Comments on: Thoughts on the Amtrak Funding Bill http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/ Transit in the Greater Seattle Area Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:21:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Amtrak Cascades News - Seattle Transit Blog http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-27191 Amtrak Cascades News - Seattle Transit Blog Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:14:42 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-27191 [...] further, WSDOT - which funds most Cascades service - is applying for some of the Amtrak money that Congress approved last summer.  You can see the list of projects here . If you look at the projects in the list, [...]
[...] further, WSDOT – which funds most Cascades service – is applying for some of the Amtrak money that Congress approved last summer.  You can see the list of projects here . If you look at the projects in the list, [...]

]]> By: Amtrak Cascades News - Seattle Transit Blog http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-27192 Amtrak Cascades News - Seattle Transit Blog Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:14:42 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-27192 [...] further, WSDOT - which funds most Cascades service - is applying for some of the Amtrak money that Congress approved last summer.  You can see the list of projects here . If you look at the projects in the list, [...]
[...] further, WSDOT – which funds most Cascades service – is applying for some of the Amtrak money that Congress approved last summer.  You can see the list of projects here . If you look at the projects in the list, [...]

]]> By: Seattle Transit Blog » Biden: Good Pick For Rail http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-7983 Seattle Transit Blog » Biden: Good Pick For Rail Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:17:37 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-7983 [...] Thoughts on the Amtrak Funding Bill [...]
[...] Thoughts on the Amtrak Funding Bill [...]

]]> By: serial catowner http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-4337 serial catowner Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:33:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-4337 If the Democrats will know their business and play their part, this is a major advance in transportation in this country. The meltwaters have greased the bedrock and the glacier has lurched forward, but the warming will continue. and a new Congress and President could carry matters forward quickly.<br/><br/>The regional and state initiatives will be where the action is. If we can't empower the great mass of technically proficient people at the local and state level, we have no check on hare-brained schemes coming from a distant Federal government.<br/><br/>Yes, the Cascades corridor will be a strong contender for instant funding in the next Congress, <i>if</i> we are ready locally and regionally to move.<br/><br/>It is common for railroads to have more right-of-way than they are using, especially railroads that have single-tracked portions of formerly double-tracked mains. In Utah passenger service is being initiated on passenger-only trackage installed adjacent to freight rail trackage. It should be possible to add some passenger-only trackage in Washington that would make the Cascade trains very competitive with air travel.<br/><br/>Irony Alert: building light rail to the airport makes air travel more competitive.<br/><br/>The passage of this bill with a veto-proof majority marks a major sea-change in our transportation policies.
If the Democrats will know their business and play their part, this is a major advance in transportation in this country. The meltwaters have greased the bedrock and the glacier has lurched forward, but the warming will continue. and a new Congress and President could carry matters forward quickly.

The regional and state initiatives will be where the action is. If we can’t empower the great mass of technically proficient people at the local and state level, we have no check on hare-brained schemes coming from a distant Federal government.

Yes, the Cascades corridor will be a strong contender for instant funding in the next Congress, if we are ready locally and regionally to move.

It is common for railroads to have more right-of-way than they are using, especially railroads that have single-tracked portions of formerly double-tracked mains. In Utah passenger service is being initiated on passenger-only trackage installed adjacent to freight rail trackage. It should be possible to add some passenger-only trackage in Washington that would make the Cascade trains very competitive with air travel.

Irony Alert: building light rail to the airport makes air travel more competitive.

The passage of this bill with a veto-proof majority marks a major sea-change in our transportation policies.

]]> By: Ben Schiendelman http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-4335 Ben Schiendelman Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:13:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-4335 anonymous, the only way Amtrak will get around that is by building their own tracks. In the NE Corridor that's already the case.<br/><br/>The Cascades 20 year plan does include some passenger-only track, and the California project would never wait for freight.
anonymous, the only way Amtrak will get around that is by building their own tracks. In the NE Corridor that’s already the case.

The Cascades 20 year plan does include some passenger-only track, and the California project would never wait for freight.

]]> By: Anonymous http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-4332 Anonymous Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:25:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-4332 I experience Amtrak waiting for freight a lot, could this build provide ways for Amtrak to get around that?
I experience Amtrak waiting for freight a lot, could this build provide ways for Amtrak to get around that?

]]> By: Steve http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-4330 Steve Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:40:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2008/06/14/thoughts-on-the-amtrak-funding-bill/#comment-4330 While I'd love to see us get some money to add the 110 mph track, I'd actually be happy to lose that money if it turns out we're losing it because California is building their high-speed rail. <br/><br/>California has the potential to showcase high-speed rail in this country to a scale beyond what we could do, just because of the sheer number of people in California. From what I've read, it doesn't seem out of the question that a California high-speed rail could turn an operating profit, which would be fantastic for high-speed rail around the country.
While I’d love to see us get some money to add the 110 mph track, I’d actually be happy to lose that money if it turns out we’re losing it because California is building their high-speed rail.

California has the potential to showcase high-speed rail in this country to a scale beyond what we could do, just because of the sheer number of people in California. From what I’ve read, it doesn’t seem out of the question that a California high-speed rail could turn an operating profit, which would be fantastic for high-speed rail around the country.

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