Updated: Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill released this statement about on receiving the high-speed rail funding.
"This substantial spending from the stimulus for Missouri will prepare our rail lines for high-speed rail which will provide faster rail service across Missouri. It represents a boon for our local and regional economy, helping to create jobs and move goods, services and people across the Midwest. This stimulus money further shows that Missouri projects can compete for and earn federal funding without relying on the earmark process," McCaskill said.***
St. Louis - Kansas City: Improvements on the St.Last April, Obama said, "There's no reason why we can't do this. This is America. There's noLouis to Kansas City service are expected to provide sizable service
reliability improvements; on-time performance on the route is projected
to increase from 18 percent in 2008 to 85 percent in fi ve years.
Numerous construction projects, including the expansion of existing
railroad bridges and universal crossovers, as well as improved grade
crossings, will be funded on this segment.
reason why the future of travel should lie somewhere else beyond our
borders. Building a new system of high-speed rail in America will be
faster, cheaper and easier than building more freeways or adding to an
already overburdened aviation system -- and everybody stands to benefit."
Read the full fact sheet here.
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I would love this service. I spend a lot of time in Chicago and their mass transit is great. If one can walk 4 or 5 blocks there is no need fo a car at all - the EL will get you where you need to go. So if there were a high speed train to Chicago from KC that was (and here is the BIG point) economical, my wife and I would be all over it. If I could get from KC to Chicago for, say, $80 round trip and have it take me 5 or 6 hours, I'd have no porblem riding the train over taking a plane.
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These kind of ideas are what keep us from becoming less dependent on automobiles. At one time we were at the forefront with train ridership. People need to get in the habit of riding trains again. It could really help out the environment. I think it will take time for people to realize that cars are not that great and that trains allow a whole different kind of freedom.
Basically what I'm saying is that you have been living in Kansas for too long if you think people won't ride trains. Visit another part of the country please..
I did a research paper on high speed rail between KC and Wichita when I was in college.
Fact is: Americans will not give up the personal freedom of the automobile to make rail, even high speed rail, economically viable. This venture (between St. Louis and KC) will likely be a boondoggle financially. However, historically, most large (mega projects) transportation infrastructure projects have been wasted taxpayer money, not only in the US, but world wide. The benefit will go to the company and the people that win the contract. Everybody else, from the most practical aspects, gets screwed in higher taxes.
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