Implementing these corridor projects and programs serve as a catalyst to promote economic expansion (including new manufacturing jobs), create new choices for travelers in addition to flying or driving, reduce national dependence on oil, and they foster livable urban and rural communities.
Yes, it is tax monies that are used to build these systems but we, as Americans, need to invest in America in the kinds of project that benefit everyone over rebuilding countries abroad. This is by far a better use of tax dollars than military spending on two optional wars that have been ongoing for almost 10 years that only kills people including our own and benefits no one other than the oil companies and big corporations. It is a better use than going to Mars under Mr. Bush’s proposal. HSR doesn’t expand the entitlements either.
I support it for those reasons but our new “Tea Party” Governor, Rick Scott, has poopooed it and just one year after Florida lawmakers took historic, bipartisan action to spur the state's economy with a job-creating high-speed rail proposal, Governor Rick Scott is making a misguided, unilateral decision to overturn the will of the Republican-led Florida Legislature.
Will people use it? Ultimately as we move forward I believe HSR will be a part of many American’s everyday lives because we cannot continue to build more and more highways to accommodate more and more vehicles when those vehicles only have one or two passengers. It is a very inefficient way to move people around and HSP is a viable alternative.
Here is more on the subject that might help you to understand why we should do it but do it with better understanding and learn from those that have already found the pitfalls.
http://www.ub.edu/irea/working_papers/2010/201003.pdf
