Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Bee
My confidence that this project could or would ever be built "hovers" in the low single digits, but if this country is ever going to advance with alternative transportation in this century we have to make sure that people like that moron in this article are kept from positions of influence.
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As a county executive, she is already in a position of authority.
As for meglev trains, which agency within the USDOT will be given the responsibility to regulate it? The FRA seems unlikely because there will be no rails, the FTA is a possibility because there will be a guideway, the FAA because the vehicle will be flying a few inches above a guideway.
It has taken Texas Central almost a decade to get the FRA approval to use Shinkansen based train control system, a system in use over 50 years. How long will it take any federal agency to approve meglev control systems that are basically brand new with little history?
If you believe the various federal agencies will not fight over the regulatory powers of this new transportation method, what rock have you been living under. They fight for control over everything constantly.
Congress needs to address these responsibilities first, with potential political deadlock for years to come. Once who will regulate meglev is answered, how fast will that agency introduce new regulations for it?
Texas Central had basically zero train competition with Amtrak abandoning Dallas to Houston trains two decades ago. This meglev line will have two direct competitors, Amtrak and MARC. Both of them having politically active unions within the Democrat party.
I am not suggesting either pro or anti meglev opinions, just reflecting upon issues that will arise. Good luck!