Amtrak Funding

Monday the U.S. Senate cleared the way for a Wednesday vote on Amtrak funding.

For the past few years, Amtrak - America's only national passenger rail service - has been on starvation rations in terms of funding from the federal government. Typically, the Bush administration proposed eliminating all federal funding in annual budget recommendations; Congress subsequently added back "not enough" money, but nonetheless was able to keep Amtrak afloat.

Some people say: "Why does the federal government need to support Amtrak anyway? Can't they support themselves?"

Well, in addition to the fact that no other national passenger rail network in the world operates without federal investment (or has figured out a way to do so), highways nor air travel in the United States would not exist without hefty subsidization by the U.S. Government.

Like a two-legged stool, a two-faceted national transportation system becomes exponentially stronger when a third component - passenger rail - is added to the mix. In America today, we are dangerously over-weighted on the side of automobiles. As gas prices have risen, Amtrak has had record ridership.

The current bill, which has already passed the House, funds Amtrak in the amount of 13 billion over the next 5 years. They've been operating on about a billion a year, so that's a healthy increase. But this funding only maintains the current system; an increase in routes and frequency of trains will require much more investment.

Tragically, it took a passenger train wreck in Los Angeles recently where some two dozen people were killed, to move a rail funding bill forward.

President Bush has indicated he will sign the bill in it's current form.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-rail-safety,0,7857812.story

You Can't Get There From Here

Round round get around
I get around
Yeah!

Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys


In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the Greyhound Bus station sits way out on the edge of the city, near the Interstate. Presumably, its more convenient for the bus company. Fair enough.

One problem.

You can only get there by car.

But wait a minute! If you're taking the bus, you just might not have a.!.!.!, (long exasperated sigh.) Moving on.

The bus stop's remote location makes it impractical to walk there from anywhere even if there were any sidewalks around. And of course, no sidewalks in sight.

This is a perfect example of how sprawl fails us as a practical layout for living.

In contrast, the village structure - a dense centralized node of commercial and public space surrounded by housing - lends itself to a number of transportation options.

With denser development in the center village (including multi-level apartments/condos) and surrounding single family homes within walking distance, sidewalks make sense.

Walking immediately becomes a convenient and viable way of getting around.

Biking becomes an option as well.

A bus stop within walking distance of most of the population makes taking the bus a realistic proposition.

Same applies with trains.

Segways, golf carts, roller blades - the options are many.

Ergo, Freedom!

In the New American Village, owning a car disappears as the "price of admission." Healthy and convenient ways to get around abound.

And traffic jams are a thing of the past.