by Jeff Ferzoco, Creative and Technology Director, RPA
Earlier this week one of my regularly-visited geek sites, Slashdot, posted a news clip about President Bush's signing of H.R. 1195, a surface transportation law that includes approval of $45 million in federal transportation funding for a Maglev - a magnetic, high-speed train - between Disneyland and Las Vegas. Essentially it would create a 2-hour, 250-mile trip from Space Mountain to the Strip. The mere vision of a turbo train (with magnets!) running between those two specific entertainment centers instantly awakens my inner spoiled 8-year-old. (Disclaimer: I've been promoting the idea of a bullet train between my apartment and Six Flags Great Adventure for years.)
But in between the mental image of me zipping between the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Venetian there is a nagging and powerful guilt that those dollars could be better spent bringing together truly interdependent and woefully unconnected or congested places. In fact, I'm betting someone will read this article from their iPhone on I-95, stopped dead in traffic. A Maglev project of that scale and power needs a solid purpose to rationalize public funds like those distributed last week. Let's be really honest with ourselves: it would be a toy. A dazzling, shiny, slot machine-and-Matterhorn-connecting toy.
On the other hand, Americans haven't really been exposed to high speed rail other than the roller coasters this line would connect. The underpowered Acela Express is a mystery to all but those on the East Coast. And unless they've experienced overseas rail, like France's TGV or Japan's bullet train, our citizenry may not get why a St. Louis to Chicago or Portland to Seattle line might make sense. Last year Disneyland had 15 million tourists. Las Vegas had 39 million. A high speed train could prove to be quite a powerful moment of introduction for a new technology, exposing Americans to the convenience and awe of high-speed rail while on vacation and possibly increasing support for projects at home.
Disney's involvement would likely add needed attention to detail. Whether or not you like the super-sterilized idea of Celebration, Florida - Disney's venture into New Urbanism - it capitalized on our desire for walkable, vibrant, small-town centers similar to the ones we had experienced at 5/8ths scale in Disney's theme parks. Add an alleged 99% "uptime" for the monorail at Disneyland (meaning that it is hardly ever inoperative) and you have a recipe for a reliable and effective system.
Maglevs and other high-speed transit options are spectacular and I want one (in purple, please), but running them between two obvious commercial ventures should not be done with public money unless there is a clear benefit to those who aren't just on vacation. If both Disney and the casinos have the will and funding to pony up and get this done themselves, then that might work. If so, they had better do it quickly. I'm planning my 2025 vacation next month.
@RegionalPlan