Joe Biden, Commuter

By: TheGreenMiles
Published On: 8/27/2008 4:15:00 PM

Something has been lost in the debate about road funding in Richmond. Forgive me for sounding like an arugula-eating elitist here, but the massive environmental benefits of public transportation aside, there's just something nice about taking the train. You can sip your coffee, read the paper, get work done on your laptop, whatever. May take a little longer, may cost a little more, but in these times of traffic tie-ups and road ragers, you're buying some sanity.

So as we get ready to welcome our new vice presidential candidate onto the ticket, let's hear it for a man who gets it:

Biden's been commuting from this station to his job in the Senate, and back again, for more than 30 years, an hour and a quarter each way. The Obama campaign and everyone covering it have been talking up this fact a ton since Obama's veep-pick announcement Saturday. As a metaphor, the daily train commute works for the Democrats in a number of ways. Joe Biden: the old Washington hand who gets out of Washington each night. Joe Biden: man of the people. Joe Biden: committed father and husband. [...]

Most often in recent years, Biden has taken the No. 2103, which leaves Wilmington at 7:35 a.m. and pulls into Union Station -- barring delays -- at 8:55 a.m. (Amtrak has become a recurring character in the hearings Biden participates in. "Gentlemen, I apologize," he told a Judiciary Committee hearing in 1996 when he showed up late. "One of those things that I keep telling my colleagues: If they fully funded Amtrak, I would not be late. [Pause.] And some suggest that's why they don't fully fund Amtrak.")

The whole article is well worth reading. John McCain has been jetting from house to house, appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno thirteen times, and hosting embarassing parties so star reporters can ride his tire swing. Joe Biden has been riding the train and hosting retirement parties for the conductors. It's quite a contrast.


Comments



Granted he will be out of the campaign trail for the next few months... (Bryan Scrafford - 8/27/2008 4:35:37 PM)
...but I bet a lot of people are going to want to take that train now. Could help Amtrack a little.


Why don't we have a coast to coast express train? (linlu - 8/27/2008 4:49:04 PM)
I have tried and could not find a train that goes from coast to coast, preferrable DC to SF or even LA.  Why is that?  If there was such a train, I am pretty sure it would be booked solid given the abysmal state of airline service and prices these days.  It would certainly make it easier on families traveling with small children - no painful pressure drops, freedom to roam, and the sightseeing.

I would hope that the Obama/Biden administration would fix that.  I wonder if a train is less expensive fuel wise than several airline flights with equivalent numbers of passengers?



Meanwhile here in Virginia the Statewide Rail Plan (SRP) (Iechyd Da - 8/27/2008 6:20:57 PM)
is winding it's way through the hearing process. The plan can be found at http://www.drpt.virginia.gov/ then click on the "Spotlight: Draft Statewide Rail Plan Now Available" link.

Monday was the last day for the public to comment. However, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation is creating a  Rail Action Plan that will also go out for public comment in September.

Unfortunately, the SRP is damned by faint dreaming. As we stand astride the cusp of higher gas and diesel prices and increased potential for fuel supply disruptions, we should be planning for a massive improvement in rail infrastructure and service. This is also key to any state action to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Our freight and passenger railroads are not ready for the future. See www.railsolution.org, for one example. Some of us are putting together a CITIZENS' Statewide Rail Plan. If you are interested, reply to this comment in a way I can get in touch with you.