Every Cloud Does Indeed Have A Silver Lining

[Big RR]

As I recall, for the Accela train another problem (especially north of NYC) is the number of at grade crossings and significant curves in the track which limits the speed (and why the Accela takes less than 3 hours from NYC to DC (I think it can get up to over 100 mph), but over 4 hours to Boston (or about driving time). I have no doubt there are significant problems in implementing high speed rail, but I would also guess the air and automotive industries do their best to block anything that would reduce their transportation share.

However, high speed rail aside, I would be there is a lot of technology that can be put into existing rail lines to reduce accidents like the one last week.

[Econoline]

[Big RR]

FWIW, no one at the federal level appears to care about infrastructure, republican or democrat. Both parties appear to be focused on cutting taxes and spending (or not cutting spending and bloating the deficit) rather than investing seriously in infrastructure. Oh there's some lip service by both sides, but the tax cuts always take first place no matter which party is in power (sure Clinton raised taxes early in his administration, but then cut them before his second run; Obama extended the W tax cuts he maligned during his campaign; the repubs since Reagan cut taxes routinely (and we all saw what happened to daddy Bush when he changed direction). Once again, we get exactly the government we deserve.

[Burning Petard]

I want to be part of a political party that is dedicated to kicking the can back up the road. Deal with problems now. As MG demonstrated in his post about sagging power lines, when ASAP means perhaps in two weeks, it costs more, not less.

snailgate

[Big RR]

yep; but those who are in a position to do something just don't want to listen.

[RayThom]

Those in the best position to listen (hear) know better than to run for public office. Why? Because they listen!

We will always be stuck with second best... or lower.

[Long Run]

We spend plenty on transportation infrastructure, let alone other forms of infrastructure. (fwiw, 45's top domestic agenda item for 2018 is infrastructure according to an interview with a top admin official on NPR yesterday). We have one of the most elaborate freeway systems in the world and massive amounts of highways and major roadways that can take you pretty much anywhere you'd want to go in our land, from the bottom of Death Valley to the top of Pikes Peak, and from the Keys to remote Alaska (with an assist from our Canadian friends). We have many great airports, and lots of smaller well-run ones. We have not invested much in passenger trains, but there has been no significant demand for the service so why would we plow a lot of money into it? However, we have invested plenty of money over the last several decades into local rail to replace/supplement bus lines for commuters. One of the trendiest investment classes is private infrastructure, which includes toll roads and bridges. Just because passenger rail lost out in the marketplace doesn't mean we have needed; but cheer up rail advocates, given the TSA lines at airports and traffic tie-ups on the some highways, the 2-5 hour rail choice is making a bit of a comeback, and if that trend continues, the investment will follow.

[Big RR]

Well I won't argue we have pretty good interstate highways, although many of them are becoming toll roads. and we have many crumbling bridges and overpasses which need a lot of work but can't get it.

As for airports, I cannot think or any "great" ones (at least as compared with some of the major European airports like Frankfurt or Schiphol)--most are overcrowded and subject to big delays. Yes, there has been some private investment in putting more restaurants and shopping in the gate areas (especially since security and other requirements are pushing people to get there earlier), but not much to ease delays.

Train travel--sure there isn't much of an outcry for it, but then I would think many people would opt for a high speed train for intermediate distances if they could get there as quick as flying, taking into account earlier check in times, etc. But it never even appears to be part of the discussion, let alone choice.

As for Trump's "top domestic agenda item", after "cutting" taxes, insisting on more military spending, and otherwise bloating the deficit, I'm not holding my breath for any investment in infrastructure beyond placing a band aid here and there.

[Long Run]

As for Trump's "top domestic agenda item"

Yes, I left out the "l" from fwiw, for what little it's worth.