Poll: High-Speed Rail for $53b

Obama proposed a new initiative to develop a new HSR system for $53b

Obama to call for $53B for high-speed rail - Yahoo! News

I personally believe that an HSR system is essential to the long-term health of the US economy. When the cost of gas exceeds $5/gallon and transportation costs become prohibitive, HSR will be the mode of choice.

I support the initiative, especially when China has a brand new 300 mph HSR system
China smashes high-speed rail record with 300MPH unmodified train run | Gadling.com

So lets vote. IMHO this is like the interstate expressway system only better. I'm hoping it gets some of those big rigs off the roads. We need to start planning transportation 20, 30, even 50 years out so we don't get caught in a bad depression in the coming years.

 

What does high speed rail run on?

 

Electricity

 

Awesome. About time.

 

The transmission lines can't handle it.

 

It's high time we began a long trudge to catch up with Europe, Japan and China.
It'll be years before we see high speed in operation. They've had it for years already.

 

If we're going to emulate them, we should focus on nuclear power plants (in the private sector).

 

Coal, concrete, copper & steel. All are very energy intensive & not greenhouse friendly.

 

What transmission lines?? The ones from the new nuke plants?? After the DC whores moved 14,000 factories overseas, there is plenty of electric capacity for HSR trains.

 

What nuke plants?

The U.S. is woefully underbuilt in that area.