Following the news that the prospects of funding for a high-speed passenger rail line between Albany and Buffalo seem good, I sent an e-mail to Congressman Chris Lee's office asking for a fuller statement about the project.
I asked specifically if Lee would work to ensure Batavia had a train station along the route.
Spokeswoman Andrea Bozek wrote back, "Chris is certainly reviewing Batavia's infrastructural capacity as part of this effort."
She also sent along this statement from Congressman Lee:
High-speed rail presents a great opportunity for advancing the long-term economic development of Western New York. Yesterday (ed. now day before yesterday), we had an excellent meeting between members of the upstate congressional delegation and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. We came to a consensus on the need to move this project forward with the goal to use the existing rail corridor and hit initial top speeds of 110 miles per hour. That will cut two hours off of current travel times. Transportation experts who have analyzed the plan believe the first segment of service can be open in two-to-three years, with its full opening in three-to-five years. The delegation will continue to closely work with the Secretary and New York state transportation officials as the planning turns to stops along the corridor.
A bit disingenuous to be
A bit disingenuous to be supporting the project now, after having fought tooth and nail to avoid passing this money in the first place.
That said, at least he's supporting the project. High speed rail would be very beneficial. They're talking about getting a right of way from CSX, whose line does run right through Batavia, so I'd be stunned if there wasn't a station there.
I see nothing contradictory
I see nothing contradictory in objecting to the stimulus spending (there are sound, economic reasons to object to it), but once you realize it's going to be spent, doing what you can for your district. Better than WNY than Southern California or Texas.
The lib government can keep
The lib government can keep their pork money. Texas don't need no stinking government funded train there's earl down these parts son and no socialist politicians stopin the private businesses from drilling holes to get it.
Thems some fancy words from a
Thems some fancy words from a displaced northern Yank !
Pork is whats for dinner for all sides of politikz.
If it werent from yer fancy Texas Oil we wouldnt have this mess. I s'pose after while all of Texas will be filled with holes from drilling. After that runs out all you got are steers and whats that saying ?
I been keeping up with all
I been keeping up with all your postings Gahagan, I think deep down your a little homesick!! Just come back home I miss drinking with you
Yeah remember when Brady
Yeah remember when Brady punched ya in the face-funniest thing I ever seen. To dreary there, besides my redneck girl friends smile all the time cause the sun shines everyday. Their already wearin halters and bikinis and they don't like the cold. Ya can send me down some Blue though hard to find down here.
you must be pulling our leg,
you must be pulling our leg, i hope for America's sake. sounds like a typical red neck narrow-minded buzz word mantra/response from the land of george bush, tom delay & dick armey. thank God the american voters woke up & threw these thieves out along with their short-sighted bankrupt & selfish political idealogy, trickle down economics & failed proposals like privatizing social security. let's get real votrs. interesting how the so-called moral majority/religious right has replaced worship of God with the idol worship of the "free market" & "an unregulated never give a sucker an even break form of capitalism". interesting how you throw around the scare tactic slur "socialism" to describe anything remotely resembling progress, positve change, objective knowledge, scientific discovery & non-idealogical problem solving. what has your trickle down econmomics theory & tax breaks ONLY for the top 5% of American voters done to improve the lives of genesee county voters in the last 8 years? the party of theodore roosevelt, abraham lincoln & dwight eisenhower has lost it's way & is destined to self destruct if it continues on this path of ignoring the common good & the well-being of all americans. your party has been hijacked by government hating fanatics )anarchists anyone?). wake up moderate republicans & take back your rightful place in the republican party of genesee county heroes like moderate Barber Conable). don't let these narrow minded bigots & idealogues force you out of your party. they represent a philosophy that dates back directly to the pre-civil war confederacy. is that what you want genesee county? is Steve Hawley willing courageuosly to take the lead on this in Albany & show some independence? check out his voting record for clues to that answer voters.