Open Left

Some people blame

Larry Summers.

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by: jeffbinnc @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 22:45:49 PM CST

Yeah I know

Wouldn't surprise me, although Oberstar seems to put more blame on CBO. This is congresses's plan after all. I think if they really wanted to make the bill 832 billion instead of 825 and add the 7 billion for rail back in, the Obama admin. wouldn't have stood in their way.

I'm still hopeful. Pelosi said the package would probably grow. Obama people said they expect it to be about 900 bn by the time he signs it. The approp. committee passed an amendment to say the project money doensn't have to be spent until 180 days out. And Defazio et al. seem to think they can get more money in the conference committee. It's going to take continual pressure from us if they're going to get it added back in. Oberstar and DeFazio can't do it on their own.

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by: adamterando @ Fri Jan 23, 2009 at 23:19:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

i think the way to start might be buses

they take less money and could be brought up to speed more quickly.  Having well run, clean, effective bus systems in most american cities and exurbs and small towns would help convince a lot of peoplethat public transportation isn't stalinism.

sigh...it's so aggravating to try to undo 100 years of bad policy.

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by: dr anonymous @ Sat Jan 24, 2009 at 11:46:12 AM CST

We need to do both

Train service needs to be bumped up to make those trips from 50-500 miles the best choice amongst rail, air, or road.

But I agree bus service also needs to be improved. I think the money in here can go to that as well. Which is unfortunate because it means once again, different forms of public transit will be competing for dollars.

I suppose a silver lining in all this is the massive state grants for Medicaid should help keep states and localities from cutting their public transit budgets.  

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by: adamterando @ Sat Jan 24, 2009 at 12:29:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Buses suck...

If you try to use buses to win over people on public transportation you are going to find people even more opposed to it... Buses are a miserable transportation option under any and every circumstance, even ones that use natural gas like around here.  The benefit of rail is that a train is not at the mercy of traffic or traffic lights.  A bus has no such advantage, and is even more disadvantaged than a car.

Many exurbs already have something like what you mentioned... they call it park'n'ride or something similar.

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

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by: lord_mike @ Sat Jan 24, 2009 at 17:53:57 PM CST

[ Parent ]