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Re: California high-speed rail: The next stop is bankruptcy
Author: T Judah
Date: 04-05-2011 - 20:15
> Finally, the cost, even at the very optimistic fare of about $50-$60 dollars between
> San Francisco and LA, is higher than traveling by car if you go with travel with one
> or more passengers.
Now let's see!
The IRS will allow a deduction (or untaxed reimbursement) at $0.52 per mile for business travel by car; with no questions asked. All you need to do is to document the start and finish odometer readings at the time of the trip. Since the IRS won't even question that expense rate, you can jolly well believe that it is actually a good deal more - much if the time.
At any rate, for the 380 mile SF to LA trip, that amounts to $197.60 by auto. That still does not even count the actual cost of providing the highway, or even much of the cost of maintaining it. Those costs are astronomical, at between $100,000,000 to $500,000,000 per mile to build.
So easily, double that $197 for the true cost of the trip. I haven't even mentioned yet the stress and cramped uncomfortableness of driving, that is worth paying to avoid. Then there is the really huge difference in accident rates and death rates per accident between trains and cars. The train wins that one hands down, 10:1 at least.
So, are you sure you know what you are talking about?
> San Francisco and LA, is higher than traveling by car if you go with travel with one
> or more passengers.
Now let's see!
The IRS will allow a deduction (or untaxed reimbursement) at $0.52 per mile for business travel by car; with no questions asked. All you need to do is to document the start and finish odometer readings at the time of the trip. Since the IRS won't even question that expense rate, you can jolly well believe that it is actually a good deal more - much if the time.
At any rate, for the 380 mile SF to LA trip, that amounts to $197.60 by auto. That still does not even count the actual cost of providing the highway, or even much of the cost of maintaining it. Those costs are astronomical, at between $100,000,000 to $500,000,000 per mile to build.
So easily, double that $197 for the true cost of the trip. I haven't even mentioned yet the stress and cramped uncomfortableness of driving, that is worth paying to avoid. Then there is the really huge difference in accident rates and death rates per accident between trains and cars. The train wins that one hands down, 10:1 at least.
So, are you sure you know what you are talking about?
