I'm going to start a topic that that I bet will deliver some diverse thloughts; and because I'll be on the road starting tomorrow about 10AM ET, I won't see what, if anything, is posted until Friday.
I'm inspired to open this topic insomuch as both The Times and The Journal have noted the fifth anniversary of ARRA 09 (Stimulus) on their respective Editorial pages with, needless to say, diverse opinions (I find those Ed's when I get home and link 'em).
So why don't we discuss here the impact of this legislation upon passenger rail. For example, on the positive, Amtrak was able to rebuild and return to service stored Amfleet equipment which today has faces in the windows and UNOWAT's in the seats. However, on the negative, there were certainly were some non-starter proposals, such as in Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin that were little more than enabling connected consultants to feed at the Feddytrough, accomplishing nothing beyond feeding fodder to rail passenger opponents.
Thoughts, anyone?
Vincent206 Member # 15447
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There also was the Tampa to Orlando project that was approved but never built. I think it was a mistake for WI to turn down their allocation, but I don't think the Ohio 3C project would have been very successful.
Meanwhile, WA and OR would like to thank those governors that turned down their share of the ARRA pie. We've spent your money on new trains for the Cascades service and plenty of shovels are in the ground building better infrastructure.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Good points, Vincent. I forgot about the Tampa fiasco. While it would have been political suicide to put the $$$$ allocated to passenger rail where there were and are enough shovel ready projects at hand, out there you want trains and are prepared to fund them at local level. Putting on my regional. hat, I wonder if the powers that be really recognized that Florida does not want intercity trains (I'm very skeptical of All Aboard Florida and even more so after hiking around on Sunday at 'the scene' in Miami NOTHING has been done) and have allowed some consultants to embed themselves in a non-start project. Same-same Wisconsin. Some may say that you in the PNW will benefit having those Talgos sitting around Milwaukee (I think they are well secured) as it appears you are the only potential North American customer for them. If Spain wasn't such a financial basket case, I'd say 'send 'em back where they came from'.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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I don't know if it has anything to do with ARRA, but I'm interested in the Iowa Pacific venture to provide non-Amtrak rail service intrastate in OK. I'm also a bit more optimistic than you are regarding All Aboard Florida, albeit like everything down here, I'm sure it will be delayed.
CG96 Member # 1408
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Actually, the WI effort had been in the works for the previous 15 years. It was rejected by a Governor strictly for political reasons -- the Rs could not abide letting President Obama have a legacy, now, could they ? The WI effort was far enough along that all that was needed was funding for construction -- the consultant work was done almost two decades ago.
What happened was that we in WI were complacent, figuring it was a 'done deal,' and that Walker would take the funds (like what many other pols have done in the past with Transportation projects), but that was not to be. No one counted on such a large scale fact-free assault on a project that was 15 years in the making.
Oh, well, we'll get trains back through Madison sometime.
Vincent206 Member # 15447
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The list of ARRA projects shows that much of the funding was spread out across the country and that very little true HSR is achievable for the money allocated. After 5 years and $8+ billion spent, we can see that train riders have gained:
faster Vermonter service,
an expanded Downeaster,
more reliable River Runners,
a more reliable Piedmont,
a better Chicago hub,
lots of new equipment coming for Amtrak.
There still are many infrastructure projects under construction that will produce many more benefits, but outside of CA, very little of the money will build true HSR.
George Harris Member # 2077
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I would disagree that there is no real demand for intrastate train service in Florida. I am hearing that there is quite a bit of in-state ridership on the Amtrak long distance trains which would hint toward the demand being there. I know that Florida did try a Miami-Tampa train quite a few years back, but I do not know how it did. I think if it is going to be done, it needs to be done with a certain amount of enthusiasm, that is have 3 to 4 trains per day, not just one. When you have just 1 a lot of ridership does not happen because while in one direction it might fit someone's plan, in the other it does not.
Remember, Florida has quite a lot of retirees, many of which are losing interest or ability in driving.
Vincent206 Member # 15447
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Perhaps many of the ARRA benefits are relatively inconspicuous and not worthy of headline reports, but they are significant. In most years, reports of mudslides along Puget Sound cancelling Sounder and Amtrak service are pretty commonplace. Last summer, BNSF spent ARRA money on a mudslide mitigation program and, so far, I only know of 2 cancellations in 2014 (and February '14 was the 7th wettest in recorded history). Next summer, BNSF will be back with Phase II of the mitigation program, so next winter's service should be even more reliable.
We're going to get lots of heavy rain this week, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a few mudslides. But better train service is one local benefit I see from the ARRA money.
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