U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: High-Speed Rail Will be Our Generation's Legacy

[marmar]

via MassTransitMag:



U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: High-Speed Rail Will be Our Generation's Legacy

By Ray LaHood | Guest columnist
Transportation Department Documents and Publications


WASHINGTON, DC - It is difficult to imagine what America would be like without its interstate highway system. For decades, our state-of-the-art roadways have been the world's envy - and rightfully so. They deliver products of agriculture and industry to market. They link people with schools, jobs, family, and health care.

America's highways will remain a crucial component of our national transportation network well into the future. But we can no longer rely exclusively on roads as a strategy for economic growth over the long term. That is why the Obama administration has begun the heavy lifting of building a national high-speed-rail system that will spur economic development and job creation along its corridors.

For years, we have watched other countries pass us by as they build faster trains. Indeed, the benefits of high-speed rail are tough to ignore. It will seamlessly integrate large metropolitan communities and economies through a safe, convenient and reliable transportation alternative. It will ease congestion on our roads and at our airports. It will reduce our reliance on oil as well as our carbon emissions. And it will provide a much-needed boost to America's hard-hit manufacturing sector during a time of economic struggle.

Since the president proposed his vision for high-speed rail last year, enthusiasm around the country has been overwhelming. To date, states have submitted applications for $64 billion -- more than six times the amount of money available. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=13257

[Connie_Corleone]

1. Too bad Ohio won't have it.

:(

[Deep13]

3. Our new governor is a jackass. nt

[FarPoint]

4. What political brain decided that?

Ohio could be revived with the high speed rail system.

[Myrina]

6. Or Wisconsin ... the new GOP gov's refused the Fed Stimulus $$

D'oh! :spank:

[hobbit709]

2. Built by China

[Greybnk48]

5. The manufacturer of the cars is an Italian or Spanish Co.,

not Chinese. At least that's who was on-deck to build them here in WI. Our high-speed rail is postponed here in WI until the Dems are back in office. Then we will have rail from Milwaukee to Madison, and then to Minneapolis. I can't wait!!

[hobbit709]

7. No matter who builds them, it won't be American built.

[pscot]

8. His generation's legacy

is already here, and it's a lot less benign than high speed rail.

[Javaman]

9. Got to build it first for it to be a "legacy". I'm not holding my breath. nt