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avtchrd345 t1_jcow274 wrote

Reply to comment by Marlinspikehall32 in $105 Billion Train to NYC in 45ish minutes by EliteDetonater

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.

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eldersveld t1_jcp9ebc wrote

> to ask all tax payers to subsidize

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

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Extreme_Disaster2275 t1_jcpi4ud wrote

How much profit do I 95 and the Merrit make?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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