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3C Passenger Rail Project - News & Updates

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Started 3 years ago by jawjack187
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johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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Antonio wrote >>
The Heartland Corridor is already open.
It was completed and open in September.
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2010/sep/09/norfolk-southern-opens-heartland-corridor-ar-497461/

johnwirtz wrote >>
I thought "the freight lines are doing quite well with out any additional help or aid." Why would we spend $400 of public money to rebuild their bridges for them? If the government is going to spend money on freight railroad infrastructure, I think it should alleviate bottlenecks or increase capacity, much like the Heartland Corridor project that Gram mentioned.

Yes, and I think it was a good use of public funds.

Posted 2 years ago #
Antonio

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I have no problem with it either.

johnwirtz wrote >>

Antonio wrote >>
The Heartland Corridor is already open.
It was completed and open in September.
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2010/sep/09/norfolk-southern-opens-heartland-corridor-ar-497461/

johnwirtz wrote >>
I thought "the freight lines are doing quite well with out any additional help or aid." Why would we spend $400 of public money to rebuild their bridges for them? If the government is going to spend money on freight railroad infrastructure, I think it should alleviate bottlenecks or increase capacity, much like the Heartland Corridor project that Gram mentioned.

Yes, and I think it was a good use of public funds.

Posted 2 years ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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Antonio wrote >>
I have no problem with it either.

johnwirtz wrote >>

Antonio wrote >>
The Heartland Corridor is already open.
It was completed and open in September.
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2010/sep/09/norfolk-southern-opens-heartland-corridor-ar-497461/

johnwirtz wrote >>
I thought "the freight lines are doing quite well with out any additional help or aid." Why would we spend $400 of public money to rebuild their bridges for them? If the government is going to spend money on freight railroad infrastructure, I think it should alleviate bottlenecks or increase capacity, much like the Heartland Corridor project that Gram mentioned.

Yes, and I think it was a good use of public funds.

...but I would have a problem with spending the money on bridges owned by freight railroads, unless that bridge was somehow part of a capacity bottleneck.

Posted 2 years ago #
Antonio

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A bridge collapsing would cause freight bottlenecks not only for the rail but the ground traffic as well.

It does happen.

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/railroad-41683-bridge-collapse.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,310319,00.html

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/train_derailment_on_key_wester.html

http://www.zimbio.com/Railroad+Worker+News/articles/jVQSk4gu12o/Body+Missing+Nebraska+Railroad+Worker+Found

johnwirtz wrote >>

Antonio wrote >>
I have no problem with it either.

johnwirtz wrote >>

Antonio wrote >>
The Heartland Corridor is already open.
It was completed and open in September.
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2010/sep/09/norfolk-southern-opens-heartland-corridor-ar-497461/

johnwirtz wrote >>
I thought "the freight lines are doing quite well with out any additional help or aid." Why would we spend $400 of public money to rebuild their bridges for them? If the government is going to spend money on freight railroad infrastructure, I think it should alleviate bottlenecks or increase capacity, much like the Heartland Corridor project that Gram mentioned.

Yes, and I think it was a good use of public funds.

...but I would have a problem with spending the money on bridges owned by freight railroads, unless that bridge was somehow part of a capacity bottleneck.

Posted 2 years ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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Not our problem to keep their infrastructure in a good state of repair. They have plenty of incentive to keep their railroad operational without public money.

Posted 2 years ago #
Antonio

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If they collapse on a public roadway it definitely in our interest, mix in toxic chemicals to the equation.

It's all a moot point anyways.

johnwirtz wrote >>
Not our problem to keep their infrastructure in a good state of repair. They have plenty of incentive to keep their railroad operational without public money.

Posted 2 years ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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If we're going to use freak and rare disasters to justify spending, then we could easily apply that to passenger rail. Think about how nice it would have been on 9/11 to have a more robust rail system when the air system was shut down. Would be useful in advance of hurricanes for evacuations. Hell, even this snow storm. The trains are delayed, but cars are not even an option right now.

Posted 2 years ago #
CooperGuy

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johnwirtz wrote >>
The trains are delayed, but cars are not even an option right now.

Why aren't cars an option? It might be a slow trip requiring planning and patience, but traffic is moving. If I were to make a trip to Cleveland today, I would rather have the option to turn around and come home vs being stuck on a rail car.

Buckeye Traffic @ Ohio.gov

Plus, wouldn't most travelers need vehicles to get to the stations anyway?

Posted 2 years ago #
honavery
Arizona
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I think he is talking about Chicago. (I think)

Posted 2 years ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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Note my location. You can't drive through this safely. This is my walk to the train:

Posted 2 years ago #
Antonio

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Wow, you got some snow for sure. Don't think I'd attempt to go anywhere regardless of the mode.

Whip up some killer chili and crack open a case of Blue Moon.

johnwirtz wrote >>
Note my location. You can't drive through this safely. This is my walk to the train:

Posted 2 years ago #
CooperGuy

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Sorry, I though you were talking about this area. Interesting that in the first picture it looks like a streetcar is stuck also.

However, according to this site, it appears that the Amtrak trains are not running either.

Amtrak Mid-Morning update

Posted 2 years ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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CooperGuy wrote >>
Sorry, I though you were talking about this area. Interesting that in the first picture it looks like a streetcar is stuck also.
However, according to this site, it appears that the Amtrak trains are not running either.
Amtrak Mid-Morning update

We don't have any streetcars here. The vehicle in the bottom right of honavery's picture is a CTA bus on Lake Shore Drive.

Yeah, Amtrak is down. Metra is delayed. CTA is doing pretty well, but with some reduced frequency (maybe just to match reduced service demand) and a couple of minor problems.

Antonio wrote >>
Wow, you got some snow for sure. Don't think I'd attempt to go anywhere regardless of the mode.
Whip up some killer chili and crack open a case of Blue Moon.

Not many people went anywhere. I'm one of four in the office, despite being in the train-accessible downtown. Like Cooper noted, many people have to drive to the train. They couldn't, so they didn't. Also if kids are off school, someone has to stay home.

Posted 2 years ago #
Lakee911
Clintonville (South)
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That snow looks like fun for four wheel drive! Too bad all of the other cars are in the way.

Posted 2 years ago #
CooperGuy

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Lakee911 wrote >>
That snow looks like fun for four wheel drive! Too bad all of the other cars are in the way.

I bet you still wouldn't get far in that mess. In a lot of cases 4WD just means that you'll be stuck worse than the other cars ;)

This coming from a guy that has two very capable snow busting trucks (one a dually) plus an additional pair of Jeeps sitting in the garage.

Posted 2 years ago #
Antonio

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The governor of Florida announces his budget decisions today. This could be a pivotal point in the direction Florida will go on their HSR route.

He is not doing it at the Capitol, but at a statewide tea party meeting in Eustis, Florida of all places.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/mostpop/story.aspx?storyid=173503&provider=top

Mayors of the city this would run through asking for meetings.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=173512

Posted 2 years ago #
gk
columbus, ohio
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High speed rail along Lake Erie connecting Cleveland to Chicago may still be alive as Ohio congressional republicans and democrats join together to lobby for the idea.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/02/ohio_congress_members_seek_lak.html

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/morning_call/2011/02/lawmakers-push-for-lake-erie-rail-plan.html?ana=e_colum_rdup

Posted 2 years ago #
Inacan

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I admit I did not read every post, but I did read a considerable amount.

I have to say my personal view would be, if it doesn't get me there faster, I have to find transportation to get around once I am there and it doesn't save me money I can't see the benefit of spending millions.

I here the argument "what about people who don't have cars" and think that they are a minority in Ohio. Do you spend millions to fix a problem for the few? Majority rules in our society.

I hear the the argument "slow is better than nothing" and think, not so much. We have to spend tax dollars as if they were our business budget. If it doesn't make REALLY good sense for the majority don't do it.

Posted 2 years ago #
Twixlen
The Weston District
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<insert dead horse here>

Posted 2 years ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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Chucky's dream lives on!

gk wrote >>
High speed rail along Lake Erie connecting Cleveland to Chicago may still be alive as Ohio congressional republicans and democrats join together to lobby for the idea.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/02/ohio_congress_members_seek_lak.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/morning_call/2011/02/lawmakers-push-for-lake-erie-rail-plan.html?ana=e_colum_rdup

Posted 2 years ago #