It is interesting and frightening to see all these big corporations, as well as federal, state, and local governments, licking their chops in preparation for spending the golden goose egg that is our economic stimulus package.  I still do not understand where we are supposed to get the $trillions to pay back these newfound funds.  Maybe just turn the whole country over to the chinese lenders when we are done-if they want it.

One of the major spending proposals in our area is the development of a “high-speed” railroad from New York City to Buffalo (I know, why would anyone want to go to Buffalo?).  Proponents say it would create a boom in New York’s economy all along the route, improving passenger services and freight movement, while decreasing costs.  All this at a construction cost starting at about $10 million per mile!  Predictions are that it will allow a train passenger to travel from NYC to Buffalo at least an hour faster than the present Amtrak train will do it.  Really!  And why not a hi-speed Erie Canal too?

Having ridden the Amtrak train recently, where I nearly had a whole railroad car to myself, I have to ask: How many people would benefit from such a project?  I have read that the train services around 30,000 people annually (I must have hit a slow day), which hopefully would increase somewhat with faster trains.  With a projected $6 billion construction cost, how does that break down per passenger?  And does our commute to and from the terminal thru congested traffic and potholed roads get any faster with the supertrain?

To me, it would make more sense to stimulate our economy by developing a high-speed version of our more popular and much more utilized highway system.  Why not use all this “free” money to build/rebuild our outdated highways and bridges?  Why not use part of it to modernize our NY State Thruway, then remove/repeal/eradicate the Toll system that should have disappeared years ago?  Now that would save folks some money!  Now that might make sense!  Maybe even develop an Interstate Highway System that works?

With all those trillions of “golden goose” monies floating around, maybe there would even be enough left over to buy all thruway users a brand new gas-guzzling American-Made car so they can travel even faster.  Better yet, we could provide a new fuel-efficient Toyota Prius for those few folk who now have to depend on Amtrak.  Hi-Speed Trains?  Who needs ‘em?