As the U.S. fantasizes, the world builds high speed rail

Re:As the U.S. fantasizes, the world builds high speed rail by roywiggins on Saturday July 01, 2017 @06:22PM (#14679387)

This neglects positive externalities, doesn't it? The NY Metro is economically vital but can't recoup its operating expenses from ticket sales, so it relies on taxes (and, unfortunately, a lot of debt). Nobody would say the MTA is exactly a model of a functioning subway system but there's no principle that says a subway can't be funded with taxes and tickets in combination.

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Re:As the U.S. fantasizes, the world builds high speed rail by graycat on Sunday July 02, 2017 @11:29PM (#14685661)

There is such a principle and even a law, cost/benefit analysis. And it doesn't consider your externalities. C/B analysis is especially simple for a train -- can estimate the benefit from the ticket revenue. If more is needed, then the train fails C/B analysis.

But for the NY and NYC MTA, they don't care because NYC needs the trains. For the rest of the country, they should and do care.

If you want my tax money for your new dreamy trains, then I will tell my representatives to vote no.

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Re:As the U.S. fantasizes, the world builds high speed rail by roywiggins on Monday July 03, 2017 @09:40AM (#14688143)

Schools, roads, parks and libraries don't pay for themselves, either. Why should municipal transit be held to a higher standard?

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Re:As the U.S. fantasizes, the world builds high speed rail by neltnerb on Sunday July 02, 2017 @03:19AM (#14681321)

Seems to me that the benefit to non-riders is simply that the cars those riders would be using aren't on the roads that they are using.

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