Krugman: Cannibalize the Future – NYTimes.com

Cannibalize the Future – NYTimes.com.

One general rule of modern politics is that the people who talk most about future generations — who go around solemnly declaring that we’re burdening our children with debt — are, in practice, the people most eager to sacrifice our future for short-term political gain. You can see that principle at work in the House Republican budget, which starts with dire warnings about the evils of deficits, then calls for tax cuts that would make the deficit even bigger, offset only by the claim to have a secret plan to make up for the revenue losses somehow or other.

Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Politics, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy, Regional USA Passenger Rail

Amtrak CEO: New rail tunnels to New York critical – Philly.com

Amtrak CEO: New rail tunnels to New York critical – Philly.com.

As Amtrak continues to set ridership records, chief executive Joseph Boardman said Wednesday that new rail tunnels to New York are “critical” to meeting growing passenger demand.

Amtrak is seeking $35 million this year to advance plans for its $13.5 billion Gateway proposal to increase rail service on the Northeast corridor by adding two tunnels under the Hudson, replacing the century-old Portal Bridge near Newark, and expanding Pennsylvania Station in New York.

 

Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Politics, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy, Regional USA Passenger Rail, United States High Speed Rail

Amtrak says it needs more funding to avoid re-routing Southwest Chief – Wichita Business Journal

Amtrak says it needs more funding to avoid re-routing Southwest Chief – Wichita Business Journal.

Advocates for passenger rail service in southwest Kansas are looking for funding solutions to keep Amtrak’s    Amtrak Latest from The Business Journals Follow this company Southwest Chief route running through the area.

The Garden City Telegram reports that according to an Amtrak presentation in Garden City, the company’s officials are considering re-routing the Southwest Chief to the south, so it would no longer go through southwest Kansas. They say a change is necessary because Amtrak uses a track that is owned and operated by BNSF Railway, which has reduced its maintenance efforts on the track now that much of BNSF’s freight traffic uses a different route. Maintenance and repair costs now rest mostly with Amtrak.

 

Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Politics, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy, Regional USA Passenger Rail

General Motors Stops Funding The Heartland Institute | ThinkProgress

General Motors Stops Funding The Heartland Institute | ThinkProgress.

Sorry that you don’t hear much from me any more, but this is news because one of the foremost institutions of deliberate misinformation on transportation issues is the Heartland Institute. Now it is bare for all to see that this “think tank” was noting but a pack of paid mouthpieces for the corporate interests that seem to enjoy unchecked power to impose the transportation policy.

General Motors has decided to discontinue funding of the Heartland Institute, an organization that downplays the risks of climate disruption, three weeks after GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson was asked about it during a Climate One radio interview. GM spokesman Dave Barthmuss confirmed the move today..

Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy, United States High Speed Rail

Amtrak service to Norfolk to begin in 2012 | www.1340wgau.com

Amtrak service to Norfolk to begin in 2012 | www.1340wgau.com.

The Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. —

Amtrak will begin passenger rail service to Norfolk by the end of the year.

Gov. Bob McDonnell’s office said Wednesday that the service will begin by Dec. 31, which is 10 months earlier than originally projected.

 

Filed under: Amtrak, Regional USA Passenger Rail

Suppliers of dispatching technology and services factor PTC, next-level efficiencies into the planning mix

Suppliers of dispatching technology and services factor PTC, next-level efficiencies into the planning mix.

Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy