Louisiana to seek "wasteful spending" for NOLA-BR high-speed rail (1 Viewer)

[kennydfresh]

High Speed Train = JOBS isn't that the whole point. We putting Louisiana people to work

 

[slowmotion]

That is why I think the better solution is to look to a company or investment group that feels the project is a viable one and is willing to build and operate the for both passenger and freight just as I was hoping would occur in Texas with the state offers some incintives such as providing the land, tempoary tax reductions to entice the initial investment. You still have to pay, just not as much.

like Amtrak?

 

[Squeezebox]

PORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[doctorj]

If they are going to do a rail system. they need to start with one from NOLA to the Northshore.

 

[FLIPPY]

High Speed Train = JOBS isn't that the whole point. We putting Louisiana people to work

We all thought La. people would be put to work post Katrina, as well...It's funny how all of those "out of towners" snuck in...

 

[Crzycjunx76]

As long as no one tries to punish people for driving their own cars... I have no problem with a rail line, I think it has great benifits for individuals. I will also admit that a high speed line might entice more people (taxpayers) to live in the reigon, though I see the greatest benifit in having an electric high speed line for freight purposes, greatly driving down logistic costs for companies operating in the reigon.

I personally would still drive my own car, I like the freedom and the solitude and a reduced consumption of gasoline by the general populance will serve to keep the price of the stuff affordable.( For that to work it would have to be alot more than Louisiana switching to highspeed rail lines)

 

[slowmotion]

If they are going to do a rail system. they need to start with one from NOLA to the Northshore.

Another very good idea.

 

[FLIPPY]

Hippy > FLIPPY, imo

Yeah, in your opinion.....

 

[Crzycjunx76]

like Amtrak?

Except Amtrak does not make money... instead of short term incintives they have long term subsidies. It really is a waste but unfortunatley it is nessicarry to keep rail lines running for infrastructure and infrastructure related national defense intreasts.

 

[FLIPPY]

If they are going to do a rail system. they need to start with one from NOLA to the Northshore.

They already tried this, but it was shot down..Remember the Mag Lev train...?

 

[doctorj]

They already tried this, but it was shot down..Remember the Mag Lev train...?

I thought it was a good idea then also. LOL!

 

[Squeezebox]

Dear Stimulus Package,

Please run a high speed train from Houston to Nola.

Signed,

Bored in Houston

 

[UncleDoug]

Jindal said it was wasteful, not that it would not create new jobs. The benefits you listed are true but there is another side to the equation, the cost.

For example, a solar panel array to provide the power for an average household cost around 30 to 40 thousand dollars. Better insulating the average household would cost about a quarter of that. And better insulated homes would help prevent people freezing to death during cold spells (in Chicago many elderly people died due to poor insulation this winter). Since the housing market dried up the people being hired to install the insulation would more likely be someone who recently filed for unemployment. Which is the primary objective of the stimulus.

So by comparison providing solar panels for people is not as effective as providing people with better insulation. That does not mean the solar panels would not be beneficial just that the benefit per dollar is greater providing insulation. Thus one could argue that providing solar panels would be wasteful.

 

[Squeezebox]

Jindal said it was wasteful, not that it would not create new jobs. The benefits you listed are true but there is another side to the equation, the cost.

For example, a solar panel array to provide the power for an average household cost around 30 to 40 thousand dollars. Better insulating the average household would cost about a quarter of that. And better insulated homes would help prevent people freezing to death during cold spells (in Chicago many elderly people died due to poor insulation this winter). Since the housing market dried up the people being hired to install the insulation would more likely be someone who recently filed for unemployment. Which is the primary objective of the stimulus.

So by comparison providing solar panels for people is not as effective as providing people with better insulation. That does not mean the solar panels would not be beneficial just that the benefit per dollar is greater providing insulation. Thus one could argue that providing solar panels would be wasteful.

Your point is a valid one. Do we use the money to create as many short/medium term jobs as possible? Or do we also try and spend it on things we feel would be beneficial in other ways? Obviously, there is a <s> little</s> lot of both.

But I don't understand how it's beneficial when it's from nola to brla, but it's waste when it's from L.A. to Vegas.

When I do it, it's great

 

[wbbigtymer]

I'm not against the idea of federal dollars being spent to fund a rail transit line from Vegas to Cali per se, but it seems to me that's the kind of project that you'd be better off providing initial public capital with the intention of having it privately owned and maintained and funded/paid back with tolls paid by riders.

The N.O. to BR transit system would more likely be a state-run thing. I would think that about a quarter of its justification (I'm just making that figure up) would be for emergency medical and indigent evacuation, while the remaining three quarters would be split between business travel and leisure/tourism. To me, that's a good mix for a state run project with capital provided by federal funds. I think there should at LEAST be a N.O. to BR and N.O. to north shore line, and longer term, I think there should also be lines linking B.R. to Shreveport and Lafayette. Note that I would personally get almost no use out of most of these. I'm strongly advocating them because I have a vantage point that allows me to see how badly they're needed.

Mr. Blue Sky, you've done nothing to justify your viewpoint other than to say you disagree with me. I'm providing reasons why the Louisiana rail transit proposal is worthwhile and much needed, and you're simply taking issue with me arguing that it's more important than the vacation rail over on the left coast. Why? What is your dog in this fight other than what I'm guessing is your chance to call Jindal a hypocrite?

Seriously, why are you against the Louisiana rail proposal? It's been something we've needed since before Katrina and now we need it urgently.