All Your Trains Are Belong To Us
The Obama Administration’s power grab continues unabated
The Obama administration will propose that the federal government take over safety regulation of the nation’s subway and light-rail systems, responding to what it says is haphazard and ineffective oversight by state agencies.
Under the proposal, the U.S. Department of Transportation would do for transit what it does for airlines and Amtrak: set and enforce federal regulations to ensure that millions of passengers get to their destinations safely. Administration officials said the plan will be presented in coming weeks to Congress, which must approve a change in the law.
The proposal would affect every subway and light-rail system in the country, including large systems in Washington, New York, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Given the way every other thing they’ve touched has gone, I somehow doubt that Barack Husseinolini will get the trains to run on time.
Nanny State, Politics | Mr. Bingley | 
November 16, 2009 7:18 am
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I doubt it as well, but you know that Obama would LOVE to say “I made the trains run on time!”
This administratin really intends to complete the nationalization of our entire economy started by Roosevelt and only partially undone by our hero, Reagan. We’re so doomed.
Hate to have a suspicious mind….but he who has the power to regulate schedules/safety for passenger rail travel also has power to shut such travel down. In LA I can’t imagine such a shut down would cause much problems, but in the other cities this certainly been the case. For San Diego, their light rail (trolley) runs to the border at Tijuana. In that case, the danger starts after one exits the turnstile.
UGHHH… substitute “will be” for “been”. Haven’t had enough grammar-helper this am (AKA caffeine)
There are so many advantages to having a well-functioning rail/light rail system like that here in Switzerland. It’s clean, safe, attractive, and punctual. I hope we super-smart Americans could/would figure out how to employ such a system to benefit our own country.
Well, it has advantages when everyone lives and works in little microcities, Ave. As you are well aware from your commuting days that’s simply not the case even here in the relatively densely populated North East, let alone in the rest of the country.
For sure, I’ve taken subways, ferries and trains for 25 years. From what I’ve experienced I just want to believe we can do better.
Great. Now all our transport systems will run as well as Amtrak and the airlines currently do.
Come on Mr. Bingley. LOL. This is actually a great thing!