At Dulles International, spending $1.3 billion to get passengers from concourse to terminal
Mobile lounges bad. Trains good. Good enough, in any case, for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to spend $1.3 billion on a railroad that doesn't even leave the airport.
What does $1.3 billion buy?
At Dulles, it will buy a people-mover that moves at 42 mph, compared with the 15 mph speed of the mobile lounges. Which means it will shave a whopping four minutes off the "travel" time between concourse and terminal.
In Amtrak's case, it electrified the Northeast Corridor from New Haven to Boston, a distance of 157 miles, and cut at least an hour off the travel time between Boston and New York--not just for the Acelas but for every Amtrak train .
The point isn't whether Dulles's investment is justifiable. The question is why Amtrak investment isn't judged by the same criteria. Improved operating results are a function of capital investment.
What does $1.3 billion buy?
At Dulles, it will buy a people-mover that moves at 42 mph, compared with the 15 mph speed of the mobile lounges. Which means it will shave a whopping four minutes off the "travel" time between concourse and terminal.
In Amtrak's case, it electrified the Northeast Corridor from New Haven to Boston, a distance of 157 miles, and cut at least an hour off the travel time between Boston and New York--not just for the Acelas but for every Amtrak train .
The point isn't whether Dulles's investment is justifiable. The question is why Amtrak investment isn't judged by the same criteria. Improved operating results are a function of capital investment.
posted by conductor at 11:23 AM
1 Comments:
I don't understand this either. Ecologically and financially, passenger rail is a better choice for many trips; yet, the federal government is unwilling to provide Amtrak with the funds needed to make the upgrades that will draw more rail passengers.
Rather than talking about and studying subjects like weaning the country off of foreign oil dependence or improving air quality, Washington should take concrete steps to invest now in projects that can make a difference immediately (like passenger rail).
Respectfully,
Larry Lagarde
RideTHISbike.com
Urging bicycling for recreation, commuting, health and a better future.
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