Please read http://www.startribune.com/local/north/16241527.html .
Who has most of the loose cash to spend? And who needs to find ways to keep getting people through the doors despite the faultering economy?
No, it's not a government subsidized polling place. It's Indian Gaming!
Amtrak and anyone else trying to get Passenger Rail and/or HSR going in this country needs to look at Indian Gaming as a potential partner. Routing new trains through or very near casinos, perhaps with connecting light rail or monorail lines (a la Vegas' successful/unsuccessful monorail), needs to be given heavy thought and probable priority.
We in New Mexico already have stops near Indian casinos. But Gov. Richardson missed the boat when he didn't ask them to pony up some of the costs. Maybe he still can.
In other places, like Minnesota, it's still possible to get them involved and get our train-loving hands on some of their cash.
We are being a bit course, of course, but this is a real win-win situation for both the tribes and the trains. We hope Amtrak and every state agency now thinking of sponsoring and funding passenger rail reads this. Readers please help by forwarding this post to any projects in your state.
©2008 - C. A. Turek - mistertrains@gmail.com
1 comment:
Did you read the story that Minnesota is doing exactly what you suggest! There is apparently a proposal for a Minneapolis-Duluth passenger line (sounds a lot like Alq-Santa Fe) with a little detour in the middle to serve an Indian casino.
Actually there is one Indian Casino on the Amtrak map - Foxwoods in Connecticut which is reached by connecting local bus from New London CT. I doubt many passengers use this as a through route - direct intercity bus route to Foxwoods from all points is available.
There's some pretty serious gambling going on in Mississippi's Gulf coast between New Orleans and Mobile.
There's actually a proposal to have gambling ON the trains in Maine if new routes to North Conway/Frieberg and Montreal ever get off the ground.
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