Oy. Denialist rhetoric from the anti-transportation fringe?
A sure sign that some people haven't done their research.
Most people agree that our nation was built on transportation.
In the early years, the New York State Barge Canal created a cheap transportation link between the Midwest and the Hudson River and was the impetus for making New York City a major transportation hub. Wasn't New York City was the world's largest city at one time?
The rail link between the East and West coast provided another inexpensive link for goods and people to travel across the country. The infrastructure for the Golden Age of Rail was in part subsidized by state and federal funds.
A more recent example is the Interstate Highway System, the basis of our modern transportation infrastructure. Likewise air transportation is paid for with the help of government at all levels.
I'd be surprised if any small town in upstate New York turned away all state or federal funding for transportation projects. On the other hand, there are 25 wineries and only one university so I suppose anything is possible
[1]
Here in the Keys we have many visitors from all over the planet. Our largest event brings in upwards of 100,000 visitors to the Keys during the final weekend. Since that event occurs during Hurricane Season, getting everyone out could be problematic with only one road. [2] One bad accident during the rush to leave could make the road impassable for many hours.
The point is that people from everywhere, not just the Keys, benefit from having good transportation systems.
Of course, not all transportation projects are practical or beneficial in the long run. So, a study is a good idea, in my opinion.
In any event, the transportation denialists have lost the first round and the study will go forward using state, and probably federal, funding. The next step is to try to ensure that the study looks at the big picture. If that happens, only then can we have a serious discussion about the costs and benefits of a rail system.
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Bud
[1] This is meant to be a joke, please note the old fashion smiley.
[2] This is no joke, folks. We're very vulnerable down here.