants to build a railroad in his state!

    Um (none / 0) (#52)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:34:07 AM EST
    I assume this is supposed to be witty GOP repartee.

    But to clarify the point for those with morte limited intellects, the hypocrisy is that Jindal declared the money for rails in THE STIMULUS BILL wasteful and now he wants that "wasteful" money for a Louisiana rail project.

    Non-Republicans will understand.

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    Heh (none / 0) (#69)
    by Steve M on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 02:02:26 PM EST
    Classic.  "Pet projects? Who said anything about pet projects?"

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    First dog? (none / 0) (#70)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 02:05:04 PM EST


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    Since you mention it (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by Steve M on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 02:16:22 PM EST
    I think "Moose" is a fine name.

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    Will the "Frank"s of the (none / 0) (#75)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 06:39:54 PM EST
    world unite?  Such a diss.

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    And he LIED about the train from LA (none / 0) (#46)
    by lilybart on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:22:52 AM EST
    to Las Vegas. The train will connect LA and San Fran.

    They always lie. All of them, all of the time.

    Different train (none / 0) (#50)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 11:32:28 AM EST


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    Yeah but (none / 0) (#58)
    by WS on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:06:53 PM EST
    the GOP talking point insinuated the $8 billion is just for an LA to Vegas line.  A COMPLETE LIE!

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    Jindal To Seek Stimulus Funds For Hi-Speed Rail Project | 80 comments (80 topical)

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