WRP_CircusMovesByRail_Jan15_6v_Layout 1 11/30/
ics, the trains will be a “detriment.” Some critics in this case and in others are accused of failing to keep pace with the times. The Texas Central Railroad, as it is to be
known, promises it will travel Dallas-to-Hous- ton in just under 90 minutes, meet or exceed all state safety and security requirements, move faster than automobiles, and be compet- itive with air travel, serving the U.S.’s “ fifth largest” metropolitan region. Another twist: So let me see if I under-
stand the prime argument against imple- menting HSR in America: We are told that we can’t have the California High Speed Rail because that’s just too expensive for the pub- lic purse to bear. On the other hand, we are told we can’t have the Texas High Speed Rail that is to be built by a private for-profit cor- poration. So which is it? If the San Francisco-Los
Angeles train is too expensive, what’s the problem with the Dallas-Houston train? Too cheap? And as for a Florida plan, about which we
have had much to discuss in this column, two counties have anticipated ganging up against a for-profit company that’s ready to build the Miami-Orlando All Aboard Florida ex- press-style line operating on right-of-way dat- ing back to the 19th century (of course, with stronger new track to accommodate the in- creased traffic). “Express” in this case means fast, but short of HSR. Why the objection? Automobiles may have to wait a little less
than a minute for the trains to clear the highway. Perhaps the Florida Nimbys are
unaware that — all together now — “the rail- road was there first.”
Agenda — New NARP Boss
The pro-passenger train National Associa- tion of Railroad Passengers is planning for some heavy lobbying and citizen advocacy for several days here in the D.C. area. NARP CEO Jim Mathews has a five-point “connect- ed-America” plan as his members meet with lawmakers on the Hill: (1) $5.5 billion for intercity passenger
trains as part of the multi-year transportation bill. Long-term, Mathews says, it will take 23 years to complete passenger rail services for which states have identified and budgeted. (2) Fund location programs to avoid “deadly incursions by motor vehicles into rail rights- of-way.” (3) Address constitutional questions prompted in the pro-passenger PRIIA bill of 2008. That primarily deals with congressional action allowing Amtrak to collaborate with FRA to set on-time and other performance standards of freight and passenger. This is tied up in the courts, but there may be a leg- islative remedy. (4) Prohibit the FRA from imposing “need-
less and onerous regulations that require states funding passenger trains to be certified as “railroads.” (5) Permit airports to use FAA Airport Im- provement grants, or other revenue streams to plan, build, and operate shared intermodal facilities serving trains and buses. More about all this is future columns.
WES VERNON IS A WASHINGTON WRITER and veteran broadcast journalist. You can reach him with questions or comments at
capitollines@railfan.com.
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