Comments on: Stimulus-backed high-speed rail could benefit Great Lakes region; environmental benefits uncertain http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/06/22/stimulus-backed-high-speed-rail-could-benefit-great-lakes-region-environmental-benefits-uncertain/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:59:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Administration Releases Stimulus Job-Counting Rules | The Paris - San Francisco http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/06/22/stimulus-backed-high-speed-rail-could-benefit-great-lakes-region-environmental-benefits-uncertain/comment-page-1/#comment-558 Administration Releases Stimulus Job-Counting Rules | The Paris - San Francisco Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:59:47 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=6606#comment-558 [...] Adding a high-speed rail system to the American landscape won’t necessarily change our energy ..., writes Allison Bush over at Great Lakes Echo, a project of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. The federal government has set aside billion in stimulus funds this year for high-speed rail and plans to invest billion annually over the next five years. But unless gas prices skyrocket, argues a researcher from the University of California at Berkeley, people will continue driving to work. [...] [...] Adding a high-speed rail system to the American landscape won’t necessarily change our energy …, writes Allison Bush over at Great Lakes Echo, a project of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. The federal government has set aside billion in stimulus funds this year for high-speed rail and plans to invest billion annually over the next five years. But unless gas prices skyrocket, argues a researcher from the University of California at Berkeley, people will continue driving to work. [...]

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]]> By: Stephanie A http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/06/22/stimulus-backed-high-speed-rail-could-benefit-great-lakes-region-environmental-benefits-uncertain/comment-page-1/#comment-557 Stephanie A Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:51:30 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=6606#comment-557 I wish they would hurry up and pull the trigger on some mass transit - either for commuters or for longer distances. I understand what all the concern is about, but really? Make it fast, put it in a convenient spot and make sure it's affordable. As for safety, I would much rather take a train into Detroit than worry about leaving my car in some darkened lot. I lived in Minneapolis when they approved and built the Hiawatha LightRail. Same concerns - ridership, safety and expense. I just read where the ridership has already exceeded their ridership estimates for 2020. I wish they would hurry up and pull the trigger on some mass transit – either for commuters or for longer distances. I understand what all the concern is about, but really? Make it fast, put it in a convenient spot and make sure it’s affordable.
As for safety, I would much rather take a train into Detroit than worry about leaving my car in some darkened lot.
I lived in Minneapolis when they approved and built the Hiawatha LightRail. Same concerns – ridership, safety and expense. I just read where the ridership has already exceeded their ridership estimates for 2020.

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]]> By: Rosemary Horvath http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/06/22/stimulus-backed-high-speed-rail-could-benefit-great-lakes-region-environmental-benefits-uncertain/comment-page-1/#comment-551 Rosemary Horvath Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:40:23 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=6606#comment-551 High-speed rail between Detroit and Chicago looked doable more than a decade ago. Southwest Michigan residents who worked in Chicago looked forward to a reliable, faster mode of travel. Rail crossings in Dowagiac and other places were dismantled in anticipation. What happened? Was the Michigan Legislature short-sighted? Did party politics circumvent a worthy project? Amtrak ridership today between St. Joseph, South Bend and Chicago is above average. It probably would be higher if high-speed rail had gone through back then. High-speed rail between Detroit and Chicago looked doable more than a decade ago. Southwest Michigan residents who worked in Chicago looked forward to a reliable, faster mode of travel. Rail crossings in Dowagiac and other places were dismantled in anticipation. What happened? Was the Michigan Legislature short-sighted? Did party politics circumvent a worthy project? Amtrak ridership today between St. Joseph, South Bend and Chicago is above average. It probably would be higher if high-speed rail had gone through back then.

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