This article first appeared in the Tulsa World.
Obama plan backs high-speed rail travel
By World's Editorial Writers
Published: 4/20/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 4/20/2009 3:59 AM
Building
roads, building bridges, building railroads. All are long-term
investments in the economic recovery. President Barack Obama made that
clear last week when he unveiled a plan to begin a system of high-speed
rail service.
Such an endeavor would mean jobs, lots of them for the long term. In
addition, it would relieve congestion, help clean the air, save energy
and extend the life of highways and bridges.
Obama allocated $8 billion of the $787 billion economic
stimulus package to begin to establish high-speed rail corridors across
the nation. As the president pointed out, this is not new technology.
Japan and countries in Europe have been using high-speed trains for
years.
The Obama administration has selected 10 "potential high-speed
rail corridors," including one that would link Tulsa and Oklahoma City
with Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.
This is the kind of project that the stimulus needs. And it
could be good news for Tulsa and Oklahoma. It's long-term, job-creating
work that has the side effect of being good for the environment and
helping relieve our dependence on foreign oil.
Railroads helped build this country. They can help save it now.
Posted on
Mon, April 20, 2009
by Crystal Drwenski