Aging infrastructure plagues nation's busiest rail corridor.

[elleng]

Two trends converging, ridership @ all time highs on NE corridor, while system too brittle to withstand heat, storms, etc.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/nyregion/aging-infrastructure-plagues-nations-busiest-rail-corridor.html?

[cantbeserious]

1. Took Amtrak From Syracuse, NY to Texas And Back Last Christmas

The rails were in such bad shape that sleeping was almost impossible.

[99th_Monkey]

2. And I believe the only POTUS candidate squarely addressing this is

BERNIE SANDERS
Sanders Introduces Bill to Rebuild America’s Crumbling Infrastructure, Support 13 Million Jobs
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-introduces-bill-to-rebuild-americas-crumbling-infrastructure-support-13-million-jobs

Everyone else is either silent, or blowing smoke IMHO.

[elleng]

3. We Need to Invest in Infrastructure. O'Malley

He got it done, a few years ago:

testified before the Maryland General Assembly on the need to invest in infrastructure today to create jobs and move forward with needed maintenance and repair projects rebuilding our roads, bridges and other transit systems.

Here's the full text of my testimony:

. . .

None of us wants to pay more at the pump. We do not have to do this. But, you here know, that if we don't... we will pay for that too. Inaction has a cost.
We don't have to widen 301... but if we do not, inaction has a cost, and we'll pay for that too.
We don't have to move forward on congestion relief at Indian Head Highway... but if we do not, we'll pay for that too.
We don't have to rebuild the Dover Bridge... but if we do not, we'll pay for that too.
We don't have to do the Corridor Cities Transit Way, the Red or Purple lines... we don't have to repair the bridges that feed the Port of Baltimore... but if we do not, inaction has a cost and we'll pay for that too.
Roads do not upgrade or maintain themselves. Bridges do not repair themselves or rebuild themselves. Minneapolis, Kentucky, Ohio are not the only places where bridges crumble as they get older. Our transportation infrastructure here in Maryland does not grow broader or stronger with age.
The Ever-Increasing Cost of Doing Nothing
No one has wanted to address this problem for twenty years, and every year, therefore, our people are paying an increasing cost for this inaction... and in so many different ways.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gov-martin-omalley/we-need-to-invest-in-infr_b_1347197.html

p.s. repug marylanders complain about PAYING for it. Surprised???

[99th_Monkey]

4. Fair enough.

Thanks for letting me know O'Malley's got some cred on this issue.

[elleng]

5. You're welcome, Monkey.