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The momentum is on our side.
On January 3, 2007, both legislative bodies of the US will change from rail-hostile hands to rail-friendly. Jim Oberstar will become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he wants to increase passenger rail capacity and start high speed rail outside the NE corridor.
San Franciscans please don't let Nancy Pelosi forget that Blue people in Red states are starving for rail transit. Many of us have fought hard uphill battles to convince local leaders and populace to start projects (AZ, CO, NC, TX) only to find the federal government has "limited" recourses, yet funneling tons into highways and bridges to nowhere. The projects may have stalled, but the successful referenda prove that statements of “people love their cars” and “everyone wants the suburban lifestyle” are ignorant if not passé. They are ready for a change.
If anything, we should encourage transit reformation in Red states. Extend high speed corridors: Acela into Virginia, and start new ones: Dallas to Houston. If Mr. Carlover watches a jettrain pass him on the highway at 150 mph, three times as fast and with one third the energy per passenger, we'll make some converts. If Red states join Blue states in reducing energy consumption, we might just save this planet.
Championing hydrogen, ethanol, and hybrid cars is a joke. It still takes EIGHT BARRELS of oil to make a car. Cars still carry one person on average - 20% efficiency with five seats. Every car still needs at least two parking spots (home and work) and highways galore leading to an immense acreage of toxic asphalt regardless what the damn things run on, enough already, STRIKE THREE. Moreover, the new technology is playing right into the hands of the automobile manufacturers. It’s called planned obsolescence.
We ALREADY have the technology: lightrail, streetcar, walking, jettrain.
We have the tools, we have the Chairmen, we just need the inertia, that’s you, and the time: now.
Lovingly always,
Mother Earth
On January 3, 2007, both legislative bodies of the US will change from rail-hostile hands to rail-friendly. Jim Oberstar will become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he wants to increase passenger rail capacity and start high speed rail outside the NE corridor.
San Franciscans please don't let Nancy Pelosi forget that Blue people in Red states are starving for rail transit. Many of us have fought hard uphill battles to convince local leaders and populace to start projects (AZ, CO, NC, TX) only to find the federal government has "limited" recourses, yet funneling tons into highways and bridges to nowhere. The projects may have stalled, but the successful referenda prove that statements of “people love their cars” and “everyone wants the suburban lifestyle” are ignorant if not passé. They are ready for a change.
If anything, we should encourage transit reformation in Red states. Extend high speed corridors: Acela into Virginia, and start new ones: Dallas to Houston. If Mr. Carlover watches a jettrain pass him on the highway at 150 mph, three times as fast and with one third the energy per passenger, we'll make some converts. If Red states join Blue states in reducing energy consumption, we might just save this planet.
Championing hydrogen, ethanol, and hybrid cars is a joke. It still takes EIGHT BARRELS of oil to make a car. Cars still carry one person on average - 20% efficiency with five seats. Every car still needs at least two parking spots (home and work) and highways galore leading to an immense acreage of toxic asphalt regardless what the damn things run on, enough already, STRIKE THREE. Moreover, the new technology is playing right into the hands of the automobile manufacturers. It’s called planned obsolescence.
We ALREADY have the technology: lightrail, streetcar, walking, jettrain.
We have the tools, we have the Chairmen, we just need the inertia, that’s you, and the time: now.
Lovingly always,
Mother Earth
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