Many people are excited about future connectivity between the cities, but I am not. Taxes must be raised in order to cover the remaining cost of the building the tracks and an estimated 15 million will be needed a year for maintainance. In an economy that is already strapping ohio for cash, why worsen the problem? Advocates say that everyone who rides will save money on commuting and simple trips. However, the cost to ride is $20 to ride to Cincinnati or Cleveland at 40 mph. I would much rather put that money into the gas tank and drive there at 75 mph. Once you arrive at your destination, then what? Either you walk around the city, spend more money to hire a taxi, or hope that the city implements train offshoots to help get you around.
I imagine many people picture the expensive high speed trains similar to the ones in use in Europe. But the truth is that Ohio will most likely build using Amtrak, train notoriosly dirty, unreliable, and slow. As a result, the federal money spread throughout the nation would better be used by giving it all to one or two cities to implement quality high speed trains. If the initiative proves successful, then we can begin talking about spreading money nationwide. Thoughts?
I don't know enought about the issue to intelligently comment, but it seems that this will be of some benefit in the short term, yes?
ReplyDeleteSome jobs will be created anyway.
The main issue for me is, will they be able to easily upgrade the railway once it's in place? If it would actually be easier to build European style trains from the start, I'd say building slow trains is a waste of time.
If it's easier to build a basic railway system now and upgrade it when we have more money, I'd say, go for it.