Privatize, cut taxes. Rinse, repeat......Privatize, cut taxes. ...................

[marmar]

from the Infrastructurist:




Will the Future of the Northeast Corridor Include Amtrak?


It’s safe to say John Mica does not think highly of Amtrak. In late January the House Transportation Committee chair brought up the idea of private-public rail partnerships in the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak’s most traveled route. In March he seconded this preference in a 2012 budget document, describing Amtrak’s history of failed service and praising instead “the expertise and investment capital of the private sector.”

Late last week Mica took things up a notch, announcing that he is “preparing legislation” that would replace the federally owned Amtrak with a private train operator in the Northeast Corridor. Evidently Mica is less than convinced with Amtrak’s own 30-year, $117 billion master plan for improving the route. He believes private firms can do the job in 10 years, “at a fraction” of the cost. In pointing out Amtrak’s inability to manage the Northeast, Mica reported during Congressional hearings on the matter that Amtrak ridership in the corridor was greater in 1977 (10.6 million riders) than it was in 2010 (10.5 million):

“This is a dismal record and a pitiful statement of Amtrak’s lack of achievement in this incredibly valuable transportation corridor,” Mica said. “Amtrak’s plan to bring high-speed service to the NEC is unacceptable. We can attract private sector resources and expertise and do it in less than half the time.”

Democrats and unions, including the AFL-CIO, immediately blasted the proposal, which Mica reportedly plans to work into the long-term transportation bill being drafted right now. Pro-rail Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey said what Amtrak actually needs is more money, not less (full testimony pdf here):

“Last year, we spent more than $40 billion on highways. Over Amtrak’s entire 40-year history, we’ve spent just under $38 billion total. That’s worth repeating: Amtrak has received less federal money in its history than highways get in a single year.”

.....(snip).....

But many of Mica’s points fail to stand up to scrutiny. Back in January representatives from the private sector offered plenty of reasons why the they want nothing to do with passenger rail investments. This stance has a great deal of credibility; after all, it was the private sector’s decision to drop out of the passenger rail game that led to the creation of Amtrak in the first place. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.infrastructurist.com/2011/05/31/will-the-future-of-the-northeast-corridor-include-amtrak/

[fascisthunter]

1. empower a rich/wealthy minority and screw the majority=anti-democratic

and they know it, hence the pretentious flag waving every time our military bombs people around the world.