05-28-2009, 10:13 AM
I'd like to see a level playing field...no hidden costs.
Most highway funding does come from fuel taxes, not subsidies...but still a substantial portion isn't built into the price at the pump.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/onh2p10.htm">http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/onh2p10.htm</a><!-- m -->
Of course, that is a decade old.
This technical paper appears to give the total cost of air travel, but I don't quite feel like logging in with my university account to access it. I don't know how much of the costs are covered by the various fees. I'm sure that some flights are money losers and some are money makers...but I wouldn't be surprised if the losers aren't kept around for other reasons...much likely a number of railroads used to do.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ideas.repec.org/p/nex/wpaper/fullcostairtravel.html">http://ideas.repec.org/p/nex/wpaper/ful ... ravel.html</a><!-- m -->
If Amtrak is not as cost efficient as the alternatives, I agree with Brakie. Marshall the cars in a strategic reserve, and wait to see what happens. If it is actually cheaper than some of these other forms, than I'd prefer to see it expanded...pour the money into there rather than into air/highway transportation. If government is preventing market decisions (which I believe it is), try to mitigate this and prevent government from picking the winners and losers.
Most highway funding does come from fuel taxes, not subsidies...but still a substantial portion isn't built into the price at the pump.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/onh2p10.htm">http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/onh2p10.htm</a><!-- m -->
Of course, that is a decade old.
This technical paper appears to give the total cost of air travel, but I don't quite feel like logging in with my university account to access it. I don't know how much of the costs are covered by the various fees. I'm sure that some flights are money losers and some are money makers...but I wouldn't be surprised if the losers aren't kept around for other reasons...much likely a number of railroads used to do.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ideas.repec.org/p/nex/wpaper/fullcostairtravel.html">http://ideas.repec.org/p/nex/wpaper/ful ... ravel.html</a><!-- m -->
If Amtrak is not as cost efficient as the alternatives, I agree with Brakie. Marshall the cars in a strategic reserve, and wait to see what happens. If it is actually cheaper than some of these other forms, than I'd prefer to see it expanded...pour the money into there rather than into air/highway transportation. If government is preventing market decisions (which I believe it is), try to mitigate this and prevent government from picking the winners and losers.
Michael
My primary goal is a large Oahu Railway layout in On3
My secondary interests are modeling the Denver, South Park, & Pacific in On3 and NKP in HO
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/">http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->
My primary goal is a large Oahu Railway layout in On3
My secondary interests are modeling the Denver, South Park, & Pacific in On3 and NKP in HO
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/">http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->