Communter Rail between NOLA and Baton Rouge (1 Viewer)

[Taurus]

It's not New Orleans and Baton Rouge that are the issue; it's the area in between. Southeast Louisiana ought to be doing a lot of its growth along the river anyway. Eventually, you can put an airport in between, and in about 20 years, even if the rail runs at a (tolerable) loss, you've put in the backbone of a 70-mile metroplex between Baton Rouge and New Orleans as BR grows southward and New Orleans grows up river.

Not to mention the evacuation benefits. But yeah, it might allow for a Everett/Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia metro area, stretching along the river.

But no way will people put up $20 a day or more to ride it.

We're looking forward to the Sounder adding more runs so it becomes a viable commuting option. As it stands, they only run a couple of times during commute hours...miss one train and you're stranded. Not good.

 

[blackadder]

I like trains, but, by the time its done, they will end up operating them at a loss for just a few people. The long term goal isn't for the city of New Orleans to be a place for people to commute from 80 miles away each day because there is no housing. That was a short term fix. The plan is to rebuild and repopulate so people don't drive in from 80 miles each day. As the housing develops, and people return, the need for that train gets less and less. There might be some who use it for other reasons, but not enough to support it. By the time they ever get the train operating, it would be too late to serve its purpose. Maybe, it would have been good if they started on it a year ago, but like everything, the government's response is so slow that their eventual action is of no value.

Do it.

We can't keep going in the direction we are going with congestion, population growth and dependence on oil. We just passed 300 million and the next 100 million will come even faster. This has to be the future whether we like it or not.

If its built right it can work.

It would become very very to easy live in Baton Rouge and commute to work in New Orleans, or vice versa. This could be something that helps in the salvation of New Orleans. If some people are skittish about being full time residents in the Big Easy, they can move to higher ground along the rail line and have easy week-end or evening access. It could contribute to ensuring the flow of $$$ spent by visitors.

In time it should be extended to the North Shore and the Gulf Coast.

With the right trains the journey could take under an hour, which is peanuts for a commute when you can sit and read your paper or surf the web. I have a friend overseas who commutes almost 500 miles roundtrip on the train every day. That is a bit extreme but the trains are tricked out with everything you need to work. There is internet access and a digital entertainment system and they are fast.

It's doable.

Just keep Amtrak out of it. Hire a European firm that knows what it is doing and get it done right from the start. It has to be efficient and easy to use.

As far as cost it will almost certainly be a big money loser initially and will require some subsidy, just like Amtrak does in perpetuity. But I'd rather see the money spent on worthwhile things like this than all the boondoggles our money is funding around the world.

This is sorely needed infrastructure.

 

[TPS]

>>then again, the train security might give me a hard time like the dome security does.

They should with that ugly costume.
------------------------------------------
Seminole,

IRS is currently allowing for like $0.45/mile in reimbursements (last I checked, may be $0.48 now). If your daily commute is 130 miles, that's $58.50 (including wear and tear, depreciation, gas, etc.) per day in expenses. If you can pay half of that, it's probably a reasonable deal IMHO.

TPS

 

[blackadder]

Not to mention the evacuation benefits. But yeah, it might allow for a Everett/Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia metro area, stretching along the river.

But no way will people put up $20 a day or more to ride it.

We're looking forward to the Sounder adding more runs so it becomes a viable commuting option. As it stands, they only run a couple of times during commute hours...miss one train and you're stranded. Not good.

Yeah, it's going to require being at the station on time, just like we used to have to be at school on time. But I'm sure most people would keep a car as backup.

As for the cost. If you think about gas, insurance, parking, maintenance and general peace of mind (or lack thereof) associated with traffic, you might find that people would pay a little more than we think for the daily trip.

In the DC area $5-$10+ for a daily rail commute is common. I think the daily rail commute between Baltimore and DC is close to $15 round trip, but there may be a discount if you buy some kind of monthly pass.

It's a worthwhile enterprise. You'll have a built in customer base with LSU students too. And I could imagine a lot of people would use the train on LSU game days too.

Don't fear the train.

 

[varanook]

I would assume that this not something we vote on?
Where would you send an e-mail saying that this would be a good thing?

 

[Brennan77]

It's not New Orleans and Baton Rouge that are the issue; it's the area in between. Southeast Louisiana ought to be doing a lot of its growth along the river anyway. Eventually, you can put an airport in between, and in about 20 years, even if the rail runs at a (tolerable) loss, you've put in the backbone of a 70-mile metroplex between Baton Rouge and New Orleans as BR grows southward and New Orleans grows up river.

If done properly, this could be part of an infrastructure to support such a thing. But it would take forward thinking, which means the old rail system is a no-no. If done with the efficiency and speed of a European train system, this could be legit. Imagine a train that leaves every hour, on the hour, between BR and NOLA. Or even a high speed train to take you to and from Houston within 3 hours.

 

[Waymer]

>>then again, the train security might give me a hard time like the dome security does.

They should with that ugly costume.
------------------------------------------
Seminole,

IRS is currently allowing for like $0.45/mile in reimbursements (last I checked, may be $0.48 now). If your daily commute is 130 miles, that's $58.50 (including wear and tear, depreciation, gas, etc.) per day in expenses. If you can pay half of that, it's probably a reasonable deal IMHO.

TPS

I have a commute...where can I find out more info on this Steve. Help us poor, uneducated folk.

/Threadjack

 

[TPS]

Well just because you drive on that commute (mine is 106 miles daily) doesn't mean you're entitled to that reimbursement. It's more a business reimbursement to employees for business travel. I'll see if I can find the current numbers in light of this summer's gas price increases.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=151226,00.html



TPS

 

[varanook]

If done properly, this could be part of an infrastructure to support such a thing. But it would take forward thinking, which means the old rail system is a no-no. If done with the efficiency and speed of a European train system, this could be legit. Imagine a train that leaves every hour, on the hour, between BR and NOLA. Or even a high speed train to take you to and from Houston within 3 hours.

The Houston idea is good as well. Probably cheaper than flying.
Forward thinking is not the specialty of government these days.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Build it and they will come...........

 

[St. Widge]

..........absolutely not for 11-12 a day. QUOTE]

You mean $22-$24 a day. That $11-$12 is one way only. That is an outrageous $480 a month (sometimes more) based on a 20 day work month. I am going to agree with jimwnola, waste of money. Most people will not pay that kind of money. Some will, but it won't be enough to cover the operating expenses.

Since I moved to LaPlace after Katrina, it takes about an hour to get into work everyday and about 3 tanks of gas at $40 per tank in my SUV (That's at the gas prices now, not when it was $2.99 per gallon). Then when I get to downtown, I have to pay $12 to park because parking is hard to find these days. So the total cost in a 20 work day month is about $360 and when gas prices are higher it costs about $440. That number doesn't even include oil changes, maintenance and wear and tear on my car. That's pretty close to the cost above. I probably would not use it everyday, because sometimes I need my car, but on days that I did not feel like dealing with the aggravation of driving and didn't need my car, I would use it.

 

[Taurus]

Yeah, it's going to require being at the station on time, just like we used to have to be at school on time. But I'm sure most people would keep a car as backup.

I think you might've misunderstood. What I'm talking about is if you take the train to work and something comes up to where you can't leave work right at five, you're going to be stuck in downtown Seattle with no way home. Except a nightmare 2 1/2-hour bus ride or an unholy expensive cab trip.

 

[Waymer]

Well just because you drive on that commute (mine is 106 miles daily) doesn't mean you're entitled to that reimbursement. It's more a business reimbursement to employees for business travel. I'll see if I can find the current numbers in light of this summer's gas price increases.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=151226,00.html



TPS

Well shoot, I already get the 40.5 cents from work (should go up now I guess)...I was hoping there was a way to scam more out of it.

 

[varanook]

Saw something last night on the news saying it may take business away from the Baton Rouge Airport. It would probably, but it would life easier for other things.

 

[CT Saints Fan]

..........absolutely not for 11-12 a day. QUOTE]

You mean $22-$24 a day. That $11-$12 is one way only. That is an outrageous $480 a month (sometimes more) based on a 20 day work month. I am going to agree with jimwnola, waste of money. Most people will not pay that kind of money. Some will, but it won't be enough to cover the operating expenses.

It's roughly 80 miles from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. If your car gets 20 MPG, that's 8 gallons of gas. @ $2.50/gallon, that's $20 a day to drive. How is the train any worse?

If you ride the commuter trains up here, New Haven, CT, to Grand Central Terminal, NYC, it's $11.50 during off-peak times, and $14.00 during peak times, one way.