I-27 extension

[petiepanzer]

Does anybody know what the status is of the proposed I-27 extension project that was supposed to be happening a few years ago as part of NAFTA? I have not heard anything mentioned about it in a while. The last thing I heard, there was a fight brewing about whether it was going to head through Dalhart and meet up with I-25 in Raton or if it was going to go through Stratford, Boise City, and then Lamar, Colo., where i would eventually meet up with Denver. I would vote for the Dalhart-Clayton route. I absolutely dread that stretch between Clayton and Raton as it is almost unbearable. Also, it's not smart to speed on that road with Texas plates as the cops are all over it.

[sj]

I think this part of any super Mexico to Canada highway in the Amarillo area went on hold till the Trans-Texas Corridor planned to more or less parallel I-35 was put into motion. Since the TTC has hit a snag, who knows what the plans will be.

[petiepanzer]

Huh, I thought that was a federal project. I'm not surprised this part of Texas is once again getting the shaft for the golden triangle. Well, I guess that I will have to keep slowing down through Dalhart and driving that sorry little 2 lane highway through New Mexico on the way to Colorado.

[sj]

The folks down in the Trans-Texas Corridor area don't want the thing. Takes too much land and cross-over restrictions are tough.

I was at a public hearing in Waco a while back that over 1000 folks attended. I was there an hour and half. In that time, I did not hear one individual that supported the Corridor.

The State Legislator has put it on hold for about two years much to Gov. Perry's dismay.

[petiepanzer]

From what I have read, that TTC sounds like an ill-conceived idea. It would cost a ton of money, nobody wants it, not to mention the potential legal challenges when the state tries to enact eminent domain.

I'm not sure building new highways are always the answer to our transportation problems. One nice thing about Europe is that they have such a better rail system than we do in this country. I have been on Eurail trains that were travelling in excess of 180 mph. If you take a trip on Amtrak, it is a rare event for the train to exceed 50 mph. In terms of freight, every freight car loaded is a semi that is not on the road. It would keep our highways in much better shape if we were to utilize the rail system more. Rail lines don't need the constant repair work like highways do, either. High speed trains would also alleviate overcrowding at the nation's airports. While trains are still suspect to terrorist attacks, nobody would be able to hijack them and fly one into the side of a building.

[habiba]

Petiepanzer, I glad to hear you like Europe. Perhaps you move there so that you can enjoy your train ride. You can also live in a tiny tenament apartment, enjoy 10% unemployment, racisim and the socialist agenda. Don't mess with Texas. This highway would be a big benifit to Amarillo and we need the jobs.

[horribilis]

I like living in America just fine but I would like to see a resurgence of the railroads in this country. With $4 dollar gas looming on the horizon this may be the time to cut road traffic down some. There are huge concentrations of population in this country that could be served better by rail. When I first heard about the I27 extension my first thought was how would they route it through downtown Amarillo? Would it be something like Memphis, where I 40 breaks for a few miles and picks up again outside of town?

I would like to see it routed through Colorado and the world can forget about New Mexico and just let them state troopers sit and rot as they wait for a car with Texas plates to pass by.

[petiepanzer]

Habib,
Please go back to my first 2 posts in this thread, re-read them, and tell me where I ever voiced my disapproval for the expansion of I-27. I understand that English is not your native language and I get the very distinct feeling that you are not understanding me clearly. Just to reaffirm my position for you, there is not a person in Amarillo that would like to see I-27 extended than me. My family owned about 2500 acres for many years in Colorado's San Luis Valley, not far from the town of South Fork. I sold the majority of it for my mother after my father died a couple of years ago, but I did keep a little over 200 acres that borders the Rio Grande river. In fact, I am trying to build a cabin up there right now for me and my family to use, but like everything else in Colorado, labor and building supplies are extremely expensive, so I am trying to do as much as I can by myself. So you see, I am very familiar with that road as I have travelled it many times over the years. I have experienced the frustration of pulling a trailer, loaded with equipment and supplies including a bobcat, along that dismal little stretch between Clayton and Raton, only to be unable to pass because a blue hair from East Texas that should have had their license pulled years ago is pulling a travel trailer along that stretch and is travelling 5-10 miles below the speed limit. I went to school in Boulder from 1992-1997, and that road was on my way home. I can't even begin to calculate the number of speeding tickets I got on that road and at the very edge of f-in Dalhart, especially considering the speed limit on that road back then was 55. Trust me, that expansion is long overdue in my book.

Now, as to the Europe comment, that's funny. I think this is the first time a foreigner has ever told me to leave my own country. Sure, I do think they have a superior rail system to this country's. I think anybody who has ever compared the 2 and is honest would come to the same conclusion. Rail systems are naturally going to be more efficient than trucks if filled to capacity. With $100 a barrel oil looming, perhaps it is time to look into other possibilities. On the passenger side of things, I think rail travel has its advantages to taking an airplane, a bus, or driving an individual auto, especially for the medium range trip. I will admit that I really don't like Southwest airlines for a number of reasons. First, the seats are cramped, especially for somebody that is over 6'. I realize they do make money by cramming people in like concentration camp internees, but it does make me feel uncomfortable. Second, there is always a screaming baby in the aisle in front that makes the flight unbearable. Third, there is the whole hassle of checking in at the airport 1-2 hours prior to flight. Now, a high speed train capable of travelling 180 mph could alleviate a lot of the problems with air flight. The rest of your rant concerning tenement apartments, racism, 10% unemployment, and the socialist ideal made absolutely no sense and was completely random. Do you not think a high speed rail system in this country could be exclusive of the other traits you described?

Habib, I had a double major as an undergrad. of Finance and Intl. Business. Trust me, I get it and am definitely not a socialist. I do, however, keep an open mind and am not opposed to integrating a new technology if I think it would be an improvement. In this case, I think an updated rail system in this country would be a good investment in our country's economy because it would diversify our infrastructure and give the consumer in this country another option. Is that such a bad thing?

[habiba]

Petiepanzer, I would like to appologize. I just assumed you were democrate.