Comments on: Behind the hype over high-speed rail in Maryland

By: telecommutenow

telecommutenow — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:26:05 +0000

This is an example of “RED LINE FEVER”. That is the only transit line that matters in this region despite the fact that it was conceived before BRAC even started. All anyone wants is that 1.5 billion dollars which will take Baltimoreans to the job center of the 1950′s not the 2050′s. Were there to be fresh thinking based on the facts of:
-BRAC
-CYBER COMMAND
-THE RECENT GROWTH IN FEdERAL EMPLOYMENT
Then we would prioritize the inter city rail sysytem and de prioritze the inner city rail system.

By: Fritz

Fritz — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:37:11 +0000

Mark, I didn’t mean to unduly pick apart what you were saying–and, even if I did I don’t think a random blog comment would matter.

Here’s where I disagree with you. In the context of the $8 billion ARRA funds this is a win. The Northeast Corridor (and Maryland) was ill prepared to receive funds and yet it got its share. In the context of the future of high-speed rail in the U.S. this is clearly a pittance. The lack of funding is the result of 1) sparse resources and 2) lack of preparation in the NEC. Without a programmatic EIS it was illegal for the FRA to give the corridor funding

Mark, I enjoyed “Fast Track to the Future”, btw.

Here’s what I think rail advocates–especially in the NEC like myself–need to do:
1) Advocate that the programmatic environmental impact statement is completed on the Northeast Corridor. Without it substantial investments cannot be made. Talk to your Congressmen about this issue or we will be left out of the next round of funding as well.
2) Talk about funding. Mark is right, appropriations aren’t good long-term funding. You need a dedicated funding source and a system that perpetuates itself. Even if we do have an infrastructure bank its charter must support high-speed rail and it must have a funding source for seed money just like state revolving funds. Raising the gas tax is not popular nor is it a great long-term funding source. Although a wise man from AASHTO once said regarding future problems with the gas tax “sure, but what other source can give you billions with a 5 cent increases”. Clearly funding needs to be figured out.
3) Support Transportation Reauthorization. The successor to SAFETEA-LU _will_ be better for high-speed rail. We need to get it passed and hopefully get good authorizing levels for HSR (and then hope they’re appropriated).

By: John G. Marshall

John G. Marshall — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:32:00 +0000

Before the electrification of the PRR, passage through the B&P tunnel was a nightmare during summer. In pre-air conditioning days one arrived in Baltimore gasping for breath. That one factor made the B&O route more popular since its Howard St. Tunnel WAS electrically operated. Not to mention the better food on B&O diners. A man older than I am once told me that he was a passenger on a pre air-conditioned PRR train in summer and a discarded babys diaper flew into the open window and hit the sleeping conductor. He jumped up and began yelling: “BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE, NEXT STOP BALTIMORE.

By: Mark Reutter

Mark Reutter — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:37:16 +0000

To clear up the “earmark” question raised by Fritz, here’s what the Congressional Research Service, the research arm of Congress, says is an earmark: “Provisions associated with legislation (appropriations or general legislation) that specify certain congressional spending priorities or in revenue bills that apply to a very limited number of individuals or entities. Earmarks may appear in either the legislative text or report language…” Rep. Cummings’ “wish” inserted into the 2008 Amtrak bill would qualify as an earmark under this definition.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:18:14 +0000

Spot on, Mark.

By: Antero Pietila

Antero Pietila — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:52:37 +0000

Mark Reutter’s superb piece on high-speed rail serves as a splendid reminder to those who may have forgotten or those who never knew that he was one of the best reporters on The Sun in the 1970s.
The Brew is lucky to benefit from his expertise.

By: Fritz

Fritz — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:08:47 +0000

What? Sure, I’ll remove the “big” from win but it’s still a win. And a very important one. You know what a $60 million “earmark” in an Authorization bill is? It’s not an earmark since earmarks are appropriated money, it’s a wish. And ARRA funds are fulfilling Cummings’ wish. Since the vast majority of the money went to three areas–CA, FL, and various Midwest corridors–MD is quite lucky that it got better than the average especially with most of the NEC being ineligible for funds. That for a project–important as it is–which has minimal engineering work done. Why would you give money to a project with no EIS and no clear plan for construction?

Sure, it’s not magic. But nothing could be magic. You can’t save a national rail system with 50+ years of neglect in one fiscal year–or 10 for that matter. You should be quite happy that the B&P is getting planning dollars and we need to make sure there is a good plan for it so that Amtrak, the Federal Government, and the State spend the funds to fix the tunnel when the plans are drawn.