Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

1234nameuser t1_jcors1r wrote

Reply to comment by Used-Examination1439 in $105 Billion Train to NYC in 45ish minutes by EliteDetonater

Lols, We can't even build housing, adequate roads or even a basic gas line for energy security.

A bullet train is just laughable and doesn't benefit CT...would probably lower states revenue.

−67

Used-Examination1439 t1_jcosty6 wrote

Ironically it’s the rich that have protested in the past due to NIMBY. This would have direct and indirect economic growth with people having short commutes to major cities, and most likely turning New Haven into a medium size city in the long run thus helping lower income and middle income folks with higher paying jobs.

53

buried_lede t1_jcp2af7 wrote

More immediate effect would be that real estate in these places would skyrocket due to being within quick commuting distance to Boston and NY

18

1234nameuser t1_jcov97b wrote

Sounds like a great sales pitch. Selling sports stadiums too?

−27

BobbyRobertson t1_jcp5yiz wrote

Sports stadiums are in no way comparable to infrastructure lmao

16

_343_Guilty_Spark__ t1_jcp5uj3 wrote

r/connecticut users arguing about economics while providing a grand total of zero sources. Classic

8

Marlinspikehall32 t1_jcougm4 wrote

It would bring economic growth to the city and allow people who live there to get higher paying jobs in NYC. I would love to work in NYC I would make double my salary. I would also love not to have to drive 95 to get to NYC. it would save gas money time and frustration

13

avtchrd345 t1_jcow274 wrote

I would love it too. I commute to the city few times a week on metro north now, so personally this type of project would benefit me greatly.

But I also recognize that basically every passenger rail in the country (possibly literally every?) is unprofitable. All infrastructure projects like this run ridiculously over budget. And while I’m sure there are significant economic benefits I don’t really think they are broad enough to ask all tax payers to subsidize the commutes of high earning knowledge workers.

−2

eldersveld t1_jcp9ebc wrote

> to ask all tax payers to subsidize

So let's just have the mega-rich do it.

8

Extreme_Disaster2275 t1_jcpi4ud wrote

How much profit do I 95 and the Merrit make?

7

avtchrd345 t1_jcpol0m wrote

Fair. But the unprofitability isn’t the only point. Let’s just all establish that we’re on the same page that this “paying for itself” is definitely a fantasy. Even on an ongoing basis. Much less if one considers the capital investment.

−1

Extreme_Disaster2275 t1_jcpr1gg wrote

As bad as 95 and the Merritt are, consider how bad traffic would be if they didn't exist and all we had was Rt 1 with it's hundreds of intersections and traffic lights. Would you say that 95 and the Merritt justify the capital investment? Now consider upgrading rail in order to ease the congestion on those roads.

3

avtchrd345 t1_jcps0hv wrote

This discussion is pointless. You can say you think it’s worth the cost and I can say I don’t think it’s worth the cost forever.

−1

1234nameuser t1_jcovjmp wrote

Back in reality......tons of folks in New haven would be pushed into outer burbs due to lack of affordability.

CT cannot expand housing supply quick enough.

But yes, no doubt it'd be great for rich folks to have new toys.

Climate change loves the idea of your ridiculous commute.

−4

Marlinspikehall32 t1_jcowblu wrote

I was responding to the question of why it would be good. But this would help provide more jobs in the area. New Haven has seen a huge expansion in housing(notice I didn’t use the word affordable). I expect the developers are expecting this to actually happen. But it would be bad for those that suffer when gentrification happens. Not wealthy myself but myself and my cohort would do better financially. Maybe allow me to be middle class instead of lower middle class living paycheck to paycheck

4

johnsonutah t1_jcrjul5 wrote

People already prefer the burbs over New Haven. You can’t even send your kids to school in New Haven, the education system there is so bad.

New Haven could explode with growth and prosperity but it can’t ever get out of its own way (local alderman politics), nor does the state sufficiently rally around it. I mean look at New Haven union station and the area around it - what should be a bustling economic center, linked by transit to one of the most prosperous metropolises in the world (nyc), yet it’s a joke.

1

-nocturnist- t1_jcquzwn wrote

I remember reading somewhere that the cost of putting in trains in the USA is 5-6x of what it costs in Europe. Mainly due to it being a private company project with endless costs.

1