Comments on: remember the rail? continued. http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=remember-the-rail-continued Harrisonburg's Community News Network Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:09:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: hburgnews.com » The Crescent Corridor http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/comment-page-1/#comment-25289 hburgnews.com » The Crescent Corridor Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:36:41 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/#comment-25289 [...] written about the “rail solution” on HBN on more than one [...] [...] written about the “rail solution” on HBN on more than one [...]

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]]> By: Thanh http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/comment-page-1/#comment-22917 Thanh Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:35:56 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/#comment-22917 Baltimore girl - Although I respect your concern for loss of job's and the impacts on long haul truckers and their families, I don't agree. I wish to suggest this for you to consider: If a railway is to be newly constructed or old railways upgraded the changes will not happen overnight. Once a proposed rail solution recieves support and funding, it would take years for planning (it would take years to plan an I-81 expansion as well). Once planned and designed it would take many more years still for the rail to be constructed/upgraded. Although it'd be hard to estimate how many years for the system to get off the ground and/or be completed, lets just make up a number and say that it could be 10-20 years (we're looking for a solution to handle projected future traffic). By 10-20 years from now, or when the proposal is supported and funded, I presume that many current long haul truckers would be "in the know" and would have plenty of time to find other jobs whether related or unrelated to trucking or rail. And for young individuals who might have considered long haul trucking in the area being changed to rail, these individuals probably wouldn't consider getting certified and trained to be a long haul trucker if they knew it wasn't going to be lucrative anymore. For people like your dad, he might be retired by the time this proposal becomes a reality. This isn't going to happen overnight. In regards to truckers making less money, I don't think that will happen either. Whoever current or to be truckers are, many of them will search for and find other job opportunities if they aren't being paid enough. And I have to agree with Bubby - "That “independent” thing cuts two ways." And again in agreement with Bubby - "Something has got to happen. America can’t afford to burn fuel like we do to move freight, especially when better ways are available. It is time for everyone to stop protecting turf and start pulling for America." Baltimore girl – Although I respect your concern for loss of job’s and the impacts on long haul truckers and their families, I don’t agree. I wish to suggest this for you to consider: If a railway is to be newly constructed or old railways upgraded the changes will not happen overnight. Once a proposed rail solution recieves support and funding, it would take years for planning (it would take years to plan an I-81 expansion as well). Once planned and designed it would take many more years still for the rail to be constructed/upgraded. Although it’d be hard to estimate how many years for the system to get off the ground and/or be completed, lets just make up a number and say that it could be 10-20 years (we’re looking for a solution to handle projected future traffic). By 10-20 years from now, or when the proposal is supported and funded, I presume that many current long haul truckers would be “in the know” and would have plenty of time to find other jobs whether related or unrelated to trucking or rail. And for young individuals who might have considered long haul trucking in the area being changed to rail, these individuals probably wouldn’t consider getting certified and trained to be a long haul trucker if they knew it wasn’t going to be lucrative anymore. For people like your dad, he might be retired by the time this proposal becomes a reality. This isn’t going to happen overnight.

In regards to truckers making less money, I don’t think that will happen either. Whoever current or to be truckers are, many of them will search for and find other job opportunities if they aren’t being paid enough. And I have to agree with Bubby – “That “independent” thing cuts two ways.”

And again in agreement with Bubby – “Something has got to happen. America can’t afford to burn fuel like we do to move freight, especially when better ways are available. It is time for everyone to stop protecting turf and start pulling for America.”

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]]> By: Bubby http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/comment-page-1/#comment-22676 Bubby Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:09:21 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/#comment-22676 Come on Baltimore Girl, there aren't enough truckers to go around right now. The only way they get paid less is because they aren't organized to defend their pay. That "independent" thing cuts two ways you know. There is a $35 billion federal fund called the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing that is available to make loans to public rail partnerships to make this thing happen. In 2005 legislation was passed directing VDOT to get on the stick and start coordinating with other state transportation agencies to make intermodal work - I'll be damned if I can find any sign of them doing what they have been directed to do. For Marylanders the issue isn't as noticeable because I-81 is such small portion of their interstate system. The other states should facilitate intermodal and bring Maryland along. Again, <a href="http://www.railsolution.org/articles/Articles_Top_level/i81_Issues_Priorities.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a> is a link to a 3 page document on the situation. And <a href="http://www.shenandoahvalleynetwork.org/" rel="nofollow">here</a> is the Shenandoah Valley Network where you can see what our local people are doing. Come on Baltimore Girl, there aren’t enough truckers to go around right now. The only way they get paid less is because they aren’t organized to defend their pay. That “independent” thing cuts two ways you know.

There is a $35 billion federal fund called the Railroad Rehabilitation
and Improvement Financing that is available to make loans to public rail partnerships to make this thing happen. In 2005 legislation was passed directing VDOT to get on the stick and start coordinating with other state transportation agencies to make intermodal work – I’ll be damned if I can find any sign of them doing what they have been directed to do.

For Marylanders the issue isn’t as noticeable because I-81 is such small portion of their interstate system. The other states should facilitate intermodal and bring Maryland along.

Again, here is a link to a 3 page document on the situation. And here is the Shenandoah Valley Network where you can see what our local people are doing.

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]]> By: Baltimore girl http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/comment-page-1/#comment-22671 Baltimore girl Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:08:33 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/#comment-22671 I didn't say it would eliminate trucking jobs I said it would cut the amount of money they would be paid for a run. I also went onto SHA for Maryland and didn't see anything about the rail system going through Hagerstown. How does this work if the other states don't agree. I didn’t say it would eliminate trucking jobs I said it would cut the amount of money they would be paid for a run.
I also went onto SHA for Maryland and didn’t see anything about the rail system going through Hagerstown. How does this work if the other states don’t agree.

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]]> By: Draegn88 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/comment-page-1/#comment-22665 Draegn88 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:11:17 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/#comment-22665 Bubby wrote something that I can agree with. Now only if he would name who the "highest bidder" is. Bubby wrote something that I can agree with. Now only if he would name who the “highest bidder” is.

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]]> By: Bubby http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/comment-page-1/#comment-22663 Bubby Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:54:04 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/#comment-22663 Open Intermodal rail freight wouldn't eliminate trucking jobs. It would allow for better rested drivers getting off at the rail stops to deliver their freight. Check out the links I have provided and get educated. Open intermodal would gather the "mom and pop" and independents at the stations, load their entire rig, and provide accommodations for them. In fact, if a trucker did it right, s/he could do longer hauls because they could log out and rest while the train does the long haul. You could load in Harrisburg, go to sleep and unload in Knoxville to continue your haul. Something has got to happen. America can't afford to burn fuel like we do to move freight, especially when better ways are available. It is time for everyone to stop protecting turf and start pulling for America. Otherwise we'll be owned by the Chinese, on the payment plan to the Saudis, and shipping our kids off to fight oil wars to the highest bidder. Open Intermodal rail freight wouldn’t eliminate trucking jobs. It would allow for better rested drivers getting off at the rail stops to deliver their freight. Check out the links I have provided and get educated.

Open intermodal would gather the “mom and pop” and independents at the stations, load their entire rig, and provide accommodations for them. In fact, if a trucker did it right, s/he could do longer hauls because they could log out and rest while the train does the long haul.

You could load in Harrisburg, go to sleep and unload in Knoxville to continue your haul. Something has got to happen. America can’t afford to burn fuel like we do to move freight, especially when better ways are available. It is time for everyone to stop protecting turf and start pulling for America. Otherwise we’ll be owned by the Chinese, on the payment plan to the Saudis, and shipping our kids off to fight oil wars to the highest bidder.

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]]> By: finnegan http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/comment-page-1/#comment-22658 finnegan Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:24:24 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/#comment-22658 The DNR ran <a href=http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=14476&CHID=2 rel="nofollow">this story</a> today. KBR was the Halliburton-connected company that wanted to turn 81 into an 8-lane superhighway with their "STAR solution." <blockquote>VDOT announced that it ended a four-year negotiation process with KBR Inc. on Wednesday, after the company requested to withdraw from the project, department spokesman Jeff Caldwell said. [...] In 2004, VDOT began negotiations with STAR Solutions, a consortium of transportation-related companies that once included KBR, to develop improvements to the 325-mile stretch of I-81, Caldwell said. KBR has since separated from Halliburton, its parent company and a STAR Solutions partner, to become a publicly traded company, according to a VDOT press release. The company cited "a need to manage its business profile very carefully" for its request to withdraw, the press release said.</blockquote> The DNR ran this story today.

KBR was the Halliburton-connected company that wanted to turn 81 into an 8-lane superhighway with their “STAR solution.”

VDOT announced that it ended a four-year negotiation process with KBR Inc. on Wednesday, after the company requested to withdraw from the project, department spokesman Jeff Caldwell said.

[...]

In 2004, VDOT began negotiations with STAR Solutions, a consortium of transportation-related companies that once included KBR, to develop improvements to the 325-mile stretch of I-81, Caldwell said.

KBR has since separated from Halliburton, its parent company and a STAR Solutions partner, to become a publicly traded company, according to a VDOT press release. The company cited “a need to manage its business profile very carefully” for its request to withdraw, the press release said.

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]]> By: Baltimore girl http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/comment-page-1/#comment-22651 Baltimore girl Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:36:09 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/#comment-22651 The biggest loss would be jobs for long haul truckers, and fuel companies. My dad has been a "long haul trucker" for 25 years. How can you think that it's not a lost to someones family when someones pay will be cut in half. I am just glad my dad doesn't drive through this area very often. I really feel for the drivers that come up through the south. The people that work at the truck stops will lose jobs also. I can't understand how you and anyone could think that would be a good thing. The biggest loss would be jobs for long haul truckers, and fuel companies.

My dad has been a “long haul trucker” for 25 years. How can you think that it’s not a lost to someones family when someones pay will be cut in half. I am just glad my dad doesn’t drive through this area very often. I really feel for the drivers that come up through the south. The people that work at the truck stops will lose jobs also. I can’t understand how you and anyone could think that would be a good thing.

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]]> By: samhottinger http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/comment-page-1/#comment-22624 samhottinger Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:48:10 +0000 http://hburgnews.com/2008/01/14/remember-the-rail-continued/#comment-22624 I worked at a truck stop wehn I was in high school. On sundays several large freight companies out of North Carolina came through carrying freight to new york. Usually around 8 to 12 trucks for each company. On Monday, we got another couple of freight companies. Tuesday, some more. On Wednesday they were reversing order headed back. They were mostly headed up I-81 to New york State. We were almost continuously pumping fuel from 3 to 11 when we handed off to the late nigh shift who were a little slower. They then passed of to a day shift that pumped pretty much continuously. This was only one truck stop of several in the Valley and it was almost 20 years ago. Truck traffic has dramatically increased since then. Imagine if all those trucks going to the same place were loaded onto one train. The biggest loss would be jobs for long haul truckers, and fuel companies. The truckers would have to switch to short haul routes loading and offloading the trains, and the oil comapnies could just get lost. I hope that our law makers at least take the time to look into the rail option. I worked at a truck stop wehn I was in high school. On sundays several large freight companies out of North Carolina came through carrying freight to new york. Usually around 8 to 12 trucks for each company. On Monday, we got another couple of freight companies. Tuesday, some more. On Wednesday they were reversing order headed back. They were mostly headed up I-81 to New york State. We were almost continuously pumping fuel from 3 to 11 when we handed off to the late nigh shift who were a little slower. They then passed of to a day shift that pumped pretty much continuously. This was only one truck stop of several in the Valley and it was almost 20 years ago. Truck traffic has dramatically increased since then. Imagine if all those trucks going to the same place were loaded onto one train. The biggest loss would be jobs for long haul truckers, and fuel companies. The truckers would have to switch to short haul routes loading and offloading the trains, and the oil comapnies could just get lost. I hope that our law makers at least take the time to look into the rail option.

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