IntenseDebate - Fumanchu

13 years ago @ KCRG - Iowa City Officials Re... · 0 replies · +2 points

Ridership is a valid point. And it's good you brought it up. It's estimated that an average of 65,000 people use trains for traveling to and from Iowa per year. Currently there is no service to major cities in Iowa unless you count Burlington/West Burlington (est pop. 35,000) and Ottumwa (est. pop. 35,000). All the other towns currently serviced are 10,000 - 15,000 or less. It also should be noted that ridership in Iowa has risen over the last decade by about 16%.

Now consider rail service to IA City with a population of 50,000+ with CR just 20 miles away with a population of 120,000+. Seems that ridership would dramatically increase. And if they connect it to Des Moines in the future with a popuation of 500,000+, it really seems as though it would increase ridership even more.

13 years ago @ KCRG - Iowa City Officials Re... · 1 reply · +1 points

I did a google search on parking rates at O'Hare. I was off. But not by much. I found that I could park for $31 per day - I probably should have specified in my post above that was the rate I was thinking of. After all, if you fly out of an airport, how often are you back 4 - 6 hours later.

And at the CR airport, it's almost $10 per day.

13 years ago @ KCRG - Iowa City Officials Re... · 0 replies · +2 points

You talk of fiscal responsibility. But have you considered the cost of our current transportation systems. Our highway system is not self-sustaining. Airline travel is not self-sustaining.

If you're for fiscal responsibility, then you should also champion the elimination of subsidies for airline travel and highway systems.

13 years ago @ KCRG - Iowa City Officials Re... · 0 replies · +2 points

Actually, here in Iowa 17% of our transportation budget comes from the general budget. That means income taxes, sales taxes, corporate taxes and the like. The fact of the matter is that rail is much more affordable than our current high cost transportation systems.

Consider this point. Just a couple of years ago, we resurfaced I380 to IA City - a total of about 19 miles if you believe the signs. This was done at a cost of about $800,000 per mile. Now consider the IA City to to QC route that the want to put in. Estimated distance of 70 miles at a cost of about $500,000 per mile. Now if you consider the quality of materials used. Steel rails will last decades longer than the asphalt surface used on 380.

Additionally, every year the state has to keep the roads cleared in the winter which means paying snow plow drivers and purchasing sand, salt and de-icing solutions so that we can keep using them. Rail will need repairs and upkeep from time to time, but if you compare the costs, rail is much more cost efficient than our highway system.

13 years ago @ KCRG - Iowa City Officials Re... · 4 replies · +8 points

Where the heck are you parking?? Last time I was in Chicago, it cost me $50 for only 4 hours. And at O'Hare, I think it might be $35 or $40.

13 years ago @ KCRG - Iowa City Officials Re... · 0 replies · +8 points

Actually on existing rails the train maxes out at 79. But you're right that's not high speed. I consider high speed something in the range of 120 - 150 mph or faster.

13 years ago @ KCRG - Poll: Less Than Half o... · 0 replies · +10 points

I thought I heard Fox put his approval at 52%. I'm not sure on that number, just what I thought I heard.

However, I visited my dad over the weekend and he wondered why no R's have announced they are running for president. My theory is that they are milking Fox for free air time. My dad had a different take on it. He suggested that the current batch of possible R contenders knows that they can't defeat him at this time. Which is interesting because I did hear that his numbers right now are higher than both Clinton's and Regan's at this point in their presidencies.

13 years ago @ KCRG - Poll: Less Than Half o... · 1 reply · 0 points

I have to disagree with your fact about closing the unemployment offices. Culver had already closed several UI offices across the state, so this is hardly new. Secondly, there will be no loss of services as Iowa Workforce can be accessed on the internet. And direct connections to Iowa Workforce are being made available at public libraries and ISU extension offices throughout the state.

I was laid off for almost 17 months and I only went to the unemployment office twice. Everything else, I did online.

13 years ago @ KCRG - Bill Allowing UI To Se... · 0 replies · +7 points

Let me get this straight, you favor selling a work of art that is known throughout the world in order to fund art scholarships so students can learn about world famous artwork? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

13 years ago @ KCRG - WATCH: RAGBRAI Include... · 0 replies · +1 points

A thumbs down? Really? Someone must not appreciate A) the positive aspects of this event, B) the Iowa landscape, C) Iowa hospitality, D) Home-made pies, E) Friendly farmers, or F) Bonfires. Hmmmmm.
EditDelete Report

IntenseDebate Comment System

Connect with Fumanchu_Green

People I'm following

Fumanchu_Green