Label Darling wrong, and shallow, and sidetracked by partisanship - - and move on: now is absolutely the right time to get Wisconsin in possession of these trains, for these reasons:
It gives Wisconsin a leg up on winning more funding for fuller high-speed rail service as part of the coming, Midwest system.
It landed Wisconsin the train manufacturer's maintenance and assembly facility.
It gets the entire process underway, better positioning
Wisconsin with top-shelf train service when the price of oil, and driving, and tolling will inevitably make the drive to Chicago even more expensive.
It is also likely the new cars will offer a superior ride, more comfortable seats, and WI-FI so they could help increase ridership. Personally I can't wait for the WI-FI.
ReplyDeleteThe state of Wisconsin does not have money to buy trains right now. Explain how it makes sense for Gov. Doyle to buy trains for Amtrak with money that we do not have. And then enjoy your WiFi.
ReplyDeleteTo NancyR: Wisconsin can borrow for the train sets the same way it finances highways - - and the highway borrowings annually are many times those financing trains.
ReplyDeleteThe train purchase is a first-time event, and is an investment in future development int the station cities.
Based on your logic James, should the state of Wisconsin buy jets for the airlines? It would make as much sense.
ReplyDeleteDoes Amtrak even want the trains we bought for them and who is going to be responsible for the on-going costs?
And again - why the no bid contact & why the rush?
To Anon: Your airplane analogy is spurrious. Amtrak is a public entity; the airlines are not - - though they receive huge subsidies. Imagine if they had to pay all the expenses of airport operations, runway and tower construction and operation, the FAA's computer and radar and controller and inspection and regulatory systems, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe no-bid process for train purchases is a federal law.
The trains are a start on the Midwest High-Speed rail system, which is coming. So Wisconsin is ahead of the curve.
It's an investment. As we are always told road-spending is an investment.
So there is no rush. Just the beginning of a process that is long overdue.
James - please clarify.
ReplyDeleteYou are stating that Federal law mandates the purchase of trains use a no-bid process - correct?
And will this really be "high speed rail" - my understanding is that it will not be for the foreseeable future.
To the last Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteThat is my understanding: if I am wrong, someone please correct me with better information.
And as to "high-speed:" Again, it's a process of building and upgrading roadbed and track.
I'm for starting somewhere, not delaying forever.