Wasting Oxygen.
Friday, December 4, 2009 at 09:40PM
An article that appeared in the Union Leader that I think was so poorly written I couldn’t finish it. The pot was literally boiling over with drivel. It was probably consuming valuable oxygen as well.
Robin Comstock: Manchester-area businesses support commuter rail.
“Hear that sound, New Hampshire? Opportunity is knocking in the form of restoring passenger rail service along the NH Capitol Corridor.”
Really.
If this were the case then where is the public grassroots support? I’ll answer this question, there isn’t any. Like I said I stopped reading the article as soon as the PR horns started tooting about the NH Rail Transit Authority, and the volunteer work that they are doing.
And what exactly have former Senator Burling and his volunteers accomplished Ms. Comstock? I think the words absolutely nothing fits in quite well here.
Rather than PR drivel if Ms. Comstock were really serious about commuter rail in New Hampshire she would consider the massive amt. of capital that would be required and be able to produce real analysis about exactly how many individuals would use this service on a daily basis and exactly where the taxbase and economic development will occur. Notice she doesn’t do this. Instead she points to some study that will be released later this winter. As if this study is going to change the dynamics of anything.
More press releases though.
In a recent interview with the Hippo Newspaper, the Mayor-Elect of Manchester does a great job answering the question of NH passenger rail.
He questions how it will be paid for.
Source: CARB Interview on the TruckerTwotimes show. via UTUBE.
Reader Comments (2)
So is NH rail not making money on freight either or are they just looking for easy money?
Two reasons why freight rail is viable without subsidies. The Staggers Rail Deregulation Act of 1980 and the value(s) of the commodities moved. I think rail continues to make adjustments and market innovations which is good for transporation and the taxpayers.
In terms of passenger rail. Enter politics. I'd say this is good but it isn't. With some quality leadership and grassroots support New Hampshire could have a first class passenger rail system with obvious advantages to everything from transportation to job creation.
No leadership in the Statehouse.
Consider Amtrak and the cities like Boston that have well financed passenger rail systems. I think the Bush Administration actually came the closest to advancing a good agenda for passenger rail in this country. Bush recognized that Amtrak and passenger rail would never be able to either profit or compete against cars and planes; but the adminstration still pushed market based thinking on Amtrak. And guess what. It was working!
Amtrak President David Gunn was making Amtrak think about profits instead of bureaucracy.
The liberals on Capitol Hill responded by firing him.
"So is NH rail not making money on freight either or are they just looking for easy money?"
NH is making money on freight rail and it isn't costing the taxpayers a dime. This is good. In terms of the passenger end with former Senator Peter Burling at the helm it's all bad. In addition to being an embarassment to this state with his arrogance and lack of knowlege; if his ideas involving subsidies ever come to pass this will cost NH taxpayers millions of dollars in taxes. This also shows that the former Senator doesn't have any concept of finance as well.
But I'm confident that none of the ideas of Sen. Burling d/b/a NH Rail Transit Authority will ever move forward. Its clear that the substance of this agenda now amounts to writing press releases and blowing ego based hot air about ideas for passenger rail in New Hampshire. It's clear to me that neither Burling or his hand picked volunteers want to do any real work.
So it won't happen. I'd say this is good but it isn't. With some leadership and grassroots efforts New Hampshire could have a first class passenger rail system like what is evolving in Mass, Maine and now Vermont.