Originally Posted by
Robert Foster
Once again I can accept that observation as legitimate. That very observation addresses the issues of how difficult it is going to be to fund a new railway system when we already have roads and airlines to fund and people both believe in and use them more than they have used passenger rail.
For good or bad it is that difference that has left the US as the only super power and now it looks like we don’t know what to do with being on top.
By the way I have admitted I like passenger rail. we just don't have enough of them and they don't go where I want to go.
Perhaps we need to STOP funding the airlines and to a certain extent the roadways? Then use the funding for railways?
I have no idea just what the level of subsidy is for the current airline industry, but they obviously have a model that isn't working well and it will be just a matter of time before a few more of the legacy carriers go bankrupt and the industry contracts even more. Currently the service is deteriorating as well as their ability to provide any type of flights from many airports. Every year it gets harder and harder to get flights to and from many areas, without having to drive an hour or more to a larger airport.
We already cannot afford to maintain nor subsidize the current road system without some changes in the way the raise the revenue to pay for it. I have noticed a serious decline in the condition of some of the more heavily traveled roads near my home, when I questioned the local DOT engineer about it, her comment was that their funding had been cut...again and they were just trying to keep them from totally destructing. I have also read several articles where some states are allowing roads to go back to gravel from pavement to save on maintenance costs.
Aaron
