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December 3, 2008 at 09:10:22
Promoted to Headline (H3) on 12/3/08: by Mary MacElveen Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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When President-elect Barack Obama met with governors from coast-to-coast in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania his message was one of partnership with our state’s governors. Some pundits cited this move by an incoming president in meeting with the governors during the transition process as unprecedented. Then again, these are unprecedented times. In this day and age where we will need to think of putting men and women back to work we will need to “experiment” as the president-elect stated. As his statements were aired, an important message coming from our Vice President-elect, Joe Biden was not. Please listen to what Biden had to say of China’s rail-system. I am one that does believe in mass transportation and that too is part-in-parcel when it comes to jobs creation, and helping to sever our ties with foreign oil. New buses and new trains can be a forward looking project for our country. We just need to get the people into that mind-set. Also to get people on-board (pun intended), it can be seen as a new way of creating revenue for states that need a jumpstart. Each time you pay your fair, it goes to your local and state governments and not to big-oil. Now that is liberating and can solve our problems within the Middle East.
Also, it can be seen by families as a cost-cutting measure when it comes to their wallets. Figure in how much one pays per-month for car payments, the insurance payments that go with it and yes, the price of gas to power it. We have all see the price of gas fluctuate. As I have cited in previous pieces, I do not drive for medical reasons and must rely on cabs which can be costly.
If the county in which I reside, Suffolk County, NY were to implement a bus system far superior to the one they have now, it would cost me less to get from point A to point B. If I want to go to the nearest mall which is far-away by cab it costs me $30 dollars as opposed to $1.50 by bus. Right now, the bus-system here in Suffolk County does not operate on Sundays and people do work and shop on those days. Even their schedules are pathetic where one can stand at a bus-stop for hours. There has got to be a better way of traveling for those of us who do not drive or for those who will no longer be able to afford to drive.
As the big-three automakers have come to Washington, D.C. with hat-in-hand for bridge-loans, maybe our lawmakers can engage these automakers to retool some of their facilities to build trains and buses as a part of this deal or any future deals to be made. Instead of focusing on cars, they can be building trains and buses to transport the many instead of a few.
I have traveled on Amtrak just like Biden has and I have to say that it is a pleasant experience and here is why: When we are thinking of traveling long-distances, automatically we think of traveling by air. As one travels by air, one has to arrive at the terminal one to two hours before departure time. Not so when it comes to Amtrak. In this post-9/11-world, many who have traveled by air, have gone through security lines and have been asked to remove our shoes. Not so on Amtrak. Many of the planes we take if we travel by coach have seats that are confining at best and can be uncomfortable. On Amtrak trains, the seats are comfortable and yes with enough leg-room to spread out. Hey, even their lavatories are bigger.
If you are a person that loves to travel in comfort, well the Acela Train is far-superior than any coach-ride by air. This train does have a café-car where one can purchase delicious food items. We have all heard and seen that the airline industry were looking to cut out meals served, or worse, you are given boxed food with snacks inside. The last time I traveled on the Acela, I had a huge-juicy cheese burger. Yum!
As some in the airline industry are now charging extra for luggage, on Amtrak that is not the case. They even have bins for passengers to store items too large to be placed over-head compartments.
I do think that Vice President-elect, Joe Biden brought something to the table with his “pro-rail bias” that can be a solution to help sever our ties to big-oil. When it comes to the mind-set of traveling by train or bus, our new way forward should be, “I think I can, I think I can” to borrow a sentiment expressed in ‘The Little Red Train’.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
http://www.mary-macelveen.blogspot.com
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
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| 6 comments |
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"The Little Engine That Could"
Hi, Mary, Excellent article, just wanted to alert you that the "I think I can, I think I can" line comes from "The Little Engine That Could," rather than "The Little Red Engine." That's piddling, considering that the pro-any public transportation system is a real solution. Every European metropolitan area has fantastic public trans, they have learned how efficient and environment-friendly it is. Then you have the public trans system in Sydney, Australia, arguably the best in the Eastern hemisphere. They have a dip-ticket system, and you can buy tickets in any configuration: bus/train/subway/ferry or any combination. Best place in the world for a cheap date! You can spend an entire Friday evening seeing the lights from downtown Sydney, the Opera House, the bridge, the casino, and all the beautiful bays and coves throughout the Sydney Harbour area. All for less than A$5 a person. Looking forward to the day when the SUVs and large personal gas-guzzlers are recycled for parts and refabrication. by Claudia Snowden (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments) on Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008 at 4:30:33 PM  (0+)
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Reply: Thank you for that correction.
Another reader alerted me to where I used the wrong title and on my blog, I did correct it. But, yes, mass transportation is the way forward. Even Michael Moore in his appearance on Countdown with Keith Olbermann called for the Big-Three to retool to make trains, planes and other forms of mass transportation. I concur since in this miserable economy, who can afford to purchase a car. All the best, Mary! by Mary MacElveen (371 articles, 0 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 52 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008 at 11:11:29 PM (0+)
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I want commuter trains yesterday.
I have lived in areas where you could travel by commuter train and it was always the best option for getting somewhere quickly and cheaply. You could get downtown or where ever more quickly, you didn't have to hunt a parking place, and when you arrived you were more rested since you didn't have the agravation of all the stop and go driving. Americans are crazy for not doing what most of the rest of the world has been doing all along. by vidiot (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 300 comments [10 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008 at 8:00:49 PM (0+)
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The good with the bad
All talk about global warming is lip service until we get serious about comprehensive mass transit. That would be trolley lines inside cities, interurban lines out to the hinterland and high speed rail between metropolitan areas. It is one of the few areas where Obama/Biden have sent a progressive message. Michael Hudson has sounded a note of caution though. All mass transit could be self-financing if we taxed the increased real estate value of the newly served areas. The Obama/Biden plan however gives public money directly to private developers (Wall Street) by-passing local governments. Once again its the wolf in sheep's clothing. Or is it a sheep in wolf's clothing? by Doug Rogers (16 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 152 comments) on Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008 at 10:45:34 PM (0+)
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Reply: Doug
I agree. Michael Hudson is an excellent economist & historian and voice of reason. Everything Mr Credit Card and Obama advocate will be to benefit private corporations and investment bankers. Just go by their record not their sparkly smiles. If you think they are looking out for the commoners you haven't been paying attention. by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [734 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 at 6:12:41 AM (0+)
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Rail is great; trains are romantic.
They even let you drink on many rail lines. In my experience trucks are still useful though, because they can move parts around faster and more flexibly to supply factories that are in need. Trucks are also very fuel efficient if dispatched with full loads -- and can be made more efficient with fuel modifications such as hydrogen injection. ~~John by John Bessa (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 94 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Dec 4, 2008 at 10:33:15 AM (0+)
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