Some people can be lobbied into thinking Asheville needs passenger rail. Granted, trains make sense for freight, but there aren’t enough passengers willing to pay the full cost of service provision. Is the state or federal government in a position to kick out further subsidies? Upgrading the tracks would only cost $150-170 million, according to government estimates. Will the number of people riding the train really reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil? At least one legislator wouldn’t mind taking the train between his home and Raleigh.
by Leslee Kulba
Wild West blogger