Boston globe on Amtrak, quoting JK , with photo

[MBS]

This was front-page, above-the-fold story today. Nice photo with JK , in both online and hard-copy versions

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/03/14/obama_boosts_amtrak_funding?s_campaign=8315

JK quoted in these excerpts:

While specific projects have not been finalized, Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry's office estimates that $600 million to $700 million of the new money will go to the Northeast Corridor. The Bay State is expected to share in improvements to terminals and tracks.

. . . . .

Budget constraints have prevented Amtrak from making basic repairs in recent years and passengers have paid for it with overbooked trains, lower capacity, and slower speeds, Kerry said.

Gesturing to a train behind him at Washington's Union Station, where he joined Biden and other Amtrak supporters, Kerry noted the vehicle has the capacity to go 150 miles per hour - but only reaches that speed for 18 miles of its journey to Boston because the tracks cannot handle it.

The upgrades, Kerry said, will make trains run faster, and added passenger capacity will save gasoline and commuter hours by encouraging more people to favor Amtrak over car travel.

"It's going to make America more productive," Kerry said.

[Mass]

1. Nice article. Good to see that some people care about mass transportation

Now, when it comes to the DC media,you can count on them to focus on the unimportant.

Apparently, Tapper does not get how this is refreshing. The vice-president does not need his friends to address him by his title. He says so in a somewhat trivial way, as a friend would say to a friend, and, apparently, Mr Tapper thinks it is worth reporting.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/03/oh-that-joe-no.html

Oh, That Joe! (No. 48 in a Series) -- Gimme a Break

March 13, 2009 5:40 PM

At an event at Union Station today where Vice President Joe Biden was heralding the $1.3 billion in investments in rebuilding train stations and passenger rails, a microphone picked up one of the former senator's myriad Senate colleagues addressing him, formally, as "Mr. Vice President."

That met with Vice President Biden's standard reply.

"Gimme a f*&$#ing break," he said, apparently unaware that the microphone was on.

[Inuca]

3. Based on that photo

Biden't remark may have well beein addressed to Kerry :-).

[fedupinBushcountry]

4. It was

LOL, Biden called JK, Mr. Chairman (that's how I knew it was JK), you can hear the exchange http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/16/biden-drops-f-bomb-on-liv_n_174867.html">HERE

[karynnj]

5. Could be Rockefeller as well - he is chair of the Commerce committee

which has jurisdiction over transportation. I don't hear Kerry's voice - before or after Mr Chairman. (It is more likely Rockefeller's voice - which I don't know at all.) Thanks for the link - it is pretty weird he reacted that way - after he called someone else by their title. Nothing serious, but the annoyance in his voice is hard to figure out.

[fedupinBushcountry]

9. I think he says John

you have to turn the volume up quite loud to hear it.

[karynnj]

10. I turned it up and I think you're right

though I can't make out a lot of the words even turned up. It does make sense in that we know they are close friends - while I have no idea if he and Rockefeller are. It still seems odd that as he used Mr Chairman, he responded that way to being politely called the VP in response.

[fedupinBushcountry]

11. I know

that seemed odd to me to, with calling him Mr. Chairman. But I can make out that it is JK responding back to him.

[Inuca]

13. It was Rockefeller

saw a longer video last night. And I do not think he sounded annoyed. Anyway, a non-issue and kind of funny. Even Hannity (switched during a commercial break) after presenting it as OMG, what Biden said is worse than what Cheney said, ended up by commenting that the informality was refreshing (you would not expect consistency, would you?).

[YvonneCa]

12. That's what I thought when I heard it, too...

...but I didn't want to say anything to point it out. Then the media would have somehow blamed JK.;)

[beachmom]

2. This is great, but I am getting worried about something:

The South. All those dollars going to the Northeast is great. I strongly support public transportation in all its many forms (well, except buses -- I really don't enjoy riding buses). However, when the original High Speed Rail bill was getting a lot of buzz last summer, Georgia thought it would be included. I have no idea what happened between then and when Kerry & Specter introduced the bill in November, but the South was dropped from the plans. Then all the Republicans in the South declared war on the stimulus package (ha, my governor made some noise but has now chosen to accept all the money), and I really feel like we are going to be left behind.

The heavy duty red states down here may go into decline and never recover. I really hadn't anticipated this at all; that in my "winning" what I wanted -- Democratic control of Congress and the White House -- in fact, I may be losing as a Georgia resident. Meanwhile, the one way to get dollars here -- the dreaded earmarks -- are not an option in my district which is represented by Tom Price, an extremist right winger who has signed a pledge for no earmarks. Moving will not be an option for my family in the near future. It would be extremely difficult to sell our house, and we would lose money (and we bought in early 2008 -- how sad is that?).

[karynnj]

6. I think that the stimulus package funding did not have the locations

for that - or anything. (Making them earmarks) I don't think the transportation department has made any real announcements - but, like you, I haven't heard the DC south piece mentioned. I think this is intended to be just the first step on this. I think that because the Boston to DC piece starts with some the trains already capable and the highest ridership route and the CA piece already having parallel funding approved, though not raised, they have gotten the most visibility.

It might be that doing these first, using the stimulus money - and having them successful and at least breaking even will make it much easier to pass a second (third etc) phase. I would bet that DC or NYC to Chicago and DC to Atlanta would be the next sensible pieces - if they aren't started in this phase.

I assume that even your RW representative will find ways - as McCain does - to impact funding pretending that earmarks weren't involved. I know the entire South gets more than they give the federal government and this is embedded in formuli. I will be shocked if Georgia doesn't continue to be one of the states that gets more than it gives.

It really is bad that you were there when the housing bubble broke as it really will be financially difficult to move. That, though is true almost everywhere for people who bought when you did. We've seen the sales prices fall here as well. It was shocking how quickly things turned.

[beachmom]

7. The problem is GA has grown accustomed to the arrangement

of taking in more federal dollars than paying out. Our economy is structured for that. Now GA is second only to Michigan in skyrocketing unemployment. Dalton, GA is the 2nd worst city in the country in terms of job losses. Although, I agree that it has been unfair for the North to fund the South, I fear that we will be hit with a double whammy -- a tanking economy AND a decrease in federal dollars (some of that being self inflicted by extremist GOP politicians). And I wonder if you took Atlanta metro alone (excluding the "Alabama" parts of GA) if the tax outflows and inflows weren't more equal.

[karynnj]

8. I was not saying - or even implying - that it was unfair

It makes perfect sense to me that the wealthiest (mostly northern and blue) states help the states that are needier. I also agree that Atlanta and all major cities and their suburbs are likely most likely net "losers" in federal money. My point is that the lion's share of money is allocated via formuli - only a very small percent is done as earmarks. I also doubt that the state will end up with zero earmarks. So, I assume GA's federal funding rank will not change much.

[beachmom]

14. Okay, it's official: I am jealous of Massachusetts, what with y'all having

such powerful and productive members of Congress; folks who know how to take care of their people.

Unlike where I live .....

http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/03/17/marta-to-lawmakers-entire-rail-lines-could-be-cut/

MARTA is distributing to state lawmakers a memo that raises the possibility that it could cut rail service — “either certain days or times, or entire lines altogether” — if the Legislature doesn’t pass a measure that lets the transit agency direct more of the cash raised by a sales tax toward operations.

The Senate has already passed S.B. 120, which removes all restrictions on the spending of the sales tax. The House has passed a version that would permit MARTA to spend 60 percent. Current law demands MARTA to spend 50 percent for operation, and 50 percent for capital improvements.

The memo makes clear that failure by the House and Senate to reach an agreement would have serious consequences for Atlanta’s business community, and the ‘burbs.

From MARTA's memo to the Georgia legislature:

“Without new revenue sources from the state or region…MARTA will be forced to dramatically reduce service levels, eliminating bus routes, cutting rail service (either certain days or times, or entire lines altogether), and potentially seriously impacting the overall economic well-being of this region and state.

“More than half (54%) of MARTA’s approximately 516,000 daily rides involve commuting to and from work, with another 10 percent using the system for school purposes and 10 percent for medical needs. With Atlanta already in economic crisis, we cannot afford to jeopardize essential access to employment centers, educational institutions or medical providers.”

So, the not very good MARTA is in danger of being cut further? Meanwhile, y'all have the wonderful "T" and more building and improvements coming down the pike. I am positively green with envy.

Meanwhile my city, thought to be "affluent", can't even fix bridges so the fire department can drive over them:

Undersized and older bridges in Johns Creek are forcing the Fire Department to reroute trucks, adding distance and increasing response times.

“A fire can really get going in a minute or two, which puts everyone at risk, citizens and firefighters,” said Fire Chief Joey Daniels. “When we respond to a fire, there’s a lot of things we need to do in a hurry.”

Four bridges have been identified as potential problems, all on key routes: two on Medlock Bridge Road; one on Parsons Road; and one on Bell Road. Daniels couldn’t say how much longer it takes to reach particular areas. The Fire Department is tracking response times, he said.

My favorite quote:

Bolstering and repairing each bridge would cost $2 million to $3 million each, and Johns Creek doesn’t have the cash, said Public Works Director Ken Hildebrandt. He said the city could try for some federal stimulus money.

Could? I mean WTF???? Everyone here is a right wing Republican, so they are positively embarrassed to do the people's work because it was something passed by Democrats and signed by President Obama. Argghhhh.

[TayTay]

15. Thank you, but we are a giant mess on transportation

The State agency responsible for transportation issues is $5.1 billion dollars in arrears. Cost-overruns from the Big Dig were passed on from year to year and Repub Gov to Repub Gov. The bill comes due now and the State doesn't have the money. So we will have big new taxes on a number of things to pay for this.

This is how the head of the Turnpike (Highway) Authority phrased it in http://www.masspike.com/user-cgi/news.cgi?dbkey=322&type=Press%20Release&src=news">formal testimony on Monday:

Again, as I've said on numerous occasions, the Turnpike cannot cost cut its way out of its current dismal situation.

I've explained this multiples times to the Chairs of the Committee, groups of legislators, legislative leadership, and their staff. I have testified at hearings, answered press questions, and given reports to my Board of Directors and the Administration.

No agency is more transparent than the Turnpike!

In case someone has been in Antarctica for the last year, the message I have been delivering - and will continue to deliver - is as follows:

1. The Turnpike has been avoiding the fiscal problem it is now in for years, with shortsighted gimmicks like raiding its reserves, gains from one-time revenue generated by selling property, deferring maintenance and entering into swaptions deals. They have been keeping the finances together with a wad of bubble gum and duct tape. Everyone knew this could not last forever.

I've brought with me a stack of reports from past working groups, commissions and opinion leaders dating back to 1997 which support this point exactly. No one can say that they didn't see this day coming.

Also, the Subway system, the MBTA is also in deep, deep debt. Without fare increases and a bailout from the State, it will be in really bad trouble.

I am very glad we have good Reps and Sens in DC. Ah, right about now, we need them. Things are bad all over for everyone.

Add to that the quintessentially stupid nature of a http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/17/officials_kin_had_no_work_state_job/">story like this and, well, you can see the fix we are in:

Official's kin had no-work state job
Transportation secretary's sister got $60,000 Legislature post in August

By Andrea Estes
Globe Staff / March 17, 2009

Her title was chief of staff, but she had no staff and reported to no one. That did not prevent Carol Aloisi from collecting a $60,000 State House salary for six months, until a state representative found her - literally - sitting in his new office and put her to work.

Aloisi, the sister of state Transportation Secretary James Aloisi Jr., was assigned in August by House leaders to the onetime office of former state representative Rachel Kaprielian months after Kaprielian had vacated her post to head up the state Registry of Motor Vehicles.

When aides to Representative Garrett Bradley of Hingham, named as Kaprielian's successor as floor leader this year, arrived to take over the office two weeks ago, they were baffled to find her there.

"Nobody sits in my office unless they're doing work," said Bradley, who has started doling out assignments to Carol Aloisi that include analyzing which communities in his South Shore district qualify for federal stimulus funds.

Ah, it doesn't get anymore "Mass" than giving someone's sister a no-show job. Dammit. This will result in a war of the Democrats, internal strife, disgust and anger from people all over MA and a general feeling that no matter who you vote for or what you do, nothing ever changes. Sigh!

[beachmom]

16. Well, the Big Dig was a giant mess. Nevertheless, my point

is that the T is far superior to MARTA. Suburban counties refused to let MARTA come to their areas, so (if you looked at comments to my AJC link) that means that it is mostly poor Atlanta that has to fight for MARTA every year, with the rest of the state complaining every step of the way. Most notably, Gov. Purdue unveiled a transportation plan a year or so back that contained nothing whatsoever about public transportation. So I think there are two things going on here:

1. Mass. and Georgia both have budget problems. Mass. had some big projects go way over budget, and has some corruption problems due to its one state rule (GA is also one state rule and has different corruption problems not related to public transit).

2. Mass. believes in public transportation. Georgia does not.

You can fix #1 but it's a lot harder to fix #2. This is about values.

[TayTay]

17. True.

But MA outside of greater Boston is not all that happy to be paying for roads and public transportation for the Boston area. Western MA (read places 15 miles or so outside of Boston) are not getting services and therefore don't see the wisdom of funding this stuff.

IT is a question of values. And a question of getting the right people to communicate why public transportation is a good thing for all. In this, we are united.