Join the discussion on the following article:
Northstar Commuter Rail ridership down in 2012
The mark of socialist government. Build a commuter train and put it where there is no demand. The free market run by private corporations would have first checked to see if there was any demand. If there was, then check to see if it could be operated without a loss. If so, then build it. Otherwise forget about it. Now, the socialist government has determined somebody other than the user has to make up the losses. That somebody is the taxpayer who never uses it and has no need to use it. Of course, to a socialist, it is impossible for somebody to have no need of a socialist project.
With Amtrak scoring record numbers, and adding second and third sections (like the old days), Kansas City looking to add service… One of the most liberal cities in the country is loosing ridership? Don’t want to give up the automobiles, do ya?
Jeffery: Sounds like you think that the socialist roads that you dive on are self supporting. Think again. Nationally, the gas tax and other direct motor vehicle taxes cover less than 60% of real costs.
Jeffrey Guse: I don’t understand what socialism has to do with running transit. The bottom line about North Star is that is does not run to St. Cloud, MN. This would bring in more business. You can’t drive on a bridge that only goes halfway across a river and then stops. In addition, more runs need to be make. The BN took up the westward main track for ten miles between Big Lake and Becker in 1985. This was shortsighted and was stopped before any more track was removed. Now the BNSF wants North Star (taxpayers) to pay for the re-laying of this track. The BN would not admit to their mistake, even after many studies said restoration of the double track would pay for itself in one years, what with train delays. Mr. Guse—shouldn’t the BNSF pay for this and not the taxpayers? Another way to save money is to discontinue service Saturday and Sunday as two or so METRA lines do in Chicago.
Trolls: Please read the article,
“In the three months since fares were cut by up to $1, ridership on the 41-mile line, which operates over BNSF Railway between Big Lake and Minneapolis, is eight percent higher than what was forecast…”
“On Nov. 19 and 20, the first start-of-the-week workdays for the Ramsey station, the station averaged 263 rides per day, which beat projections.”
“It will offer rides to the final two Minnesota Vikings’ football games this season, and will operate special service in conjunction with the Holidazzle holiday parade in Minneapolis on Saturdays through Dec. 23.”
I’m glad our tax dollars are subsidizing trips to the ballparks. It just boggles the mind that this is allowed to happen. And still the foolish politicians rant about “revenue shortffalls”. How many millions of dollars are being spent on this service and how much good could these millions do it they were spent instead on education.
Jeff Guse sure enjoys bellyaching and is only happy when something fails. Typical comments by a right-wing Libertarian party ding-dong that believes we should have a transportation dictatorship of automobile use.