Well, that’s how much Los Federales will provide to North Carolina. How much this boondoggle will cost the people of NC is unknown at this time
Transportation officials said Tuesday they’ve reached an agreement that will allow them to obtain $461 million in federal grants to improve passenger train service between North Carolina’s two largest cities.
The pact will allow faster and more frequent passenger service between Charlotte and Raleigh.
Awesome! How many people actually take the train currently? I’ve lived in Raleigh since 1994. Too be honest, I didn’t even know there was a train that went from Raleigh to Charlotte. I’ve never known anyone who took it, or even talked about taking it. Why bother? You jump on I-40, which merges with I-85, then stay left on I-85 in Greensboro down to Charlotte. Takes about 3 hours or less…..
Officials say the new service would cut travel time from Charlotte to Raleigh to less than three hours, even with seven stops along the way.
So, why not bring your own car? Oh, right. Globull warming or something.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the grants are part of President Obama’s vision for a national high-speed rail system that “will link 80 percent of Americans in the next 25 years, and lay the foundation for an economy that moves people, good and information quickly, safely and reliably than anywhere else in the world.”
Whew! I’m not sure how else I would get to Charlotte from Raleigh…….what’s that? There’s already a method that links 99.9% of Americans, and the other .1% don’t want to be linked for various reasons? They’re called “roads”? Who knew?
Strangely, some business owners, who could see their stores close, have a problem with the rail plan. And some homeowners are concerned.
