Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Obama seeks high-speed rail system across U.S.

Jimellow · 04-19-2009, 08:20 PM

Do you see a national high-speed rail system getting underway in America?
No. I don't think enough of America relies on public transportation to travel to the extent other nations that are heavily invested in it do. And over longer distances, I think flying has been at the forefront for so long in America that it would be difficult to convince the average traveler to consider rail.

Would you use such a system instead of air or highway travel?
I'd try it out once out of curiosity, but generally will always rely on the highway or airways; unless I lived outside of New York City.

Is this a good idea, or would it be a waste of taxpayer money?
It's a good idea, but I don't think it's realistically going to pull much traffic from our already established, and popular, methods of travel. As for it being a waste of tax payer money, I suspect not, as I get the notion that the government is wasting money elsewhere that could be tightened up before investing in the railways became a valid concern.

Is America behind the times in this 21st century when it comes to transportation?
People get where they need to go. In our country, it's generally by road or airway. Most people own cars, whereas other countries with heavily used railways, don't have a population that owns as many cars. If every city in America was like New York City, then rail systems would be much more popular. But New York City is not a realistic representation of the average American city.

What about Canada? Should there be a North American network of high-speed rail?
It would be fun to try, but I think it's too late to make dramatic changes to the traveling infrastructure of our nation.

04-19-2009, 08:20 PM	#22 (permalink)
Jimellow Junkie	Do you see a national high-speed rail system getting underway in America? No. I don't think enough of America relies on public transportation to travel to the extent other nations that are heavily invested in it do. And over longer distances, I think flying has been at the forefront for so long in America that it would be difficult to convince the average traveler to consider rail. Would you use such a system instead of air or highway travel? I'd try it out once out of curiosity, but generally will always rely on the highway or airways; unless I lived outside of New York City. Is this a good idea, or would it be a waste of taxpayer money? It's a good idea, but I don't think it's realistically going to pull much traffic from our already established, and popular, methods of travel. As for it being a waste of tax payer money, I suspect not, as I get the notion that the government is wasting money elsewhere that could be tightened up before investing in the railways became a valid concern. Is America behind the times in this 21st century when it comes to transportation? People get where they need to go. In our country, it's generally by road or airway. Most people own cars, whereas other countries with heavily used railways, don't have a population that owns as many cars. If every city in America was like New York City, then rail systems would be much more popular. But New York City is not a realistic representation of the average American city. What about Canada? Should there be a North American network of high-speed rail? It would be fun to try, but I think it's too late to make dramatic changes to the traveling infrastructure of our nation. __________________ Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.