MEGAN MCARDLE ON WHY WE DON’T HAVE HIGH-SPEED RAIL: “I am about to blame–you will perhaps be unsurprised–the government. Why isn’t there a high speed train from New York to Chicago? Well, first of all, this would greatly anger legislators from New York and Michigan, who like the fact that the Chicago train must pass through Buffalo and Detroit, even if this assures that almost no one with a job will actually use it. There’s also the problem of the Federal construction process. The high speed train between DC and Charlotte was first conceived in the early 1990s. The EIS for this project will be completed probably sometime in 2010.”

Passenger Fee To Be Considered By Airport: “The Elmira-Corning Regional Airport is considering adding an extra fee to all passenger tickets in order to pay for facility upgrades.”

You know, other than the enormous price of the ticket, the being handled like a not-very-prized cow….now you get to pay just a little more for the privilege.

Thruway Authority moves forward with plan to raise tolls

The Board of Directors for the New York State Thruway Authority’s has approved a financial plan that would require it to raise tolls in 2009 and 2010.I mean, even if they completely ignored us, unless there was a huge contingent of taxpayers who were clamoring for a raise n theri taxes (through tolls), that no one actually heard.  Ahh, the sweet smell of Democracy…

Toll workers handing out red ribbons

The Thruway Authority is teaming up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving for its annual “Tie One On For Safety” Campaign.

Sure, the toll workers ought to be advertising for a private organization.  SIgh.

Truckers say they’ll bypass Thruway if tolls are raised

A majority of truck drivers say they’ll use secondary roads if a proposal from the Thruway Authority to raise tolls goes through.

Works for me, in fact, if they raise tolls, I too will use only small back roads.  I have been thinking for a while now, it is time to slow down and watch the scenery, and that really isn’t possible on a highway.  Bring back the roadside diner!

GOP holds hearings on toll increases

Assembly Republicans are waging a new war on Gov. Eliot Spitzer: Dump the toll increases on the New York state Thruway.

Much like the Tax we are still paying to pay of the war Spanish American war, the thruway tolls were supposed to be in place until we paid off the roads.  Of course, once a tax is put in place, it never, ever goes away (Reference, Spanish American War Tax, otherwise known as Federal Income Tax).

Politicians have never sen a tax they did not absolutely love, I mean, take home to mother and buy the ring right now love!

Jackals Bus Driver Recovering

The Jackals bus driver’s condition is improving.  I was feeling bad about making a joke, at the expense of the driver, well not bad-bad, just uncomfortable bad.  Glad to hear he is doing better.

Bridge closes due to unsafe supports

A bridge in Big Flats closes because of structural deficiencies. Chemung County Public Works officials closed the Kahler Road Bridge after they learned of problems with its supports found during a state inspection a couple of weeks ago.

A few weeks ago I was trying to take a short cut (o get to our children’s music teacher) and took Kahler Road, I got to the base of the bridge (In the Hummer), and stopped.  A wooden bridge, with none to sturdy looking supports.  I backed up and went the long way.  I don’t think I would take that bridge, even in a light car.

Elmira bridge repairs delayed until today

Minor repair of the Walnut Street Bridge in Elmira had to be postponed until early this week because state equipment and advisers were not available Friday, officials said.

I use the Walnut street bridge, maybe 8 times a day, so not having it open was a serious pain.  So, for the past week I have been taking my laptop and parking down at the boat launch, doing my work and watching.   I saw maybe a total of 2 hours of work done.  for having a bridge closed a week and a half.  Maybe they are doing the work late at night?

Spitzer license plan disputed

Governor Spitzer has cited it more than once when defending his license plan: a AAA report showing those driving without a license are more dangerous to fellow motorists.

FOr the first 15 years of driving, I had no license, I never got into an accident, never got a moving violation, never got a parking ticket.  I found that when one is a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs, one is rather cautious.