Liberals must have the mentality of your average five year old based on their obsession with Thomas the Tank Engine (that might explain why Alec Baldwin narrates the show).
So we're looking at throwing $500 million in a shovel ready stimulus project rail system that will haul our butts from Cincinnati to Cleveland in a speedy 6 and 1/2 hours.
Wow! That's kicking ass given that it only takes 4 1/2 to drive there today.
I can see the citizens clamoring for such an efficient mode of transportation. Well, not exactly........
Results of a recent Ohio Newspaper Poll show a majority of Ohio voters, 52%, are not on-board Ohio's costly $564 million plan to re-start a passenger train connecting Cincinnati with Cleveland via Dayton and Columbus that only averages 39-mph, takes six and one-half hours to travel the 255-mile route and will need $18 million each year in public subsidy.
The poll, part of a continuing collaboration between Ohio's eight largest newspapers, shows the growing schism between proponents of the 3-C Transportation Corridor, who say returning passenger trains to a route over which they have not run in over 40 years will give 60 percent of Ohio’s population increased travel options as early as 2011 that will be safe, efficient and cost effective, and opponents, who argue it's slow speed, long trip times and on-going need for massive public subsidy will not shift drivers from their cars to the rails and for those who do, will leave them stranded at their destination because ground support transportation systems are woefully inadequate.
But that's not the kicker here. Not only is this albatross not fast, it's not going to be cheap either........
State Rep. Louis Blessing, R-Colerain Township, an attorney and long-time state legislator, said he opposes the state investing in the rail line. Blessing, now in the House again after eight years in the Senate, told Wilkinson he is not surprised by the poll's results, citing as his primary concern the fact that the state can design and build the system on existing rail tracks with federal money, but couldn't maintain and operate it without pouring millions of dollars into the system for the foreseeable future.
The Ohio Department of Transportation estimates revenues for the 255-mile rail line while operating costs of $29 million would leave a 18 million-per-year gap for public subsidy.
I'm starting to truly believe that liberals intentionally start these white elephants knowing that they don't pay for themselves so they have more reason to increase taxes.
Where do I sign up?
Read the rest of this and shake your head
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