RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
The Jobs Bill that is being pushed by the Obama administration includes about $4 billion in rail funding. That money is being used to improve existing rail tracks for higher speed trains.
Instead of allocating $4 billion towards updating track, I believe it would be much better to allocate $2 billion for transportation funding to the largest 25 cities in the United States. Each city could use this money however they want, as long as it provides some sort of public transit (light rail, greater bus service, etc). For example, light rail costs approximately $150 million max per mile. So, for $2 billion, Columbus could build a 13-mile light rail system....which could easily serve the airport, downtown, and OSU.
Sure, this is much more expensive ($4 billion vs $50 billion), but it would allow a larger number of people to utilize public transit and eliminate their 2nd vehicle, etc. compared to updating some high-speed rail tracks.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.