RE: (erielack) NJ/PA - Environmental Assessment for Lackawanna Cutoff now ava...

[Gregory Botvinik <botvinesq_@_optonline.net>]

 Do we really have to get into name-calling here just because some people
are not advocating for long-distance "commuter" lines?  The fact is that the
highways get more subsidies because the people have asked for them.  They
have asked for them because they like the freedom of driving their cars
wherever and whenever they like.  When the price of gas goes through the
$4.00 roof and beyond (like the environmentalists and the Obama
administration want) then people will want / be forced to ride public
transportation.  (Unless, of course, a viable and cheap alternative fueling
system is developed).


Greg Botvinik
Highland Park, NJ
botvinesq_@_optonline.net


- -----Original Message-----
From: Jim Guthrie [mailto:jguthrie_@_pipeline.com] 
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:30 PM
To: EL Mail List
Subject: Re: (erielack) NJ/PA - Environmental Assessment for Lackawanna
Cutoff now ava...

Henry writes:

>I have never been a big fan of train rider welfare.

Highway engineers figure the subsidy from general taxation for motorists
runs around 44-46%; rail advocates figure it at 56-60%; the strong
libertarian anti-gummint, anti-tax folk figure it at 88%.

What makes automobile drivers so special that they receive substatial
subsidies, but you think rail riders don't?

BTW -- as to Jerome's screed, it has always been my understanding that #1-2
actually more than covered its marginal costs right up until the end, an
that EL management was actually surprised when the ICC examiner accepted
their petition for discontinuance. The N&W wanted all passenger service off
the books no matter what the circumstances. I realize full costs would nto
be covered but railroading has always been a business of marginal costs not
full costs anyway. 

Cheers,
Jim Guthrie
ELHS $1296

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