Passenger Rail? Who are we kidding?

I recently read an article on the site of another raido station about a proposed upgrade of the railroad bewtweenSpringfield Ma and Greenfield to allow Amtrak to use the corridor as a more direct route to the north.



At this time the trackage is designated for 10 mph use. That is a very slow freight. At present those tracks are just about totally useless for anything. Years of neglect by the current ownership has allowed this to happen. It is proposed that the state and federal government invest millions of taxpayer dollars to upgrade this trackage. If this is done, passenger trains would be able to use this route, eliminating service to Amherst Mass. and replacing it with a stop in Northampton. Yes, you are shortening a route. You are also eliminating service to a town that needs more rail, not less. You are also adding traffic to a major highway, (Rt 9), which cannot handle current traffic. Note: Amherst Ma. is the home to U Mass Amherst and four other colleges. The town currently faces severe road traffic issues during the school year.



Now I know the readers in Ct. are going to say, there he goes again, shooting his mouth of about the Commonwealth, when we are here and not there. What I am writing about above illistrates only one part of a larger problem. We as residents of the Ct river valley, need to work for a comprehensive transportation plan in both states.



A solid transportation plan would look at the entire region from Worcester to the New York state line and the entire state of Ct. A plan would include ways to optimize all forms of transportation from the harbors and rivers to the rails, roadways and runways.



There are currently several proposals similar to the one above that are proposed for this region.

I am a serious unbeliever in passenger rail for the most part. I have yet to see a passenger system put into private hands and turn a profit. One proposal that I have been told of would require a subsidy of $30/passenger/trip. I can fill my tank for less than that.

And, unless you upgrade the capacity of the current rail system, you ar just adding more stress to a system that is operating close to capacity on freight alone. Passenger rail should be limited to large cities and their high density suburbs. If the traffic is there at present, fine. I understand that cities like NYC and Boston need what they currently have. Draw the line there unless you can currently demonstrate demand. Stop throwing money away.



Now some of you are saying, isn't there a cost to traffic and pollution, are we not already subsidizing highways. Is there a better answer? Yes, here is what I propose.



Upgrade all current rail systems for freight use. If there needs to be a private/government
partnership, so be it. We need to take steps to move as much truck traffic off the interstate system as possible. The idea that one truck and one driver can move 20 tons of cargo for long distances should be made obsolete. If we could take 200 trucks a day off I91 between Hartford and Springfield, how much pollution would we save? How much traffic would we eliminate?
It would be easier and cheaper to use a series of roll off or container terminals in each town served by rail. Trucks would go 20 or 100 miles,, not thousands.

If people demand mass transit, where none currently exists, let them have it. In fact, it already exists and can be operated at a profit by private companies. It uses existing infrastructure and puts no additional burden on the taxpayer. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, the ultimate answer to 21st century mass transit, the inter city bus. For passenger use, the bus has a lot of advantages over trains. The inital vehicle can be much smaller. Current mini buses which would be suitable for low volume routes carry as few as 10 people. Larger buses such as operated by Peter Pan can operate with 60 or more. Bus travel frees you from the need for rails and the competition with freight. Moving more trucks off the road would reduce traffic, allowing buses to achieve better on time performance. Buses use smaller engines than a railroad locomotive, futher reducing pollution. If you need more capacity on a route, it is easier to add a bus. If you have a need to change routing, it is easier to move a bus than a rail line.

One other factor falls into this whole argument. Under current proposals, cars and small trucks of the future are to be smaller and lighter. These vehicles will be getting in the way of large trucks. The result of these less safe vehicles having impacts will result in more highway deaths. All the more reason to use common sense in looking at our transportation needs.

Welcome

Welcome to the new "Pipe Smoke" blog. Some of you know me as John K., others as kokoracer, and still some as John the Pipe.

I have used the title "Pipe Smoke" for many years. In the early part of this decade, PS began as a column on an independent site. It was dedicated to the New England Motorsports scene and carried a message that you can beat the disease of alcoholism. Most recently it has been the title of my national column which was dedicated to NASCAR racing. Now it is time for a change.

This blog will now be a part of the Sound Off Ct community. It is my little contribution to Jim
Vicevich and the crew. I want to start this by thanking each and every member of the community. A few weeks ago, you opened your door and your hearts. I cannot express what I feel for you all. You helped Janet and I through a very difficult time.

I also want to thank Jim. Without the show, this would not be possible. You have many friends and I am happy to be amoung them.

Okay so where do we go from here?

I am 55 yrs old, a resident of Springfield Ma. and my interests include politics, auto racing, the automotive industry and beating alcoholism. My home includes two poodles, an african grey parrot and a number of smaller birds.

While the primary focus of this spot will be on transportation, all of the above is fair game.
I may blog on a show topic, the current state of NASCAR, or anything else that I might find of interest.

If you have not gathered from any of my past writings, I am a conservative who leans Republican. I am also an enviro realist. I believe that we have to have a clean planet, that we need a sound energy policy and that global warming is a bunch of BS.

As a person who lives in Mass and works in both Mass and Ct., I believe that we are over taxed and under served. There are too many over paid people in government today who provide no value to the taxpayer.

I make my living as an employee of two small businesses. I feel that in order for small buisness to grow they need less regulation and an environment where growth is encouraged.

To all of you, my friends new and old, I bid you welcome. Ladies and Gentlemen start your engines!