Weather proof transportation

James Reyes · #1 Posted: **Dec 22, 2006, 2:27 AM**

It is unacceptable to still have all travel shut down between major cities in the 21st century.We should build high speed rail lines in tunnels.They could be designed to be impervious to any & all weather.If flooding was a problem, they could be elevated[ think of Roman aqueducts].Tunnels also eliminate the problems of grade crossings & stray animals.Highways,regular railroads,bike paths & pipelines could be built over,under or along side tunnels to save money.

MayorOfChicago · #2 Posted: **Dec 22, 2006, 2:52 AM**

When does it shut down? Because of the snowstorms? These happen once every few years for the most part, the really major ones.

But if you have an extra trillian dollars laying around feel free to build a few 1,000 mile long tunnels.

anm · #3 Posted: **Dec 22, 2006, 3:17 AM**

When it was some real winter two or three years ago in Philly, SEPTA commuter rail was practically shut down (trains cancelled and/or running with 1-1.5 hour delays). To a certain degree problems happen every time it snows here. One of the major reasons, as I understand it, is that SEPTA employees drive cars to get to their workplace, and naturally do not make it on time during a snowstorm, or even a modest 2-3 inch snowfall.

tunnelbana · #4 Posted: **Dec 22, 2006, 7:47 AM**

Amtrak trains are still running to Denver. It's not that no one can get through, it's that there is so little operational structure for using trains that they can't increase capacity when it is needed, like now. I called Amtrak, and they said the scheduled trains are going as planned but they are all packed and there will be no cars added and no extra trains run to meet the increased demand.

A little frustrating as a traveler, but logistically, it clearly hasn't been worth any investment in additional capacity that only gets used once every few years.

pdxtex · #5 Posted: **Dec 22, 2006, 11:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Reyes

It is unacceptable to still have all travel shut down between major cities in the 21st century.We should build high speed rail lines in tunnels.They could be designed to be impervious to any & all weather.If flooding was a problem, they could be elevated[ think of Roman aqueducts].Tunnels also eliminate the problems of grade crossings & stray animals.Highways,regular railroads,bike paths & pipelines could be built over,under or along side tunnels to save money.

didn't do so well in econ huh?

glowrock · #6 Posted: **Dec 22, 2006, 1:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Reyes

It is unacceptable to still have all travel shut down between major cities in the 21st century.We should build high speed rail lines in tunnels.They could be designed to be impervious to any & all weather.If flooding was a problem, they could be elevated[ think of Roman aqueducts].Tunnels also eliminate the problems of grade crossings & stray animals.Highways,regular railroads,bike paths & pipelines could be built over,under or along side tunnels to save money.

Money, money, money, money, money....

Aaron (Glowrock)

Dalreg · #7 Posted: **Dec 22, 2006, 7:30 PM**

Maybe we can have sky tunnels for planes to use and avoid the bad weather? Link all the cities together and cover all the airports!