China interest in US HSR

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

Issa urges firing of Amtrak chief, counsel – Washington Times

Issa just happens to be one of the biggest right wing nuts in Congress. On this item, he may be right. I fear he is and I continue to be concerned about the abrupt departure of former Amtrak president Kummant.

Issa urges firing of Amtrak chief, counsel – Washington Times.

Filed under: Amtrak

Taking Aim at Rail – Transportation Experts

So why, exactly, are federal rail programs so hated by Tea Party Republicans? Here is a generally balanced discussion. I particularly draw your attention to comments made by Bill Lind of the American Conservative Center for Public Transportation.

As a conservative with strong Tea Party sympathies, I think the main reason for many Tea Party folks’ anti-rail attitudes is a lack of information. For example:

o Many of them think the current highway dominance is a free market outcome. In fact, it reflects almost a century of government subsidies for highways while those same governments were taxing privately-owned passenger rail.

o Similarly, they believe both urban rail transit and intercity passenger trains are subsidized while highways pay for themselves. The real numbers show that highway user fees, including the gas tax, cover only 51% of highway costs while Amtrak covers 62% of its operating costs from revenues and many rail transit operations cover 50% or more of operating costs from fares.

Read on.

Taking Aim at Rail – Transportation Experts.

Filed under: Passenger Rail Politics

Republicans Blast ‘Livable Communities’ Bill As Washington-Based Central Planning for Cities and Towns | CNSnews.com

I cannot imagine being forced to live in a community with wide sidewalks,  lanes for bus turns, open spaces and bike lanes. That’s SOCIALISM!

(CNSNews.com) – The Senate Banking Committee passed the Livable Communities Act on Tuesday, moving the bill one step closer to final passage. The bill creates $4 billion in neighborhood planning grants for “sustainable” living projects and a new federal office to oversee them.

Republicans Blast ‘Livable Communities’ Bill As Washington-Based Central Planning for Cities and Towns | CNSnews.com.

Filed under: Passenger Rail Politics, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy

NationalJournal.com – Amtrak E-Mail Misuse Alleged in IG Scandal – Thursday, January 20, 2011

This is the “wedge” Republicans will use to destroy Amtrak. The IG issue is a viable matter of dispute. Amtrak is a mess. Too bad for rail passengers.

Amtrak’s independent investigative officer is asking the U.S. Postal Service to look into whether Amtrak officials misused the e-mail system by searching for communiqués between his office and Congress about the unexpected retirement of Amtrak’s longtime inspector general, according to House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif

NationalJournal.com – Amtrak E-Mail Misuse Alleged in IG Scandal – Thursday, January 20, 2011.

Filed under: Amtrak

Major renovation at historic St. Paul Union Depot | Minneapolis and St. Paul | kare11.com

Major renovation at historic St. Paul Union Depot | Minneapolis and St. Paul | kare11.com.

Filed under: Amtrak, Regional USA Passenger Rail