A Proposal: Stimulus for Passenger Rail in Montana

Today on the Streetsblog Network, we turn to member blog Trains for America,
which looks at the idea of using  stimulus funds to bring
rail-equipment manufacturing — and expanded passenger rail service —
to the state of Montana:

Photo by Katie via Flickr.

[N]ew
rail passenger equipment is coming to America and it should be built by
Americans. Why not Montana? It may be that there are good reasons why
not, but those should also lead us to the better place, if there is
one.

Restoring the southern leg of the Empire Builder in Montana
and North Dakota is a great idea. As a former resident of Big Sky
Country, let me tell you that it is tough to get around up there in
winter — which is most of the year. There exists a real social need
for transportation service of the type government is obliged to
provide. This restored service has numerous points to recommend its
consideration.

The post also takes issue with the use of the term “railroad enthusiasts” in an Associated Press story on the rail proposal:

[A]
note to the fine folks at the Associated Press. People who promote 
ground transportation are not “enthusiasts.”  Such terms are
pejorative, bordering on verbal abuse. Many professionals make a living
doing this kind of thing, and while they may not quite measure up to
the academic rigors of a reporter, they still deserve respect. Your
choice of words suggests a serious bias. Suggested alternatives:
advocates, railroaders, citizens, taxpayers.

The
depiction of advocates of anything but automobile transportation as
somehow childish or fanatical is an ongoing problem. Have any recent
examples of media outlets that should be called out on this? Leave them
in the comments.

Elsewhere around the network, the Orange County Transit Blog details forthcoming service cuts, The Infrastructurist explains how American traffic jams are like Soviet bread lines, and Making Places reports on Seattle’s new “Streets for People” campaign.