The high speed rail proposal for NY, CT, and MA. Residents, do you support it?

[Buzz Rules]

The high speed rail proposal for NY, CT, and MA. Residents, do you support it?
https://northatlanticrail.org/

 

[Wayland10]

Absolutely, although I wish they’d add more stops along the New York Albany corridor!

 

[HeatherC]

Great in theory and think it would be totally great! Wish we could have high speed rail all over! Yet I am not convinced it would actually be done in a reasonable time frame within a reasonable budget with a good build quality. I, unfortunately, have become very cynical about these big spend projects because they all seem to be poorly built, way over budget and bogged down in red tape.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Absolutely, although I wish they’d add more stops along the New York Albany corridor!

I believe they would add more routes in all three states once this original line is built.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I'm all for it - adding more public transportation options is good on many levels, even if I never actually use it. But there are some good routes there that I could see myself using occasionally.

 

[NYCgrrl]

In theory it sounds like a great idea but I need to read more before stating a definitive opinion

 

[_19disnA]

Article reads like an ad to drum up support for the money they need from the govt to get this going. How many people would actually use it and/or if it would be profitable are clearly some of the big unknowns. Buying up the land to extend these various lines would likely be a big part of the cost.

Public transportation always SOUNDS like a good idea in theory, but in the real world might be a different story. Can still recall all of the wonderful/amazing things Musk said about his underground transportation idea........largely govt funded. Has gone nowhere and the various technical issues others had to deal with in the past remain. Above ground makes far more sense, but you need enough people using it on a regular basis to make it viable.

 

[Moliphino]

I think it would be great. I love the high speed trains in Europe. Currently, driving from MA to NYC area is awful.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think it would be great. I love the high speed trains in Europe. Currently, driving from MA to NYC area is awful.

Both ways. Took us 5 1/2 hours the last time we went to Boston, mid day during the week (my daughter once made the trip in 3 1/2 hours overnight). We had a wedding an hour north so we had to drive, next time Amtrak.

 

[Moliphino]

Both ways. Took us 5 1/2 hours the last time we went to Boston, mid day during the week (my daughter once made the trip in 3 1/2 hours overnight). We had a wedding an hour north so we had to drive, next time Amtrak.

Just the part between Hartford and NYC, there is no good way to go. 84 is always terrible, 95 is terrible, the Merritt Parkway is terrible. You can never win.

 

[LilyWDW]

I am 100% in favor of extending public transportation no matter the location. So even though I am not a resident there, I would be for it. I am lucky to live in an area that has decent public transportation. To the point where I even sold my car.

 

[jimmymc]

Yes I do. I'm also very supportive of a proposed rail connection between Chicago and Toronto, with stops across Michigan and Ontario.

 

[mjkacmom]

Just the part between Hartford and NYC, there is no good way to go. 84 is always terrible, 95 is terrible, the Merritt Parkway is terrible. You can never win.

We just Waze (which last time took us on a crazy detour, windy desolate hills and then brutal local traffic.

 

[kdonnel]

I really wanted public transit to work for my work commute I had several years ago.

But it was a complete failure taking two and a half to three hours to commute each way. I had to drive almost half the distance, ride a bus for the majority of the trip, then the subway for two stops, and finally walk the final half mile.

I think too many Americans associate public transit with crime so it rarely gets implemented in a way that would make it successful. In my case if the subway just came out further so I could have done the majority of the ride there I think it would have worked. But too many in Metro Atlanta feel like if Marta came to the suburbs, all the criminals in Atlanta would come out, steal their TVs, and ride Marta back home with all their stolen loot.

Part of me wishes we could build trains like China recently massively expanded their high speed rail network. But that would come at the cost of so many of laws and rules we have and appreciate.

So a very long way to get around to me saying I don't know anything about this particular project but in theory support what I believe it would want to accomplish.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I don't see how this will be much of an improvement over the rail lines that currently exist. "High speed" is relative--back when I was a kid, there were a small number of "high speed" trains on the route. I lived in CT, about half a mile from the current Amtrak Boston/NY route. It's way too populated for high speed rail to work well--lots of crossings. It seems like more an express train (fewer stops) versus true high speed.

Is this to replace the current system, or supplement it?

I wouldn't support it. Look at the debacle that is California's foray into "high speed rail"--way, way over budget and way, way behind schedule.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Yes I do. I'm also very supportive of a proposed rail connection between Chicago and Toronto, with stops across Michigan and Ontario.

https://www.amtrakconnectsus.com/maps/chicago-detroit-toronto/

 

[jimmymc]

https://www.amtrakconnectsus.com/maps/chicago-detroit-toronto/

Yes, that's the one.

 

[Skippy918]

Isn’t the Acela train already a high speed rail that services Boston to DC? Would this new rail be a replacement or an addition?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

For high speed rail to genuinely work in the United States we need good public transport in the cities to connect to these high speed rail stops. Unfortunately, we don't really have that in most places. I think in many cases with high speed rail, we're putting the cart before the horse.

 

[Skippy918]

For high speed rail to genuinely work in the United States we need good public transport in the cities to connect to these high speed rail stops. Unfortunately, we don't really have that in most places. I think in many cases with high speed rail, we're putting the cart before the horse.

They should consider expanding the auto train network. Otherwise, you have to rent a car on the other end in most cities. That will definitely cost more than just driving the 3-4 hours to get there.