Inauguration Day Open Thread
As critical as I’ve been of Barack Obama’s stimulus proposals, it is nice to be waving goodbye to George W. Bush, who didn’t lift a finger to help high speed rail, attempted on several occasions to kill Amtrak, and whose second Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, did much to undermine light rail projects around the country.
With Obama in the White House we have the chance to finally make the national investment in sustainable transportation and passenger rail in particular that has been desperately needed for several decades now. The fight will continue, of course, to make the opportunity a reality. But after the last 8 years, it’s nice to know that Americans and Californians are willing to embrace change and admit that a new direction is needed.
From barackobama.com:
Support Development of High-Speed Freight and Passenger Rail: Barack Obama and Joe Biden support development of high-speed rail networks across the country. Providing passengers with safe high-speed rail will have significant environmental and metropolitan planning advantages and help diversify our nation’s transportation infrastructure. Our domestic rail freight capacity must also be strengthened because our demand for rail transportation has never been greater, leaving many key transportation hubs stretched to capacity. Obama and Biden are committed to renewing the federal government’s commitment to high speed rail so that our nation’s transportation infrastructure continues to support, and not hinder, our nation’s long-term economic growth.
@ anon -
talk is cheap, especially in the run-up to an election. I’ll believe it when I see the necessary billions are actually appropriated.
Once again Obama said “Road and Bridge” in his Inauguation speech.
Robert,
I would like to know where I can get a large printed high-quality version of the HSR train you posted. Can you provide the information?
Yeah when he started mentioning those infrastructure improvements, it got my hopes up that he was about to mention high speed rail, but alas, nothing. I don’t really care though, it was a very important moment in our history.
Brandon, I made the image myself, using this picture of a RENFE AVE Siemens Velaro and the Obamaicon.Me tool that virtually everyone I know has used to make a new Facebook profile pic.
I am sure it could be done a bit better, and I don’t know that the source pic is the best one for that tool.
I was unaware of that tool. Thanks.
With Feinstein and Pelosi escorting
President elect Obama to the swearing in I would hope that we have a very good chance to get our money for this project..If not nobody will ever get money for HRS