Lots of folks on the left love them some choo choos. They are convinced that if we just build more choo choos, that everything will be better. They believe that spending billions of dollars per mile for choo choos that are mostly empty is a great way to spend money.
I saw a story last night on the news that pointed out how stupid this attitude is. Next weekend we have several events in downtown Minneapolis that will likely be well attended. One in particular stands out. There is a sell out concert at the 50,000 plus seat stadium which will likely not end until 10:30 or 11:00. I suspect that a lot of people (Like me once) will decide that it makes sense to take the choo choo into downtown to save money on parking, and to avoid the heavy traffic. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it? It would be reasonable if the choo choos didn't stop running at 11:30, and the transit folks aren't going to schedule extra choo choos to handle the tens of thousands of people. As I said, I bought this line of bullshit once, and ended up waiting in line after a concert, longer than the headliner performed. To be polite, it's an absolute joke.
But wait, there's more. Apparently the federal government is still dangling billions of dollars so states will build MORE choo choos. So our fearless legislators decided that it didn't make sense to let those billions of dollars go elsewhere and decided that we needed a choo choo that went to Duluth. Don't get me wrong, Duluth is a very nice city, but people rarely go to Duluth. They go through Duluth on the way to the north shore, the BWCA, or Voyageurs, but rarely do people stay in Duluth. FYI Duluth is about a 3 hour drive from the cities. So this hypothetical choo choo will not be a 200 MPH bullet train, nor will it be nonstop. Most passenger choo choos are limited to 80 mph, while the speed limit on i-35 is 70. So the trip might be a little quicker if it was nonstop, but all in a few stops and a 3 hour trip easily becomes a 4 hour trip. Then you still would likely rent a car in Duluth to get around. In short, the state is going to spend billions of dollars (and if past history gives us any insight, will likely be vastly over the estimated cost), on a choo choo that is slower than driving, and that will likely cost as much or more than a tal=nk of gas.
Just keep repeating "Choo choos, are awesome." over an over and maybe you'll be brainwashed into believing the propaganda.
3 comments:
I have no huge amount of information on the details on this topic, but generally support the notion of encouraging mass transit, including trains. Do you think the train system works in Europe? It worked very well for us when we were there and I know people in places like Europe, NYC and other train-friendly places that love the option.
I know that if I lived in NYC (as some in my family and friends have, and who I've visited frequently), there's no way I'd drive a car regularly and probably wouldn't even own one. It's just a hassle in such places.
My biggest notion along these lines is I love and deeply value the notion of living in small circles and recognize that some places (like my Louisville) are not set up to do so very effectively, where you basically walk most places you go. But other places I've visited or have heard about - NYC, Barcelona and all the cities we visited in Europe, Nicaragua, etc - ARE incredibly pleasant places to live on foot 90% of the time.
Have you visited places like this where it was a much preferred option to walk and train?
I think the main problem in places where "trains don't work," is an infrastructure and plan design problem, not a problem with trains.
"I have no huge amount of information on the details on this topic, but generally support the notion of encouraging mass transit, including trains."
It's always good when you start by admitting your ignorance, and acting as if your hunches about things have objective value. The fact that you support something as hideuosly expensive, and inefficient as choo choos, dosen't bode well.
"Do you think the train system works in Europe?"
It's apples and oranges. Europe is smaller with completely different demographics than the vast majority of the US.
"It worked very well for us when we were there and I know people in places like Europe, NYC and other train-friendly places that love the option."
The fact that choo choos "work" in certain "train friendly" places doesn't mean that they are the answer everywhere. There are places where choo choos might make sense in the abstract. But in the real world where our government spends 3x more than it takes in on a yearly basis, it seems like taking cost, effectiveness, use rates, and the like into consideration would be the wise thing to do.
"I know that if I lived in NYC (as some in my family and friends have, and who I've visited frequently), there's no way I'd drive a car regularly and probably wouldn't even own one. It's just a hassle in such places."
There's a saying that I've heard used before that seems appropriate. It's something about how the exception doesn't prove the rule. The fact that a few high density cities (which seem to go against your predilection for simple rural living) do have choo choos that are somewhat effective, doesn't mean that makes sense for everyone. FYI, lots of folks in NYC still drive cars. So maybe your personal preference isn't enough reason to make expensive policy changes.
"My biggest notion along these lines is I love and deeply value the notion of living in small circles and recognize that some places (like my Louisville) are not set up to do so very effectively, where you basically walk most places you go. But other places I've visited or have heard about - NYC, Barcelona and all the cities we visited in Europe, Nicaragua, etc - ARE incredibly pleasant places to live on foot 90% of the time."
Interesting. You don't see the contradiction of advocating for choo choos in places you deem undesirable to live in, as a rationale for choo choos elsewhere. Again with the attempt to define reality by your anecdotal experiences, and personal preferences.
"Have you visited places like this where it was a much preferred option to walk and train?"
I've ridden the choo choos in some cities I've visited. I'm not a huge fan of large urban areas, and don't spend a lot of time in them. But, I do acknowledge that there are some limited instances where choo choos do work reasonably well for a certain % of the population. I don't think that automatically means they work everywhere, especially at the hideously expensive cost per mile. Of course, this is immaterial.
"I think the main problem in places where "trains don't work," is an infrastructure and plan design problem, not a problem with trains."
Of course you do. Because the idiots who laid out MPLS/ST Paul back in the 1800" should have known that some idiots in the 21st century were going to bitch about how things were laid out. Maybe we should pass laws that severely limit how cities can be laid out, how many people they can accommodate, and what choices those people should have when it comes to transportation and housing.
As you say, Craig, trains have their place. Not every place is right for them. In most cities, there are other forms of public transit which often require constant payment of some amount. To many, the cost is worth it for their situation. Others prefer the liberty a personal conveyance provides, not having to adhere to schedules not of one's own making or ideal.
Before his recent divorce, my bro-in-law lived right across the street from a L platform. When he still had season tickets for the Bears, I went with him to a game and it was incredibly convenient. For most in the city who rely on public trans, there's all sorts of planning and scheduling to get where one seeks to go, and often that involves walking and waiting as well. What's the cost of that? My bro and his ex both had cars in addition to their use of trains and/or buses. I believe most in the cities who have both.
Also, there's an incredible amount of crime where the train and bus stations are, as well as on the conveyances themselves. Because of this, many won't take the trains or buses unless they have absolutely no choice. We can thank progressives for that, too.
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