Otto Vondrak wrote:Stick to the trains, leave the politics behind.
Unfortunately, we can't leave the politics behind, because the country has gone bust. Anything you see in the next two years, good or bad, gain or loss, will be politically motivated. We have to be vigilant, and learn to read between the lines as never before.
This factor narrows the field of the "Study" down significantly. Politicians are now in the proverbial bear trap of cutting costs, while renovating crumbling infrastructure, so what does that mean here?
Simple. Instead of what is needed; restoration of rail from Kingston to Hoboken via Stewart, they will be looking at the old railway bridge, and putting in "Light Rail" (Yeuch!) with a great big ELEVATOR to bring people down to The Water Level Route.
Sarge, you said why have the meeting in Newburgh? What would you suggest? It may be the only place WOH close to Stewart and those surrounding communities with a conference room in a hotel where the event can be staged. I would suggest Kingston, however, I get the idea that the Suits don't have Kingston in the plan. Look for a trolley over the Hudson, or some kind of link to the Erie Main and Hoboken.
Then again, imagine the hassle of getting off the plane at Stewart, getting to the rail, getting off in Hoboken, taking the PATH to Manhattan with the luggage........ TAXI!! It will be interesting on which direction they are thinking of expanding Metro North (that's what it is, ultimately) and I bet it will also hinge on how large a crowd they get, and what is said. In order to get WOH trains running, there has to be enough people riding those trains to keep making money, and so that east upper Hudson traffic (Harmon/Pokipse) doesn't suddenly become a money loser.
We're still waiting for The Lackawanna Cutoff to be reconstructed 16 years (and counting!) after the footings were poured for the new stations. It will be 20 years at least before you can ride anything on rails into Stewart.
D/
