Working on the Railroad
JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS
We can not compete efficiently with Europe or Asia with the most inefficient transportation system on Earth. - If we are to compete, there must be a complete system from every neighborhood by bicycle and foot to buses, trams, to high speed trains.
The plan we need is not only a transportation plan, but a plan to improve the economy, the health of our citizens, the environment and an energy plan. – All of these are affected by our transportation system, for good or bad.
IMHO we need at least two or more lines from the Atlantic to the Pacific and three or more north/south lines. I am sure many will disagree with me, thats ok, but lets get things going. The first N/S line should go from Bangor, Maine to Miami, Florida. I think logically the next to concentrate on would be the east/west line connecting either LA or San Diego, CA through Atlanta, GA, intersecting the north/south line at Columbia, SC and on to the Atlantic at Wilmington, NC. This E/W route would not encounter any major geological obstacles that would be difficult to avoid.
Obviously New York and Chicago should be connected to the Pacific as well, but the route is not as clear. Possibly we may find that cooperating with Canada on the north west link could be the best solution. The Pacific Coast line should be fairly straight forward. From San Diego to Vancouver, Canada, with coordination on exact track location. Canada might be interested in other links such as New York – Burlington, VT to Montreal,-- Chicago – Detroit – Toronto.
The high speed system should have no highway crossing and be separated as much as possible from the old freight lines. And as there are already trains operating at well over 200 miles an hour in Europe China and Japan, Our tracks should be designed for a speed of at least 250 mph.
Ray LaHood and his team have been working diligently on this project from bike paths to high speed trains for a year and a half. It is time we all get in high gear to get it done. That is you Congress, that is you Mr President, that is you grassroots of the USA.
Our country desperately needs this infrastructure, and the economy needs the JOBS.
The Interstate highway system is badly overloaded, and in a sad state of repair. And our present rail system is in bad need of repair as well.
THERE ARE MANY GOOD PAYING JOBS NEEDED FOR THIS PROJECT.
Ray LaHood's blog – http://fastlane.dot.gov/
William McPherson – http://ethicaldemocracy101.blogspot.com/
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Hello McPherson,
ReplyDeleteI'm stunned reading this and imagining the ease of Americans being able to cross the country, comfortable, in 12 hours, less stops along the way, allowing all of us access to places that have always seemed like faraway dreamlands, like the national parks, family and friends, events. Air travel is too expensive and with lost luggage, rain delays and customs, it isn't pleasurable. Transportation opens us all to so many potential opportunities and, as you point out, the jobs that would come with this.