The Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes $8 billion for high speed rail. Generally, The Low Tech Times supports investment in rail travel. However, it is not yet clear how the $8 billion will be spent.
The Politics of Passenger Rail
Democrats support passenger rail in the United States, whereas many Republicans are opposed to spending on Amtrak. There are some notable exceptions, such as Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and others who have supported Amtrak funding.
Democratic President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are both supporters of Amtrak. Republican Senator John McCain, who was defeated during the most recent presidential election, is an Amtrak critic. Senator McCain is ideologically against government waste, and he categorizes Amtrak as pork. However, some have suggested he holds a personal grudge against Amtrak since his wife and son were onboard an Amtrak train that derailed.
Many Republicans feel that passenger rail should be self-sufficient and not require billions of government subsidies. However, it is not entirely fair to view passenger rail in this way since the government subsidizes highway and air travel by paying for airport construction, highway construction, air traffic controllers, etc.
Some Republicans, legitimately I think, also question whether Amtrak is wisely spending the money they are currently allocated. There is certainly no shortage of Amtrak complaints, which leads to a lack of confidence in Amtrak. Additionally, Amtrak routes seem to be determined by powerful people in Washington rather than what may make the best sense. Is tri-weekly 27 hour service between New York, NY and Chicago, IL via Hinton, WV really the best use of current Amtrak resources and equipment?
See Also:
Specific Mention of ATV Trails Stripped from Final Stimulus Bill