U.S. High-Speed Rail Effort Launched (Republican Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 12/15/2008)
Summary:
A press release by the Republican Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure said that the Department of Transportation has taken the next step towards real high-speed rail on December 15, 2008 by asking for private sector participation in the planning, financing, and operation of existing northeastern lines and new corridors. This is an important document to my topic question because it says that the U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees most major U.S. transit projects, is willing to seek the private help need to start high-speed rail projects.
Topic:
Category:
Institutional
What is it?
a press release
Publication Information:
The Republican Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure published this release. The release was published on December 15, 2008 in Washington D.C.
Author:
no author listed
Location:
http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=498
Accessed:
February 7, 2009
Support:
John L. Mica, a Republican congressman from Florida and leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Mary E. Peters, U.S. Sectretary of Transportation
Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City
Carolyn Maloney, a Democratic congresswoman from New York
Mike Castle, Co-Chairman of the Passenger Rail Caucus
John Mica said how excited he was that the U.S. Department of Transportation was allowing private enterprise to help develop high-speed rail for the first time ever. Mary Peters talked about how important high-speed rail is in providing a new way for Americans to travel in between cities. Michael Bloomberg talked about how the United States needs to develop high-speed rail to stay competitive with other parts of the world. Mike Castle talked about how 11 million people used Amtrak in 2008, which means 11 million less people on the roadways. Carolyn Maloney talked about how it is time for the United States to develop high-speed rail that matches what is already present in other parts of the world.
Audience and Agenda:
The intended audience of this release it mainly Republican readers interested in developments on high-speed rail. They use this source as an insight into the Republican Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which focuses specifically on transportation issues. Readers are expecting a full account of what the committee is doing from the standpoint of a Republican.
The Republican Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure payed for this release. It’s money came from the fund raising efforts of the Republican politicians that make up the their political wing of the committee. Ultimately that means the funding came from private transportation companies looking to get federal contracts. They are seeking out Republicans interested in transportation issues. They are trying to gain support for any pieces of legislation introduced by their Republican members. The offices of the committee created the release at the behest of the Republican congressional representatives controlling them.
Usefulness:
This document was created by the permission of certain Republican congressional representatives to garner support for help of the private sector in developing high-speed rail in the United States.
It is trying to address Republicans interested in transportation issues. Those same people would be interested in my topic question, wondering what Obama is going to do about high-speed rail.
The report also makes the argument that private investment in high-speed rail is a good idea and the only realistic way of financing new projects.
The source leaves out any information about what the consequences of private partnership in public transportation will be. It wants to put a positive spin on private involvement, avoiding any worries about their influence on planning, construction, operation, and maintenance.
Focusing on the opinion of one or a group of politicians, this source relates to Source Notes 6, Source Notes 27, and Source Notes 22.
Works Cited:
“About the Committee.” Republican Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. <http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/about/>
United States Department of Transportation. <http://transportation.house.gov/>
“About.” United States Department of Transportation. <http://transportation.house.gov/about.aspx>
Filed under: Institutional
[...] on Washington D.C., this source relates to Source Notes 6, Source Notes 7, Source Notes 8, Source Notes 12, and Source Notes 15. Focusing on the U.S. Department of Transportation, this [...]
[...] 17. Focusing on the opinion of one or more politicians, this source relates to Source Notes 6, Source Notes 8, and Source Notes 27. Being a video, this source relates to Source Notes 5, Source Notes 18, [...]
[...] 17. Focusing on the views of one or more politicians, this source relates to Source Notes 22, Source Notes 8, and Source Notes 6. Being an interview, this source relates to Source Notes 25 and Source Notes [...]
[...] opinion of one or more politicians, this source relates to Source Notes 27, Source Notes 22, and Source Notes 8. Focusing on a specific piece of legislation, this source relates to Source Notes 2, Source Notes [...]
[...] publicly supported the idea of the Department of Transportation using private development (Source Notes 8). The private sector has always played a pivotal role in providing public [...]