Re: Toxic cleanup must come before freight
Author: Chris
Date: 05-08-2009 - 21:24
What makes you think that folks that think the NCRA
is poor public policy are "against trains?"
Personally, I like trains. They are a core part of our
transportation network for shipment of goods and people.
But, they don't make sense in all cases. SMART has never
made sense, because passenger rail to be successful
needs to serve denser populations and employment centers.
Opposing SMART doesn't mean one opposes passenger trains
Freight services are a major contributor to lower cost
transportation of commodities and manufactured goods
over long distances. But this train line hasn't made
economic sense since the 1970s. In addition, it travels
through a wild and scenic canyon which has benefits
future populations will consume. Opposing the NCRA
because it doesn't make sense, doesn't mean one is against
freight trains, just this one.
So, I'm staying with the forum, because I like trains.
I'm not a train hater. In fact, I used to commute
by train. However, I am convinced that the law
that created the NCRA is one of the worst. Even if
I liked the NCRA, I would think the law was poorly
designed. I'm opposing NCRA north of Willits. That's
all. I'm for FULL DISCLOSURE of the rail plan and
its impacts. I'm for funding the NCRA until it can
complete those studies.
I'm not for the crazy structure whereby the NCRA
has to borrow money from its freight operator in order
to survive. That smells. But I also understand why
they're doing it.