Spring Break
Oregon's opportunity: chance to transform transportation
Scott Dennis
Issue date: 7/1/09 Section: Forum
However - and you knew this was coming - there have been problems. As Einstein said, "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds," and such a thing has occurred in this undertaking. Republicans have lambasted the cost of the project, and some critics have derided it as being "a waste of money from Disneyland to Sin City."
The innovative venture received a harsh blow recently when one of its biggest backers, Nevada senator Harry Reid, decided to bail on the plan and side with a cheaper alternative based on, "which one is going to be done and which one is going to be done faster."
The cheaper, faster alternative? A traditional diesel-powered train cleverly called the "DesertXpress" that would go less than half the speed of the maglev train, cost less than half the maglev train, and have a significantly shorter route that would stop well short of southern California's population centers.
If you're not swearing right now - in your mind of course, there could be children around - then think of Oregon's own transportation bill currently rattling around the government chambers. In May the Oregon House approved a $960 million bill to basically beef up the state's roads and other transit systems as well as fund numerous construction projects for rail, air, marine, transit and train projects that backers say could create 4,600 jobs.
Here is a chance for us to create something really great, a chance to lead by example and build something to inspire not only other states, but citizens, students and children alike - as the Nevada-California maglev was supposed to do. In the way that looking at dinosaur bones stimulates our thinking about the possibilities of the past, we can build something to demonstrate the possibilities of the future.
Please, let it be so.
Scott Dennis is a sophomore in fine arts. The opinions expressed in his column do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Dennis can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com. n
The innovative venture received a harsh blow recently when one of its biggest backers, Nevada senator Harry Reid, decided to bail on the plan and side with a cheaper alternative based on, "which one is going to be done and which one is going to be done faster."
The cheaper, faster alternative? A traditional diesel-powered train cleverly called the "DesertXpress" that would go less than half the speed of the maglev train, cost less than half the maglev train, and have a significantly shorter route that would stop well short of southern California's population centers.
If you're not swearing right now - in your mind of course, there could be children around - then think of Oregon's own transportation bill currently rattling around the government chambers. In May the Oregon House approved a $960 million bill to basically beef up the state's roads and other transit systems as well as fund numerous construction projects for rail, air, marine, transit and train projects that backers say could create 4,600 jobs.
Here is a chance for us to create something really great, a chance to lead by example and build something to inspire not only other states, but citizens, students and children alike - as the Nevada-California maglev was supposed to do. In the way that looking at dinosaur bones stimulates our thinking about the possibilities of the past, we can build something to demonstrate the possibilities of the future.
Please, let it be so.
Scott Dennis is a sophomore in fine arts. The opinions expressed in his column do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Barometer staff. Dennis can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com. n
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.