Navy1960
Senior Member
- Sep 4, 2008
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http://www.usmayors.org/highspeedrail/documents/committee-presentation.pdf
On the High Speed Rail thing, here is a study on the economic impact done for the US Conference of Mayors.
http://www.usmayors.org/highspeedrail/documents/report.pdf
Its a good read, the one thing here Teals, when you add in my previous posting, is all this economic impact also is taxable. To me at least, its not a matter of how much it costs but rather how to structure it so that the revenue that generated on ALL aspects of it so that it pays down that debt you mentioned. The same can be said for just about every program in the Federal system, I will add however, this is NOT the primary reason you build these things though , as a pure profit motive.
But profit is the reason Siemen's names is on the presentation. I mean, c'mon.....
There isn't enough information in there about assumptions or anything else to give you any kind of idea if this is reasonable or not.
Here in Kansas City, they have been knocking light rail off the ballot on a regular basis. The main claim is that it just won't pay out.
So its nice to see that Phoenixs new light rail system has surpassed ridership expectations. The 20-mile system linking Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa was projected to carry 26,000 riders per day. Currently its averaging 33,000. Moreover, the rail line has attracted $3.5 billion in private investment along its length, and the newly accessible downtown area has seen its revenue rise by 13%, even as revenue in the rest of the city has fallen by 16%. Another 37 miles of track are already in the works.
Light rail notches a success in the West - Light rail, Mass transit | TerraPass: Fight global warming, reduce your carbon footprint
I suppose it would be how one measure's what is success. If for example you believe as I do, that these projects, be they HSR, Dams, what have you not only improve this nations infrastructure, but allows us to compete in an ever increasing competetive world. As you pointed out Siemen's is in the business of profits and as they are a private company in my humble opinion Govt. is doing helping to create private sector jobs in that regard. Lastly, I would imagine that most of the people that take advantage of these projects, and I know this for a fact here in Phoenix, rather enjoy the fact we have them, I can tell you for sure it's a LOT easier to take the Light Rail to a D-Backs game than it is to drive down there. Over the long term, these projects that serve communities are more than just how much profit they make, they are what defines us as a nation, if we get to the point where every project is based on what we "can't do" then eventually we will be able to do nothing.