DOT-FRA-RPD Passenger Train Friendly in Biden Administration

Ridgefielder wrote:I'm not too sure about that. Mr. Biden spent 40 years in the Senate. He knows how things work. If the price of a new North River Tunnel is a new I-275 around Lexington, well-- maybe some paving contractors in Kentucky are going to have a happy 2021.

Bingo.

"Let the Games begin"


Mr. Norman,

Are you a taker at 3:1 odds for a new tunnel into NYP getting funded?



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Perhaps states with Senate reruns on Jan 5th might receive a sudden influx of Stimulus funding ? Any rail projects ready to go in Georgia???

The Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections in Georgia are prior to the inauguration of the President and Vice President on January 20th. No changes there in the meantime.

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You guys crack me up.

We still don't have a COVID relief package and the ability to bail out NYC, CHI, BAL, and other big cities who are in a ton of hurt, but you think that Amtrak will suddenly get a bunch of free money for new capital spending projects?...

The only immediate win I see is Gateway getting jump started. All the rest that's been mentioned here is nice-to-have.

gokeefe wrote: ↑Tue Nov 10, 2020 9:09 pm The Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections in Georgia are prior to the inauguration of the President and Vice President on January 20th. No changes there in the meantime.

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oh , i thought the incumbents might like to spread a little pork before the election .
Amazing the things that get done just before an election here.( One of our satire political parties promises a free tub of ice cream to everyone to make fun of all the promises )

urr304 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 10, 2020 1:04 pm I am certain that Mr.Biden is receptive to public transportation, but just what is ready and how far do we have to go through endless studies before something physical happens?

We go through every study mandated by state or federal law, and every study mandated by a court of law.

Garcetti is noted in a Times article today as a "runner" for SecTrans:

https://nyti.ms/3ljMkyg

The current occupant of the White House is not taking the loss well expect nothing from this Lame Duck but more issues to clean up on 01/20/2021.

Backshophoss wrote: ↑Wed Nov 11, 2020 7:28 pm The current occupant of the White House is not taking the loss well expect nothing from this Lame Duck but more issues to clean up on 01/20/2021.

I wish you were wrong but lets see.
1 No cooperation from the GSA
2. Sec of defense and several underlings
3. no meeting of white house covid-19 task force
4. locked out of other departments for transition
So far just a small campfire but hopefully does not becomes Sherman's march thru Georgia.

ADMIN CAUTION

STAY ON TOPIC.

Gilbert B Norman wrote:Garcetti is noted in a Times article today as a "runner" for SecTrans:

https://nyti.ms/3ljMkyg

I'm not convinced he's viable. That list was surprisingly short on USDOT candidates.

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Biden promised a 'railroad revolution' that could see faster trains and a return to Amtrak's nostalgic past, here's what Americans might see.
https://us.yahoo.com/news/biden-promise ... 00412.html
A new gateway into New York City
A Biden presidency might see the federal government's backing of the project restored to pre-Trump levels.
Expansion of high-speed rail
Biden campaign website promises plans to expand America's rail network to make it the "cleanest, safest, and fastest rail system in the world.
Resumption of long-distance services
Increased funding to Amtrak under a Biden administration could result in long-distance trains being restored to their former glory, white tablecloths and all.

All the above quoted from the Business Insider article by Thomas Pallini dated November 15, 2020
Verbs used in the article; might, promises, and could; are not very definite.
It is almost like reading press releases from business corporations that include phrases such as;

"Our discussion may include predictions, estimates or other information that might be considered forward-looking. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment on what the future holds, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our opinions only as of the date of this presentation. Please keep in mind that we are not obligating ourselves to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. Throughout today’s discussion, we will attempt to present some important factors relating to our business that may affect our predictions. "

The entire article was forward looking and the authors attempt to predict the future. Everything was included but the legal disclamer every business provides when talking about the future. But the mainstream media or press can write or say just about anything with little fear of being held accountable in court, unlike every other business.

Its basically somone's opinion piece , based on Biden's past record and election promises. It needs no disclaimers , nor can it make any specific claims.

Here is a column appearing in The Wall Street Journal that relates to our discussion at this topic.

Fair Use:

To: The Incoming Secretary of Transportation

From: Travelers

Re: First Steps

Dear Sec. Somebody,
We don’t know who you are yet. But we do know you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you shaping national policy on planes, trains and automobiles.

There are a lot of buts and ifs that make it close to impossible to currently predict what the transportation policy for the next couple of years will be.

We have a somewhat clear image of the intentions of a Biden administration. So far mass transit in metropolitan areas seems to be more in focus than intercity trains, but the Biden campaign platform also includes a push for high speed rail.

We also know that while the COVID pandemic will be first priority for the administration, an economic rebuild will probably be second. Climate change will probably be very high on the list too.

All this could very well spell a substantial expansion for Amtrak. If the Biden administration can get any of it through Congress.

And that is far from certain, especially in the Senate. Even if the Democrats win the two runoffs in Georgia, which they are not that likely to do, they will be operating with the slimmest possible of majorities, including being dependent on senators Manchin and Tester from two of the most coal and oil dependent states in the union.

Even more will depend on the political fallout after the Trump years and on Mitch McConnell. If he continues his line of letting any Democratic signature initiative wither and die, that he has pretty much kept since Obama was first elected, Biden will not be able to do much of what he wants. And if Trump stays in the background sending the tweet of death about any Republican senator that breaks ranks, very few will dare to do that. Add resistance to any climate initiatives. Hyperpartisanship will continue and solidify and so will deadlock.

This is not the only possible scenario though. Trump's attempts to subvert the election might create a backlash that makes this line untenable for at least some in the Republican caucus, who will then need to show some will of governing. The confirmation hearings will be a sort of lithmus test of the coming climate in this respect. And if there's a base for any further substantial cooperation, transportation might actually be a pretty good bet for an area to run a test drive on. It's of interest across blue and red states and with a pretty solid history of bi-partisan cooperation, in spite of the vilifying of Obama's high speed rail initiative.

But with so many unknowns any guess at the outcome at this point is not really possible.