Did High Speed Rail Get Killed In The Budget By The House?

Kennah

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:23 PM
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Did High Speed Rail Get Killed In The Budget By The House?

On the Sounder Train going home last night, I was again picking the conductor's brain since he's very knowledgeable about what's going on with rail, specifically high speed rail.

Apparently BNSF sent them a message yesterday that high speed rail got axed from the budget by the GOP.

I can't find anything.

Maybe BNSF misinterpreted something because this conductor is given to hyperbole. He's a personable guy, but he's very knowledgeable and almost Joe Friday-esque with the facts.

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midnight

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:25 PM
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1. I hope this is not true. Grand Oil Party destroying more and more progress.

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bobw999

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:29 PM
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2. That would be terrible.

I was riding Tri-Rail (South Florida's Commuter Rail) today and I overheard the conductor saying that Tri-Rail might get axed as well. This would be a pretty stupid decision since the trains are always packed. If anything they need to add more rail service across the country.

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Uncle Joe

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:30 PM
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3. If they did, the Republicans will probably make up for it by funding the stagecoach.

Thanks for the thread, Kennah.

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ProgressiveProfessor

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:37 PM
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4. It looks like the Federal Government is going to be under CRA for the rest of FY11

Which means new starts in FY11 will not get funded.

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Kennah

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:39 PM
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5. I'm hoping it was a misinterpretation

I found this. An Amendment to HR1, and it failed. It was an effort to cut Amtrak funding which may have been targeted at HSR.

60 Rs and 190 Ds voted Noe.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:HZ00075:

H.AMDT.75 (A065)
Amends: H.R.1
Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete (offered 2/17/2011)

AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
An amendment numbered 43 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce the funding for AMTRAK Capitol by $446.9 million.

STATUS:

2/17/2011 3:12am:
Amendment (A065) offered by Mr. Sessions. (consideration: CR H1064-1065; text: CR H1064)

2/17/2011 11:14am:
On agreeing to the Sessions amendment (A065) Failed by recorded vote: 176 - 250 (Roll no. 79). (consideration: CR H1088-1089)

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll079.xml

Final Vote Results For Roll Call 79

H R 1 RECORDED VOTE 17-Feb-2011 11:14 AM

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HuckleB

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:39 PM
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6. Was he talking about a specific HSR plan?

Or was he talking about plans to increase Amtrak speeds in the northwest corridor, which is great, but not an actual HSR? Or...?

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Kennah

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:57 PM
Response to Reply #6

9. Well, that's a whole issue and of itself--the definition of HSR

HSR trains in the Pacific Northwest, as part of the President's proposal, are to run from Vancouver, BC to Eugene, OR running at between 110 and 128 MPH. It would be similar to the Acela Express that runs in the Northeast hitting an average of 70 MPH but a high of 150 MPH.

Wiki calls it a "regional tilting train".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acela_Express

I've been talking to the conductor to find out what I could, and last night he said BNSF notified them earlier in the day that HSR was dead.

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HuckleB

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:43 PM
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7. I found this....

http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2014247549_washington_dot_covets_florida.html

Which indicates that the northwest already gained some money for the Cascade corridor improvements after Wisconsin dropped its HSR plan. It doesn't appear that the Florida matter has been settled yet, but I see the northwest corridor as much more train friendly region than Florida, and it makes more sense to put one of the first projects here, IMO.

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WolfoftheWild

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Fri Feb-18-11 03:44 PM
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8. i think that amendment failed

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