Posted: 05/12/09 05:26
by Dave Mindeman
More talk about about high speed rail today.
Although it looks more and more like "high speed" is a relative term. I hope that people are considering the real issues here.
First, high speed rail must be fast and efficient. That means fewer stops and track that can handle the speeds. That will cost way more money than they are willing to talk about right now. The proposed route from St. Paul to LaCrosse is not going to be a significant enough advantage over current routing. Using existing track may be a futile, piecemeal approach.
Second, you have to connect as many economic centers as you can. Leaving Rochester out of the mix is extremely short sighted and I guarantee that at some point in the future, we will be clamoring to make that connection and it will cost 3 times more.
Third, is anybody considering the infrastructure cost that would surround the venture? Upgraded stations....parking facilities...retail centers. You could easily get the private sector involved with these issues, but only if there is a consensus that consumers will use it in big numbers. A train that is only marginally faster than the current system will not do that.
As usual, we will go about this in our half-measured mediocre way.... and probably get it wrong.
