An Associated Press Article on June 10, 2009 entitled Reid drops support for levitating train to Vegas (http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D98NTGOG0.htm) indicates that Harry Reid has changed positions from supporting a High Speed Magnetic Levitation Train to a slower Diesel Electric Train System. A Super-High Speed Rail (Bullet Train) service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas (and I would advocate also between San Diego and Las Vegas as well) is a sensible venture that would seem to be a high priority for not only Harry Reid, but the Democratic party as a whole. It would fulfill their stated political objectives of reducing pollution, reducing green house gases, improving fuel efficiency in transportation, reduce the incidents of Traffic injuries and fatalities on sections of I-15, and it would serve as the ultimate car pool vehicle.

Those of you who have traveled I-15 in Southern California and Nevada on a Friday evening going to Las Vegas, or on a Sunday evening traveling to Los Angeles or San Diego should intuitively recognize the benefits of a High Speed Rail. It is quite common for traffic to creep along at 40 mph or less on an Interstate Highway designed for 75 mph traffic due to extreme congestion and accidents. The high speed rail would alleviate this condition, if accepted by travelers between these cities. It would also represent a benefit to Nevada as it would facilitate higher levels of California Tourism traffic to Las Vegas and surrounding areas.

I am pleased that Harry Reid is no longer supporting a Federal Government High Speed Rail proposal, unfortunately he is still trying to keep the Federal Government involved in a smaller Diesel Electric Rail System. The creation of this and other high speed rail systems must not be a Federal Government initiative; but rather a private enterprise activity. To understand my position, look at AmTrak which was created by the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 and implemented by the Department of Transportation. The Secretary of Transportation in the late 1960’s and 1970 asserted that within three years it would be profitable. Thirty nine years later it still has not generated a profit in any year. Simply put, our Federal Government is incapable of managing any resource or activity efficiently; perhaps this is too harsh, they do a credible job with the Military and the U.S. Postal Service.  Why would Harry Reid and others believe that our Federal Government would be able to effectively and efficiently run High Speed Rail?

There is a role for the Federal Government in the High Speed Rail between Southern California and Southern Nevada, as well as other locations across the Continental United States. In Article 1 Section 8 of our Constitution, congress is assigned the responsibility to “…regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; ….” and to “…establish Post Offices and Post Roads;..”.  The role of Congress in this and other high speed rail ventures should be as a facilitator by announcing a Public “Bidding Cycle” for private enterprise to bid for lease rights associated with High Speed Rail to be located in the median, road sides, or under/over the existing Interstates and Federal  Highway systems. The Departments of Transportation and Commerce would have limited design approval, coordination, and regulation roles for implementing the High Speed Rail Systems. The use of existing Federal Interstate and U.S. Highway routes for High Speed Rail would allow rail traffic to be pushed into the heart of San Diego and Los Angeles; rather than at Victorville or other bedroom community access points.

The down side of a High Speed rail system will be impacts to existing transportation systems. Commercial Aviation could see a dramatic reduction in traffic originating in Los Angeles and San Diego; when you factor the time it takes to travel to the Airport, clear security, wait in the Terminal and on the plane at the Gate, aircraft taxi & take off, etc.. the use of Rail becomes comparable in time spent traveling. High Speed Rail would require 50% of the travel time compared to bus or private automobiles traveling at the posted 70 MPH speeds, and only 25% of the time when considering actual speeds achieved by highway vehicles during high peak congestion periods such as Friday’s and Sunday’s.

Why would Harry Reid and others have changed their mind concerning a Federal Government High Speed Rail. There are a variety of factors which could drive such a change: Realization that there simply is not enough money in the Federal coffers for the proposal, more focus on continuing the expansion of the Democratic Socialist agenda to take over Health Care and other U.S. Industries, or possibly responding to influence from lobbyists that recognize that High Speed Rail will result in a shift away from the current business norm for commercial Air and Bus. There is also the issue of Federal Taxes current and future (increases are sure to come) associated with highway fuel and highway transportation use taxes.

I am an advocate of the pursuit of High Speed Rail systems in the U.S.; but only if designed, built, and operated by private enterprises. The Federal Government needs to cease legislating “Winners and Losers” and subsidizing corporations that cannot be competitive. Private Enterprise can develop a business model that effectively competes with Air Carriers, Buses, and private automobile traffic on certain routes. If they can’t, then there is no reason for the Federal Government to be involved either.