Featured Cause
-
End Homelessness
- 2416 Members
- 2198 Actions
- $205 Dollars Raised
End Homelessness
America needs high speed bullet trains that travel between major metropolitan cities. In Califonria we recently passed a proposition to connect SF and LA with a bullet train that can get a person from one city to the next in three-four hours. With that kind of commuting time (and cheaper cost), planes become silly.
The result will be cleaner and faster travel, cheaper for the individual, but better for commerce and would create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Now imagine connecting Seattle, Portland, SF, LA and Las Vegas. I'm all for planes in an emergency, but otherwise Jet fuel should be saved and the c02 they output should be capped. Meanwhile the ease for passengers would make traveling safe and easy again.
Yes: Trains would most likely run on elecriticity (and probably lead back to coal) - but I think this would be a big step in the right direction. The only incentive to use planes over trains is the savings in time. If we can mitigate that - then we will end up reducing c02 and making major headeway in transforming our country for a brighter, cleaner and more productive future.
Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.
Ideas for Change in America is a nationwide competition to identify the best ideas
for change in America. The top 10 ideas will be presented to the Obama administration
just before inauguration day and form the basis of a nationwide advocacy campaign to
turn each idea into actual policy.
Click here to view the Ideas homepage »
In addition to voting, nonprofits and bloggers can formally endorse an idea they support. Current endorsements include:
This idea is currently in 38th Place
and needs 2654 more votes to be part of the final 10 ideas presented at our event in Washington, DC
Here's how you can help:
2. Share it on social networking sites
3. Post a Widget on Your Webpage
On January 16th, Change.org will co-host an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to announce the top 10 rated ideas and our plans for supporting the formation of a national advocacy campaign behind each idea in collaboration with our nonprofit partners. Read More »
In addition to voting, nonprofits and bloggers can formally endorse an idea they support by completing the form below. If you represent a nonprofit, using an official organizational email address (e.g. "john@greenpeace.org" for Greenpeace) will expedite the process of confirming your organization's endorsement.
© 2008, Change.org. All Rights Reserved.
This user's Profile page is not public. They have restricted it to only their friends.
You must create a Change.org account to complete this action.
If you already have an account click here.
The Case Foundation, a partner of Change.org, is running a campaign called "Change Begins With Me," which
calls on citizens across the country to get involved by answering the question: how will YOU commit to
bringing about change in your neighborhood, your community or your nation?
The winner will receive 2 tickets to the Presidential Inauguration and the Hawaii Inaugural Ball as well
as flight and hotel accommodations in Washington, DC.
No idea is too big or too small. Everyone has a role to play.
To enter the competition, in 250 characters or less, complete this phrase:
I totally agree with David Cohn. Please, please free us from the bondage of Big Oil, Big Air, and Big Auto (and their conservative supporters) They've been crippling this country for too long.
Posted by J Andrew Zook on 11/09/2008 @ 12:55PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
I know that the average American home is responsible for about 40% of energy usage in the USA. Federal and State governments should grant tax credits, low interest federally insured loans, or any other program that would encourage the general homeowner, and all new construction, to have their homes become more energy efficient, and even partially self-subsistent with regard to power usage. I know that by using Geo-Thermal (holes drilled in the ground, pipes containing a glycol mixture, and recirculated through heat pumps and cooling coils), natural gas and electrical usage could be lowered significantly. By using wind generation (Windmills) and solar panels for the home, centralized electrical generation needs over the aggregate could be lowered significantly thus lowering consumers' bills. The increased demand for these green technologies would boost the economy through employment and manufacture of heat pump, solar, and insulation components. The decreased use of natural gas could be redirected to be used in our transportation needs, thus reducing the carbon emissions and acting as a bridge to newer electrical and hydrogen cell transportation technologies (which themselves offer a huge employment and manufacturing potential). The subsequent decrease in demand for fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel and coal offer huge monetary savings as well as reduction of carbon footprints. The cost savings for federal, state, local government offices, as well as schools could also be enormous.
Posted by Jim Boyer on 11/15/2008 @ 09:37AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Along with any high speed train, we need Personal Rapid Transit to resolve the "last mile problem in cities and towns along the route. With the train, the "last mile" may be as much as 50 miles. PRT is the smart way to get good, clean, economical local transportation.
Failure to address local transportation will leave us still forced to drive automobiles to the widely spaced train stations and all too many people would simply drive the entire trip.
Equal to or better than all the other transportation options, PRT provides the fundamental ability end the automobile addiction and end the economic waste that goes with it.
Posted by Ed Porter on 11/29/2008 @ 08:28AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
High speed trains must have few stations lest they become low speed trains. They therefore suffer from a first/lastmile problem that can be solve by personal rapid transit (PRT).
PRT is a new system of transportation that uses automation to rapidly move small groups of people (1 to 4) to their destinations nonstop. 100 mpg equivalent electric T-Pods have very low parking needs since they typically accomplish some 50 trips per day. Their small size means the infrastructure required is light, unobtrusive and relatively low cost. The new sustainable city of Masdar in the UAE is planned to be automobile free and to use a PRT system as the primary form of transportation. The Heathrow PRT system is up and running, undergoing operational testing prior to opening for public use in 2009. The antiquated Morgantown PRT system has been running for over 30 years and has completed over 140 million injury-free passenger miles (regular transit would have injured over a hundred and probably killed somebody in that many passenger miles). PRT is very scalable and can be introduced as a supplement to existing transit. As usage grows, it can be easily extended with additional stations and guideways. With its low infrastructure needs, low energy use and lack of point-of-use emissions, PRT is likely to prove to be the sustainable transportation system of the future.
Posted by Peter Muller on 12/01/2008 @ 07:31AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Global warming is a lie that our government made to give them a reason to create a carbon tax.They want to tax us on our breathing!
Posted by S W on 12/01/2008 @ 04:05PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Great idea!!! Actually, I would use magnetic levitation trains, but that's just me.
The whole critique of how expensive this would be is the point. Expensive = JOBS. Manufacturing jobs, engineering jobs, R&D jobs, zoning jobs, construction jobs, IT jobs, you name it. Plus, it creates more demand for electricity which equals more jobs building renewable power plants. Once people are employed, they spend money, increasing the GDP, thus creating more wealth and more jobs. So expensive, long, hard = long-term job/infrastructure growth for the U.S.
Additionally, we can get Amerirail passes for students all over the world to see the many diverse cultures we have in America and further our global standing.
GREAT IDEA!!!
--Joe
Posted by Joseph Schultz on 12/02/2008 @ 10:43AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
High speed between: DC, B'more, Philly and NYC. Imagine the potential!
Posted by Alayna Buckner on 12/02/2008 @ 10:56AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Awesine comments everyone.
I'll be driving down from San Francisco to Los Angeles again this Christmas break. I grew up in LA and migrated up here for college - fell in love and haven't really left. But of course I go donw often to visit my folks.
But - as you might guess that means I've put on A LOT of miles on the car or in frequent filier form.
I am really excited at the idea of the train from SF to LA. Although it probably won't be completed for 10 years - when it is, imagine how much congestion that will clear up.
Posted by David Cohn on 12/02/2008 @ 03:41PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
I agree with the Personal Rapid Transit people here - PRT needs to be part of the solution for better transportation. This is not only to curb global warming but also address the significant downsides of our current transit paradigm such as urban pollution, congestion, fatalities and dependence on automobiles that have slowly choked our transit ways.
PRT as a last mile solution definitely needs to be part of this mix
You may also like to vote on the thread here "Solving Urban Transportation through innovation"
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/solving_urban_transportation_through_innovation
which has a Personal Rapid Transit focus.
Posted by Will Wilson on 12/02/2008 @ 04:02PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Projects like this are already in the works.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail_in_the_United_States
Alayna, as high-speed rail is defined, Acela is already providing it in the Northeast corridor. And on November 4, California voters approved a SF-Sac-LA-SD high-speed rail project.
I'm a big fan of rail travel. But I'm skeptical about rail's effect on global warming. Rail will be impractical for long-haul transport for the foreseeable future, so the train will not be a viable alternative for most air passengers. And as David mentioned, rail is coal-powered.
I think this idea should be renamed: Better Transportation for Reducing Depence Upon Petroleum. The environmental benefits of this idea are debatable, making the entire idea vulnerable to criticism. The strategic and economic security benefits, however, are indisputable.
Posted by Matthew Burton on 12/02/2008 @ 04:24PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
What people tend to forget is that the main purpose of all this is to save the planet -- in practical terms, reduce CO2 so that it does not deplete the Ozone layer and reduce other pollutants in norder to provide a clean atmosphre.
This must be done throughout the World, not just the USA. Today, although the US burns up a quarter of the petroleum the world uses, it emits far less CO2 and greenhouse gases than other countries because most of the vehicles uses catalysts to reduce pollutants and there is a system to ensure periodic checks of these systems. This is not so in third world countries, which have no control over pollution. The firewood and kerosene cooking fires and uncontrolled emissions from vehicles in these countries, particularly India and China emit far more pollutants and CO2 that the US and Europe combined.
Therefore, this has to be a Whole World solution, if necessary through UN policed enforcement.
Fast trains are just a blip in this scenario, but to be effective, they must run on electricity and nothing else. All transport, cars, trucks, aircraft and ships must run on electricity generated using non polluting means. All households and industries must be fuilly electrified without compromise.
Do not use coal, for goodness sake, its even more polluting than petroleum products.
Its not a case of whether to convert to electricity or not, but that we HAVE to, if we are to leave a livable planet to our children.
The biggest stumbling block to using electricity has been the sabotage of electrical technology, mainly solar, storage and delivery means -- we are still in the 18th century in this regard -- sabotage that has been actively pursued by the Seven Sisters, the major oil companies of the World for the past 180 years.
If Uncle sam removes the Seven Sisters form the scene, and announces that ALL petroleum products will be banned ten years hence, American ingenuity and R&D will find ways to generate, store and distribute electricity to serve all our future needs using sloar, hydro, wind and any number of other means.
That includes powering aircraft. Technology such as ultra-cacitors, induction and many others have been sabotaged by purchasing and suppressing patents and even neutralising inventors and inventions.
All it need is the determination and the strength of character to defeat the power of the Seven Sisters.
Posted by Jay de Silva on 12/03/2008 @ 01:37PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Since about 65% of our oil supply is used for transport, we must change our transport fuel to electricity and develop lots of electric vehicles and grid connected vehicles (GCV's) such as electric rail, electric bus, etc. powered to the extent possible by renewable energy. See Richard Gilbert and Anthony Pearl's book "Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight Without Oil" http://transportrevolutions.info/ for a good discussion on this topic.
The development of distributed renewable energy could be signficiantly encouraged by adopting Feed-In Tariff programs http://www.newrules.org/de/feed-in-tariffs.pdf which would unleash the entrepreneural spirit of the American people creating lots of local jobs.
Base load utility scale renewable energy projects could be developed using High Temperature Concentrated Solar Thermal Power (CSP) http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3791 in the southwestern US desert areas and transmitting it using high capacity, low loss HVDC transmission lines to other areas of the country. For example, an approximately 100 sq. mi. area of these plants could potentially provide 100% of current US electricity supply! As a former electric power engineer, this is about as close to a silver bullet energy solution as I have seen.
It almost goes without saying that our power grid also needs to transition to "smart grid" techology which allows for significant demand side management (aka energy conservation) capabilities.
Posted by Jim MacInnes on 12/03/2008 @ 02:00PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
@Thomas Besteder - calm down.
No - this might not be in every city, but this is NOT about internal city travel. This is about elimating a large portion of air travel. I haven't done the studies or the research about how much gas is emmitted by planes - but I imagine it is a lot.
Imagine if ONLY all the air travelers between LA and SF were elimated in exchange for bullet trains between those two cities. How much pollutants would we save?
Now connect Seattle, San Fran and Los Angeles.
Add Las Vegas, San Deigo and Portland and you've probably reduced the need for 80% of all air travel on the west coast.
Rinse and repeat.
Yes - some pollutants will be produced. This is not a silver bullet.
If anybody finds a silver bullet to stop global warming - let me know and I will give them some fairy dust and we will call it an even trade.
This is a practical solution that has lots of benefits including curbing c02 output.
Posted by David Cohn on 12/05/2008 @ 04:01PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
I think Richard Heinberg from the Post Carbon Institute outlines the situation we are facing very well along with ways to respond. see http://globalpublicmedia.com/memo_to_the_president_elect
Posted by Jim MacInnes on 12/05/2008 @ 07:27PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
I love all the suggestions about mass transportation, which uses bullet trains. I think cities should restrict automobiles in retail and business districts, have large parking lots in the outline areas with electric busses/shuttles transporting people from the parking lots to downtown locations.
Plus I want the auto industry to develop energy efficient motors to replace the current gas guzzling motors in our personal vehicles and sell them for under &5000. Then all Americans can have fuel efficient cars.
Posted by Claudette Engblom-Bra... on 12/05/2008 @ 09:49PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Take a look at Energy, Jobs and Environment.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/energy_jobs_and_environment
Posted by Larry Tholberg on 12/06/2008 @ 08:01PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
We need to move away from using cars except in extreme instances. We need mass transit between cities and within cities.And we need inter nodal links--for example, airports should be linked to a local and non local train system. For examples of what works now, simply look at what the Europeans are doing.
Posted by Jim Leonard on 12/07/2008 @ 08:44AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
The U.S. needs MUCH better public transport. (a) Good bus and light-rail service within metropolitan areas provide a REAL option to cars. (b) HIGH-SPEED RAIL (TGV/Bullet trains) competes well with airplanes because of travel time between downtowns and airports and airport delays. This creates manufacturing and construction jobs and reduces oil consumption. Maybe some plants of the BIG 3 automakers could be adapted. Barack Obama's pledge of $15 billion per year for energy independence is WOEFULLY INADEQUATE!!
Posted by Fran Benson on 12/07/2008 @ 09:56PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
I support much more investment in mass transportation, especailly in light rail for communities but this idea is way too weak considering our situation. We need broad policy changes now. I'm sorry to be so blunt but 1/3 the energy being used goes into food production and distribution because we have such a centralized system. We need to grow as much of our food locally as possible. We need a massive investment in our soil, localizing food and fuel production as well as ruralizing cities, breaking up the unsustainable concentrations of waste and consumption. This is a big development project so there will be much meaningful work designing, building and growing food, decentrailizing for efficiency. This is a solution to the issues we are seeing with the environment, our health, energy and the economy. I beg of you to be creative and insist on a beautiful green vision.
Posted by Howard Switzer on 12/08/2008 @ 09:11AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
A better Transportation model for the near future would be for EVERY STOP LIGHT in the USA to be on a sensor. No more idling at a Red Light while there is NO CROSS traffic! The savings in fuel & emissions alone would be worth the trouble it would take to make the CHANGE over. And maybe the rest of the world would follow suit. Plus some jobs could be created to rethink the MODEL we do use now that is so wasteful.
Posted by Victoria Marshall on 12/08/2008 @ 10:18AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
I would vote for this but NOT if there's a bunch of non-sensical conservative bashing.
The sad fact (even in mass transit happy California) is that most people think rail and buses are GREAT ideas--for the *other* guy. This has been proven every single time some new capability has gone online.
Do I think it's valuable and useful? Definitely.
Do I think conservatives have been somehow "stopping" this? Not a chance--the *voter* has found it lacking.
Posted by Steven Woodcock on 12/12/2008 @ 07:01AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
This is not a liberal or conservative thing. It will be a necessity to move toward mass transit probably using electric vehicles because of the dual threats of global warming and peak oil. Here is an interesting audio discussion by Richard Heinberg of the Post Carbon institute that provides a good overview of the situation. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wiaa/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1437333
Posted by Jim MacInnes on 12/12/2008 @ 05:26PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
No matter the mode of transport, the incoming administration and the Big 3 auto makers MUST consider using hemp seed oil as fuel! Think about it ~ put our farmers back to work, food is once again grown for food and not fuel, substantially reduce pollution from the production and use and best of all, eliminate, that's right, I said ELIMINATE our need for any and all foreign oil! Hemp seed oil can also be used for heating homes. Hemp is cheap to grow and grows quickly, cleanly and is drought tolerant.
There is no clean coal, we've seen what a mess we are in because of our dependence on crude oil and we will be running out of both of those resources probably in my children's lifetimes.
Replacing our need for excesses of oil or electricity is only the beginning of what we can utilize hemp for. Don't forget we can produce every grade of paper known to man with hemp pulp and the medicinal values are countless! So I say...Hemp For All, Hemp For Life, And Hemp For Quality Of Life!
Posted by Debbie Brechler on 12/13/2008 @ 02:35PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
No matter the mode of transport, the incoming administration and the Big 3 auto makers MUST consider using hemp seed oil as fuel! Think about it ~ put our farmers back to work, food is once again grown for food and not fuel, substantially reduce pollution from the production and use and best of all, eliminate, that's right, I said ELIMINATE our need for any and all foreign oil! Hemp seed oil can also be used for heating homes. Hemp is cheap to grow and grows quickly, cleanly and is drought tolerant.
There is no clean coal, we've seen what a mess we are in because of our dependence on crude oil and we will be running out of both of those resources probably in my children's lifetimes.
Replacing our need for excesses of oil or electricity is only the beginning of what we can utilize hemp for. Don't forget we can produce every grade of paper known to man with hemp pulp and the medicinal values are countless! So I say...Hemp For All, Hemp For Life, And Hemp For Quality Of Life!
Posted by Debbie Brechler on 12/13/2008 @ 02:36PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
No matter the mode of transport, the incoming administration and the Big 3 auto makers MUST consider using hemp seed oil as fuel! Think about it ~ put our farmers back to work, food is once again grown for food and not fuel, substantially reduce pollution from the production and use and best of all, eliminate, that's right, I said ELIMINATE our need for any and all foreign oil! Hemp seed oil can also be used for heating homes. Hemp is cheap to grow and grows quickly, cleanly and is drought tolerant.
There is no clean coal, we've seen what a mess we are in because of our dependence on crude oil and we will be running out of both of those resources probably in my children's lifetimes.
Replacing our need for excesses of oil or electricity is only the beginning of what we can utilize hemp for. Don't forget we can produce every grade of paper known to man with hemp pulp and the medicinal values are countless! So I say...Hemp For All, Hemp For Life, And Hemp For Quality Of Life!
Posted by Debbie Brechler on 12/13/2008 @ 02:36PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
If we replace gasoline with Hemp Seed Oil, could we use the oil in our current gas motors or would we need to buy a new motor for our current vehicles or buy a new hemp seed oil using vehicle? I we could use the hemp seed oil in our current gas burning engines that would be excellent for we would not have to buy new and recycle our current vehicles.
If we can use hemp to produce paper that would save our trees. How wonderful to solve two issues to save our planet: The issue of gas and the issue of paper.
Posted by Claudette Engblom-Bra... on 12/14/2008 @ 12:02AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Global Warming... hmmm sounds like the perfect platform to pass ANY LAW YOU WANT!!! Green is the new RED! Do you stupid ass politicians read???!! OF Course you do, you just think America is stupid enough to swallow your shit. The tide for this nonsense is OVER, Scientists from all over the world are now speaking out against it... I have an idea, why dont you guys repackage the idea and call it something new... like let's say, "Climate Change" yeah.. maybe they will buy that!!
Posted by lloyd barnett on 12/16/2008 @ 07:00PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
We need not only bullet trains, but a national train network. We need a 3-tiered system linked together - all powered by wind, solar, geothermal, and ocean/tidal power. The 3-tiered system would be as follows:
1. Bullet trains (like France's TGV) going from city center to city center all across the country
2. Regional rail systems connecting to the bullet trains and to all the regional destinations
3. Local light rail and streetcar trains connecting to the regional trains and all the local destinations
Together these form a complete rail transportation system for the entire country. We have to build this because we are entering the peak oil era and oil will go up in price again and stay there, and we will have no viable transportation if we don't rapidly build a 21st century rail system. There is no research needed... these systems are already in use all over the industrialized world, excpet America.
We have laid out the plan here:
http://www.urbandesign.org/newdeal2009.html
Posted by Alan Z on 12/17/2008 @ 02:25PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Let's get this straight, many people want a network of rail transportation. Can some one explain just how such a network will attract ridership when so many existing rail lines are begging for money? Rail lines are only efficient when they connect large pools of potential riders and even then they are not always viable. A good example is the New York MTA which is always sucking around for more operating money. As for helping the "Global Warming" problem, how? Has anyone done an end to end study of this concept's costs including construction, maintenance and operation? Costs meaning both financial and environmental. This idea smacks of the same pervasive hot air that Gore's " carbon credits" company exhibits.
Posted by Paul Michaelis on 12/19/2008 @ 12:50PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Bullet trains cause more pollution than regular trains. Look at George Monbiot's book _Heat_ where all the transportation modes are analyzed. That said, why is the US so far behind in rail transportation? The train systems in India and China are far better. Where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, the BART commuter rail is back-ass-wards compared to trains in Paris, Stockholm, even China. We are not a developed country. Invest in rail!!
Posted by Dan Johnson on 12/19/2008 @ 02:13PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
To all you KNOWLEDGEABLE Global Warming advocates, here is a link to a recent Senate document about dissenters to the theory. Interesting, there are many more learned dissenters than there are authors of the UN IPCC report. The IPCC report had 52 authors which doesn't exactly correspond to the sum total of climateological experts in the world.
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=83947f5d-d84a-4a84-ad5d-6e2d71db52d9
Posted by Paul Michaelis on 12/19/2008 @ 04:34PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Here's a specific transportation idea for you, if interested: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/build_the_blue_sky_tram_net
It's been entered in Google's 10 to the 100 competition for $2mm funding, also based on a vote.
Posted by Fred Bentler on 12/19/2008 @ 06:22PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Boston has a wonderful MTA system. I lived in Boston for 12 years and used the MTA constantly. I owned a car and found parking a hassle with Meter Maids constantly ticketing cars whose meter ran out. Parking Garages were expensive. During rush hours (4 pm to 6 pm) the time spent getting from place to place doubled. I soon learned to leave my car in the garage and use the MTA. The MTA was the cheaper and faster mode of transportation in Boston.
We need to research the impact of rapid transit systems, if they have not been researched before. Use the outcomes of the research to develop and improve transportation systems that are both cost effective to the taxpayer and economical for the consumer.
Posted by Claudette Engblom-Bra... on 12/20/2008 @ 01:14AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
I like it. We need much better public transit. May take a complete re-work of urban design. Seems like it would fit with my Renewable Model Communities idea:
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/renewable_model_communities_rmc
Posted by Alan Dechert on 12/21/2008 @ 03:11PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
It will not be enough for riders to go 300 mph plus between cities on a technologically advanced "High Speed" train without having a technologically advanced Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system waiting and available at each "High Speed" train station, providing them with a last mile solution into and out of each of these stations.
Without Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) there will be nothing but a traffic jam of congestion getting to and from these "High Speed" train stations. You could not efficiently bring enough buses, Taxis or personal automobiles into each of these "High Speed" train stations or for that matter build a Park-n-Ride big enough to handle the volume of riders necessary to meet its demanding popularity and financial operating requirements.
PRT will definitely enhance the volume and efficiency in-and-out of each these "High Speed" train station with the capabilities of PRT's point-to-point network service. Getting on PRT provides direct non-stop delivery to each riders final "Off-Line-Station" or at least within three to four blocks of each riders final desitination.
All "Citizens for Optimal Mass Mobility and Urban Transit Efficiency" (C.O.M.M.U.T.E.) must demand Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) as a "Last Mile Solution" to and from each "High Speed" train station. We must demand this from every government entity, as well as industry, as one of the best ways to insure and provide leadership towards a more "Green", "Efficient" "Fast" and "Economic" transportation system.
For more detailed information on Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) please go to the website listed below........
www.PRTinternational.com
At this website you will learn more about............
High Capacity Personal Rapid Transit (HCPRT) or what the company PRT International, LLC has coined...........
"Intelligent Transportation Network Systems" (ITNS).
Posted by Jake Solomon on 12/24/2008 @ 04:15AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} CARPE DIEM for zero emission transport (for more information E-mail to DrMolak@gmail.com). The current car manufacturers’ crisis may be a God send, since the new administration may be in a position to force production of electric trains, busses and cars, rather then continuing producing of inefficient and polluting internal combustion engines in personal vehicles (cars). While forcing the implementation of more efficient ways of moving people around (personal cars with internal combustion engines are the LEAST efficient means of transportation in terms of CO2 emissions/mile traveled) is a good beginning, a financial system that encourages green electric energy development and frugality rather than greed is a must. If President Kennedy in 1960 could inspire the nation to reach for moon in less then 10 years, then President Obama should be able to inspire the nation to convert to green economy and solve multiple problems by its implementation, The technologies already exist and are ready to go. Only political will to break the monopolies of fossil fuels and internal combustion engines companies can lead us to sustainable redevelopment of our entire economy. Coordinated with municipalities’, states’ and federal government transportation policies to revive an efficient surface intra and intercity public transport, the car companies should be required to start production of street cars, electric locomotives, electric buses and some electric cars, which combined with a development of renewable electric energy networks could lead to the zero emissions economy, as suggested by Al Gore. Internal combustion engine may go the way of horse and buggies some hundred years ago. As Mr. Vaclav Havel, the first President of democratic Czechoslovakia, noticed in his first speech to American Congress in 1991: "Without a global revolution in the sphere of human consciousness, nothing will change for better in the sphere of our being as humans, and the catastrophe toward the world is headed - be it ecological, demographic, social or general breakdown of civilization - will be unavoidable."
The current crisis is a tremendous opportunity to radically transform the way we move around and get us closer to zero emission economy and make US sustainable
Posted by Vlasta Molak on 12/25/2008 @ 06:54AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
On January 20, 2008 our nation will be getting a "divorce" from the Bush Administration. Just like divorcing from a bad marriage, we will have to recover. But a divorce is also an opportunity to remake ourselves. American is going to reinvent itself.
We will reinvent our financial systems, health care, green technologies, green lifestyles and even new social structures where we respect those who are different from us, respect our planet, respect our personal lives and family members. Somehow we have to work on all these issues. We are going to have to mature socially and emotionally as a people to make the changes we need.
Thank you Vlasta Molak for bringing the role of the human consciousness into the discussion of developing effective transportation systems.
Posted by Claudette Engblom-Bra... on 12/26/2008 @ 11:26PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Here are additional ways to curb global warming
Urgent Tax on Coal Based Electricity
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/urgent_tax_on_coal_based_electricity
Telecommuting Incentives for Employers
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/telecommuting_incentives_for_employers
Help!!!
Posted by Emil Jacob on 12/28/2008 @ 08:24AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
This website is awesome.
I've heard a lot of people say that there is no such thing as clean coal - well that's true.
-But -there is such a thing as cleaner coal. This is a huge deal because 60% of the chinese population, the world's largest, uses coal completely unfiltered and unclean to fuel power plants as well as cook and heat their homes. This releases not only CO2 but high particulate matter, sulfur, and nitrous oxides which cause acid rain.
Clean coal should be developed but not intended as a staple for American energy; rather, America should advocate, even aid foreign countries to implement filter technology to greatly reduce global warming. Among a great many other things.
When we say there is no such thing as clean coal its a good statement, because the technology is not yet implemented where coal is burned. While cleaner coal is possible, it is more or less a white stag in America, often talked about but not actively pursued.
Posted by Philip Lohrmann on 12/30/2008 @ 11:49AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
There is such a thing as clean coal, but it not an alternative to oil, wind, solar, or geothermal; it is an alternative to unfiltered coal, which releases sulfur, high particulate matter, and larger volumes of nitrous oxides (a main cause of acid rain).
60% of China's energy for heating homes, cooking fires, and acquiring drinking water comes from coal - uncensred and uninhibited, dirty coal. Cleaner coal could considerably curb global warming if we actually implement it.
Also, regarding electricity to fuel the bullet trains: What we could really use is a real two-way power grid, that we can plug into. This would make home generation of energy through small scale wind and solarvoltaic more attractive because people could actually make money on surplus energy when they get an electricity check (not bill). It takes a log of gusto to make those kind of investments afterall, when you consider $2k-$5k per pannel, for example.
Posted by Philip Lohrmann on 12/30/2008 @ 12:16PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
lets see, temperatures have been going down in the past few years. now what is this warming thing that al gore thinks is going on??? oh yes, its to line his wallet and his bank account.
There are too many scientists and weathermen who have spoken and said that its all a lie.
i for one, trust a scientist more than i trust al gore.
Posted by james weisinger on 12/30/2008 @ 08:46PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
In the Chicago area the NIMBY'S have been not too responsive to adding rail connectors to the existing system. Your Bullet Train idea is good, if it can compete with the airlines. That is a very expensive solution and requires seperate trackage from the existing freight lines. A more meaningful idea might be to enhance the local commuter options by offering and funding better linkages from homes to work and shopping. There is little in the way of mass transit (busses, etc.) except within a city like Chicago. When you get into even the close ring of suburbs you have to drive to get from one suburb to another. All the rail commute options start at a distant point and then go into downtown at three different stations. If you want to go between towns on the different METRA lines, your only option is to go into downtown change stations and go back out. There is no common linkage between the five METRA lines, driving is better and faster. The outer belt (EJ&E line) was considered as that connector, but with the major opposition it faced has not gone very far. This is where the funding and project support should be focused. The PACE bus system serving the suburban area is limited on its routes and schedules making them almost equally inconvienent.
Posted by Mike Grubermann on 12/31/2008 @ 08:17AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
I am all about high speed rail. My electronics teacher would have a Europen gentleman in every year to talk about having a High Speed rail system for the Middle Tennessee area. I think it is a smashing idea.... but as for all this "green" save the planet stuff...how pretencious can humans be...that we could destroy the earth. HA! She would destroy us. She has always survived. We would be the ones that would go extinct. Now don't get me wrong..POLLUTION IS REAL. "Global Warming" is a hoax. as one put it to tax us for breathing, and simply for LIVING! Thats scary. Do your research read your science papers. Don't belive Brian Williams, Katie Courick, Anderson Cooper, or even the PTI guys, love those dudes. Read and find out for your self. And ALWAYS...
Trust but VERIFY!
Posted by Glenn Randolph on 01/06/2009 @ 09:03AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
Global warming is real.
I supported your idea, please support this one.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/pass_the_dream_act_now
Thank you
Posted by Ike A on 01/06/2009 @ 04:01PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
make vacuum tube maglev trains and they can go 20 times faster. new york to london in a neutrally buoyant tunnel developed in the netherlands and one can travel that great distance in less than 1 hr. i'm all for high and ultra high speed rail, but this CANNOT involve private money... for starters they cannot raise that kind of capital without very high interest rates, which would defeat the purpose of building them.
we can use the powers of the constitution to create credit at very low interest rates to finance these projects.
Posted by nate powell on 01/06/2009 @ 06:55PM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
There was no place to vote for Public Transit in general; basically I want to see more public transportation and less dependence on personal transportation (cars, SUV's, motorcycles), as this will decrease our dependence on oil and will declog our cities.
It would be great to have high speed trains to decrease dependence on air travel, as well.
Posted by Anne Sistler on 01/07/2009 @ 07:00AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.
I invite all of you to visit the second idea about education in this second round (Introduce Esperanto as the first foreign language subject in schools to help American kids succeed), just about introducing Esperanto in the american schools, firstly as a pedagogical(?) experiment.
The qualities of Esperanto as a language will help your children to learn better your own language and other school subjects.
Look
at the project Springboard to languages been realized in the United
Kingdom successfully. In the commentaries about Esperanto you will find
those very important ideas.
So Esperanto will give to your children all the basis not to need menthors or tutors to succeed (?) in school, cheafly on language learning, including English, maths and other subjects related, because of its reknowed propedeutic value.
So you will win in both ideas for changes in USA, also in the education field during Barak Obama Administration.
José Mário Marques
Federal Attorney
Natal - Brazil
Posted by José Mário Marques on 01/07/2009 @ 11:12AM PST
You must be signed in to report content.