Godzilla1960 wrote:
Good.
This country needs a dream-big public works project. I'm tired of all the great construction projects being done in China.
We used to do big things and dream big dreams. Lately, we have become a small people with a narrow vision.
As much as I have promoted high speed rail for a number of years now Godzilla, this is not going to happen.
You see, the current divide happens at the "What type of system to use" level.
There are 2.
1. Utilize existing tracks with "Bullet Train" designs to increase speed which in turn, theoritically decreases the time to travel between point A and point B. Unfortunately, the current U.S. rail system does not permit maximizing this potential due to the amount of intersections with current rail and road crossings. This has been discussed at countless meetings I have been to. The secondary issue on this is that these types of systems would be phased out in 35 to 50 years anyways due to Mag-Lev designs. The cost does not cash flow at the end of the day.
2. Mag-Lev (Magnetic Levetation trains). These are the future, for more reasons than one I might add.
First of all, an entirely new system would have to built nationwide. These systems would have to elevate over every crossing, it is possible, but early price tags put a system of this size near 13 trillion dollars! We will build it out in phases obviously, but what phase to start with? Well, DOT and DOE have both already agreed 2 of the 6 runs from west to east would be built first. LA to ATL and SEA to NYC. Why you ask? because these routes would be moving cargo as well as people, and these 2 routes are the most utilized.
DOE has already stated the system would run on 68% renewable energy (i.e. wind, solar, bio-fuels to electricity) and that the system itself can be the nation wide conduit to move massive amounts of electricity to regional or even local communities. The DOT on the other hand wants existing generating stations to sign off on a set number of generated electricity to flow to this type of system. Not what the DOE wants to hear.
At the end of the day, its the regional ISO's (Independent Service Operators) who have the say in where the power would be allocated to and they have no intention of going with the DOT's plan of action. It's a big powerplay for each dept. but the ISO's have to sign off on any plan.
These are just a few of the problems this nation will encounter on this subject. 9 Billion is insignificant in the larger strategic plan.
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