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Raise carbon prices until HSR is economically viable. Climate change is a problem today, so solve it with today's technology instead of waiting for the tech fa
by Pxtl 7y ago
Raise carbon prices until HSR is economically viable. Climate change is a problem today, so solve it with today's technology instead of waiting for the tech fairy to fix it for you.
- Aloha 7y agoHSR will never be viable cross country in the US - HSR could replace much flying however in the sub 500 mile trip range.
- _delirium 7y agoIs economic viability the problem with HSR? California voters approved a huge bond package for one eleven years ago. Over a decade later and there's still no rail line close to done. The issue doesn't seem to be that its fares can't compete with plane tickets, but that the state is just totally incapable of actually building it. Even when the money's there, you still have: NIMBYs, corruption/incompetence among officials and contractors, and (ironically) vague environmental laws with loose standing rules that cause any infrastructure project to end up in court. Among other things.
- dredmorbius 7y agoPolititical opposition is also clearly a part of the issue, and much of that may be entrenched interests, including airlines. I'd like to see the full breakdown, I suspect the story may be interesting.